Some of the famous people & celebrities who play the Piano
Vladimir Putin, Condeliza Rice, Grant Hill (basketball player)…Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Gary Barlow, Clint Eastwood, Sean Hayes, Britney Spears, Hugh Jackman, Sandra Bullock, Guy Pearce, Elijah Wood…
Famous Film Celebrities on the piano
Ryan Gosling learns to play piano for La La Land
For the movie La La Land, Award-winning Canadian actor Ryan Gosling took piano lessons for three months, composer Justin Hurwitz created 1,900 Piano demos. The star says that it was a very fulfilling period because he always wanted to learn to play the piano.
The director of La La Land, Damien Chazelle said, “We were not going to chop it up, we were going to film long takes to prove that it was him, in fact, playing.”
While most newspapers are claiming that he learned to play the piano in 3 months, Ryan seems to have some musical background. Almost a decade back, he released a song where he played the piano, guitar, bass guitar, and cello.
A lot of the credit for his performance also goes to his piano instructor ‘Liz Kinnon’ — piano teacher/coach assigned with the task of improving Ryan Gosling’ piano skill for the movie.
Here’s what Liz Kinnon has to say about his piano student. “When I first met Ryan, he made it very clear made it to me that he was not a pianist. He had played by ear a little bit, but he didn’t have any technique.” Nonetheless, Kinnon sensed a certain potential in him. “I knew that he was a very musical guy already.”
Gosling wanted to learn how to play everything himself, but there wasn’t enough time before filming to teach him how to read and play music. “So he learned everything by rote,” Kinnon explains. “I showed him, he thought about it, he tried it, we went over and over it again, he memorized it.
“We worked together two hours a day, usually five days a week. Sometimes six days a week. Sometimes he would videotape me playing it and watch it later.”
Check out the exclusive clip, below.
La La Land Songbooks
Romantic musical comedy-drama film ‘La La Land’ Songbooks: The movie won six Oscars, seven Golden Globes and five BAFTAs. This selection of songs from the Oscar-winning music by Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul has been simplified for easy piano. Features the Oscar-winning song ‘City of Stars’.
La La Land – Vocal Selections
Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Series: Vocal Selections.
Format: Softcover.
La La Land – Easy Guitar with Notes & TAB
Music From the Motion Picture Soundtrack Series: Easy Guitar.
Format: Softcover.
Ten songs arranged for easy guitar with notes and tablature from the movie.
La La Land – Ukulele
Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Series: Ukulele.
Format: Softcover.
Six songs arranged for the ukulele from the movie.
La La Land – Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook
Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Series: Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook
Format: Softcover.
La La Land – Easy Piano
Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Series: Easy Piano Folios
Format: Softcover.
So while Ryan’s piano-playing skills seem impressive, there’s no need to get disheartened if you’re an adult trying to learn the piano. He did not learn to play that well in just three months. Ryan obviously knew the basics, he probably learned the new songs and improved his skills further before La La Land.
In just a few months, the actor got much better on the piano.
I’m sure, that should serve as inspiration to all those piano students who have just started taking piano lessons.
Learning to play the piano? You will need a beginner piano with weighted keys.
Taron Egerton learnt to play piano like Elton John
Taron Egerton plays a young Elton John in Rocketman; the piano is about a young Reginald Dwight and how he transformed into the legendary Rockstar and piano genius, Elton John.
Learning to play the piano was one of the several things that Taron did to prepare for the role of Elton John.
Taron is a talented singer but in order to learn the piano, he spent time with Michael L. Roberts, a jazz singer and pianist who frequently works in London’s Abbey Road Studios.
Taron Egerton even shared a video of himself playing the piano after taking a few piano lessons.
Roberts taught Egerton basics of piano playing, and after a few months of lessons, Egerton became very comfortable at the keys (which you can male out in the film).But did Taron really played the piano for the film?
“Yes… but only bits and pieces. I’m not a pianist, but I do bits,” Egerton told Metro USA.
While Egerton did learn to play the piano…enough to make his playing look realistic for the film, the actual piano playing (of young Elton) for the film is credited to David Hartley, a professional pianist, arranger and conductor.
Want to learn to play the piano? You will first need a decent piano, preferably with weighted keys. Here are some nice options for beginners.
More Celebrities
Justin Bieber (as a teen) on the Piano
Richard Gere on the Piano
Britney Spears on the Piano
Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) on the Piano
Famous Sports Players on the Piano
Soccer players on the piano
Is it Really Mario Balotelli Playing the Italian National Anthem on the Piano?
We didn’t know that the Italian soccer player Mario Balotelli played the piano.
