The piano is a beautiful instrument. It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I can’t imagine a world without it. Whenever I hear the piano, it instantly transport me back to a time and place when everything was simple and wonderful.
There are so many different ways to play the piano, and I love them all. But there are also countless YouTube celebrities who have found unique and interesting ways to incorporate the piano into their lives.
These are five of my favorite piano music YouTube artists around!
Who is the Best Piano Player on YouTube?
If you’re looking for the best piano player on YouTube, you’ll want to check out the following artists:
- The Piano Guys
- VKGoesWild
- Kyle Landry
- Jason Lyle Black
- Lara de Wit
Want to get better at playing piano so you can become the next of the great YouTube piano celebrities? Sign up for piano lessons today – and check out some inspiring examples of why taking piano lessons is such a great idea by watching the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wQ1ZXph1HI
5 Famous YouTube Piano Celebrities
What inspired you to play piano?
Maybe your parents made you take piano lessons as a child, and you quickly discovered how fun and rewarding it was to play your favorite songs. Maybe you can pinpoint that one classical piece that made you first realize how music can affect your emotions and mood.
Or, perhaps you were inspired later in life, after years of listening to artists like Billy Joel and Elton John, or even contemporary artists like John Legend, Alicia Keys, or Norah Jones.
These days, video content has practically taken over the Internet. YouTube stars have become modern-day celebrities, garnering millions of views of their piano covers and original compositions, and building the kind of loyal fan base that every musician dreams of. So it’s no surprise that many musicians have taken to the Internet-stage to share their music and message!
Some artists keep it simple… while others are known for creating elaborate sets and visual effects (The Piano Guys are well-known for this!). What do they all have in common? Artists like The Piano Guys showcase the piano with gorgeous music, and remind us why the piano is such an amazing instrument!
Here are five of the best piano players on YouTube, all worth checking out:
1) The Piano Guys
Yes, their videos are quite a spectacle… and they’re also a TON of fun! Listen through their video playlist, and you’ll hear everything from covers of One Direction and Bruno Mars to original compositions. My personal favorite? Their rendition of “I Want You Bach” — because everyone loves a music pun.
2) VKGoesWild
Remember, playing the piano isn’t just about classical or jazz! And that’s why we love Ukranian pianist Viktoriya Yermolyeva (or VK, for short). Her YouTube channel features piano covers of Nirvana, Iron Maiden, Depeche Mode, and the like — all arranged by her. This System of a Down cover is one of my favorites:
3) Kyle Landry
Who says you have to play piano songs exactly as written on the sheet music? We love the video below by pianist Kyle Landry, who takes a simple theme (Pachelbel’s Canon) and improvises the heck out of it!
4) Jason Lyle Black
When I first watched the video below by Jason Lyle Black, I was impressed with his arrangement skills in this mashup-duet… and then… well, fast-forward to 1:04 and you’ll see what I mean!
5) Lara de Wit
Video game music has come a long way since the days of old-school Nintendo, so it’s no surprise that many artists are covering these songs on all sorts of instruments (including full orchestras!). This is YouTuber Lara de Wit’s niche; her channel is full of nods to video games, anime, and films of all kinds. As a Game of Thrones fan, I especially love her violin/piano arrangement of the theme, below:
Who is the Best Modern Pianist?
Not really into YouTube? That’s ok! There are plenty of other modern pianists who are making their mark.
Lang Lang – A Child Prodigy Turned Sensation
Lang Lang is a Chinese pianist who rose to prominence in the early 2000s. While he was born in 1982, he began taking piano lessons at the age of five and quickly showed a natural aptitude for music.
He gave his first public performance at the age of nine and by thirteen, he was already performing with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. From there, his career only took off. He has released over a dozen albums, played sold-out concerts all over the world, and even performed for Barack Obama at a state dinner in China.
In addition to his undeniable talent, Lang Lang is also known for his outgoing personality and stage presence. He often bounces around while he plays and has been known to rock out on stage with some of the world’s top orchestras. While some classical music purists may not appreciate his style, there’s no denying that Lang Lang is one of the best pianists of our generation.
Yundi Li – A Classical Music Superstar
Yundi Li is another Chinese pianist who has taken the music world by storm. Born in 1982, he started playing piano when he was six years old and gave his first public performance when he was ten. In 2000, he won the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition—becoming the first Chinese person to ever do so—and shot to fame overnight.
Since then, he has released several albums, headlined sold-out concerts, and played for some of the most prestigious orchestras in the world. While Yundi Li’s style is more subdued than Lang Lang’s, he is still considered one of the greatest pianists of our time.
Yuja Wang – A Rising Star
At just 33 years old, Yuja Wang is considered a rising star in the classical music world. She was born in Beijing but moved to Canada with her family when she was eight years old so she could pursue her musical studies. She later attended The Juilliard School where she studied under famed pedagogue Jerome Lowenthal.
Wang made her concert debut in 2007 and has since released several albums and headlined sold-out shows all over the globe. Her playing style has been described as “fearless” and “virtuosic”—and it’s easy to see why. She is known for her incredible technique as well as her ability to captivate audiences with her charisma and energy on stage.
Can You Learn Piano on YouTube?
There are a lot of skeptics out there who believe that you can’t learn anything of substance on YouTube. They say that YouTube is full of cat videos and unqualified “experts” who don’t know what they’re talking about. And while it’s true that you can find just about anything on YouTube, that doesn’t mean that everything you find on YouTube is worthless.
In fact, YouTube can be an incredibly valuable resource for those who want to learn something new. Case in point: learning to play the piano.
You might be thinking, “How could anyone possibly learn to play the piano from watching videos on YouTube?”
And while it’s true that you won’t be able to become a concert pianist by watching a few video lessons, you can absolutely gain a basic understanding of the instrument and how to play it. The best part is, there are a ton of great piano tutorials available for free on YouTube. All you need is a keyboard or digital piano and a quiet place to practice.
One great thing about learning piano on YouTube is that you can go at your own pace. If you want to take things slow and really make sure you understand the concepts, you can watch the same video lesson multiple times or even pause and rewind if needed.
On the other hand, if you already have a decent understanding of the basics and just want to quickly learn some new songs, there are plenty of fast-paced tutorials available as well. No matter what your skill level or learning style, there’s sure to be a YouTube tutorial that’s right for you.
Find YouTube Piano Music You Love – and Get Inspired! – Today
If you love playing the piano, then you know that finding the right music to play can be a challenge. There are so many different genres and styles of music out there, and it can be tough to find something that you enjoy and that also inspires you.
But with YouTube, you have access to an endless supply of music, and you can easily find piano pieces that you love. Simply type in “piano music” into the search bar, and you’ll be presented with a long list of videos to choose from. You can preview each one to see if it’s something you’d like to learn, and then simply follow along with the video to start playing.
With YouTube, it’s easy to find piano music that you love – and that will inspire you to keep playing! Sign up for YouTube piano lessons ASAP and start making your musical dreams a reality.
Are you feeling inspired yet? We definitely are! Who else should make the list of best piano players on YouTube? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Suzy S.