Here’s an amateur video showing Mario playing the Italian national anthem on a piano accompanied by Andrea Pirlo (watches him play).
However, it seems that this is a fake video, and as per 101 Great Goals, this is just an attempt by a Chinese advertising firm to create a viral video (probably so that they could sell more pianos?).
The video however looks real to us and Mario definitely seem to have the skills on the ivory keys. Irrespective, here’s Mario Balotelli showing off his talent on the piano.
Not only does @LewisHamilton ace it on the racing track but he is also talented at the piano! Look at how brilliantly he plays Adele ? #steinwayblackdiamond
— Lang Lang (@lang_lang) February 25, 2020
?: @shyam_rajdev pic.twitter.com/7SzD5aLG4U
Top American football coach Nick Saban is sentimental about pianos
The first thing that catches your eye when you enter Nick Saban’s house is the piano, and Saban likes to welcome guests with a story about the piano (that he doesn’t play).
Nicholas Saban is an American football coach (head football coach at the University of Alabama).
Few decades back, Nick Saban splurged on a beautiful Kohler & Campbell console piano (despite the fact that it was well beyond their means), and spent years paying it off (because he valued its high calibre). The piano adorns their home even today.
Saban doesn’t know how to play the piano, and he e dreaded his childhood accordion lessons (his only exposure to music). I guess that’s the reason he values his pianos so much.
And Saban has owned several pianos till now. The centerpiece of his living room is the Yamaha Disklavier piano (also known as a self-playing piano). What Saban likes about this piano is that it easily catches people’s attention because it plays by itself. Its loaded with music by The Eagles, Adele, The Rolling Stones, and more.
And Saban doesn’t mind any of his musically inclined football players try their hands on his piano. For instance, Alabama freshman Jared Mayden showed off his unexpected talent at the piano.
The Saban’s even picked a Kawai grand piano to gift it to their son for his graduation.
More at wsj.
Politicians who play the piano
Russian President Vladimir Putin knows how to play the piano
Putin, who was in Beijing for the One Belt, One Road conference, sat down at the baby grand piano while waiting to meet China’s President Xi Jinping.
He played two Soviet-era tunes on the piano. Putin played Evening Song by Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi and Moscow Windows by Tikhon Khrennikov, tunes that were respectively considered unofficial anthems for Leningrad (now known as St. Petersburg) and Moscow.
“It’s a pity that the piano was out of tune. It was quite hard to play, even for me, someone who plays with two fingers. I cannot say I played, I was just pressing the keys with two or three fingers,” said Putin.
The seemingly casual performance was captured by a cameraman.
“I thought that if Mr Peskov is filming, it’s probably for personal use, for the archive. But they decided to post it. But never mind. I think I didn’t let you down,” said Putin.
The Russian leader has flaunted his musical skills in the past as well.
Putin performed Fats Domino’s Blueberry Hills at a charity concert in 2010, which was attended by actors Sharon Stone, Kevin Costner and Gérard Depardieu.
More Politicians who play the piano
Member of the Republican Party, Condoleezza Rice on the Piano
UK Politician Ed Balls Completes Grade Four Piano at the Age of 47
Even politicians have hobbies, and can spare time to learn things that are close to their hearts.
For those who’re probably not aware, Ed Balls is a British politician with an interest in playing the piano, it was his dream to play the instrument for a very long time and only in the recent years did he get down to actually learning to play it. And he’s done good for himself, Ed balls has just passed grade four piano, at the age of 47.
And that’s not bad at all, considering the fact that most adults tend to give up so easily when it comes to learning to play the piano. There’s no trick that will shorten the process, its like learning a new language and you’ve to practice a lot.
Most adults decide to learn the piano (again), probably because their sons or daughters are already learning, and playing the piano was always their dream. So for many, this is the best time to get started again.
The only problem is that you have to start all over again, and besides playing, you also have to train yourself to start listening to music. That is when most adults wish they had persevered with the piano earlier or their parents/teacher should have been more strict with them and persuaded them to learn to play the piano.
Part of the problem is also because adults tend to take the piano exams more seriously, which is not needed. You’ll stick to the piano a while longer if you convince yourself that exams are not relevant (at this age). You need to enjoy the process and you’ll realize that music will never lost its allure.
Having said that, Ed Balls accomplishment on the piano is impressive, he’s determined to beat music into submission, rather than submitting himself to music and giving up.
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls Demonstrates His Talent for the Piano
Here’s Ed Balls showing off his keyboard skills during an impromptu piano performance at Labour Party conference that was held in Manchester. Mr Balls has cleared his Grade 1 piano exam.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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