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Professional pianists play music appropriate to their employers’ needs, from accompanying church services to providing background music in upscale restaurants. They build up their repertoire through rehearsals and training, and may face challenges finding regular employment. Some become skilled solo performers or accompanists for trained vocalists, while others work as private instructors or instrument demonstrators.
A pianist may be hired to play music for a variety of reasons, depending on the nature and needs of their employers. A pianist familiar with religious hymns often accompanies a church congregation and/or choir during scheduled services, for example. A classically trained pianist could provide music for rehearsals and performances in dance classes. Before the invention of sound films, theaters hired a pianist or organist to provide a soundtrack for silent films. Several upscale restaurants and lounges also employ professional pianists to provide unobtrusive background music while guests dine or dance. There are also special clubs where a professional pianist provides karaoke-style accompaniment for amateur singers.
What a professional pianist does is interpret and play music appropriate to the circumstances of the place or occasion. A pianist often rehearses music of various genres to build up his repertoire, the number of songs a pianist can play from memory. Some pianists study classical performance techniques and musical scores for years to become skilled solo performers or accompanists for trained vocalists. Others take keyboard music lessons to play popular music, religious hymns, or musical theater. For many pianists, the process begins with early childhood lessons in proper fingering techniques and music theory. Some pianists can also learn to play by listening to professional keyboardists and doubling notes on a piano or electronic keyboard. It is not uncommon for a pianist to become quite accomplished after learning to play by ear.
A classical pianist can perform as a soloist in a recital or as a guest artist with a full orchestra. Many pieces of classical music call for a solo pianist to play very intricate interludes against an orchestral background, as in George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. A jazz pianist often performs with a three- or four-piece combination consisting of a drummer, guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist. Unlike a classical pianist, a jazz pianist is generally free to improvise his solo performances during a designated “break” in the music. A solo jazz pianist can also perform expanded and improvised versions of popular standards in an upscale dining establishment or piano bar.
However, there are some challenges that a professional pianist must face. Finding regular employment in a band or as a solo artist can be difficult; therefore, a musician may have to find other music-related work, such as private teaching and single-session work in smaller studios. A musician may also have to work a full day to support themselves between music gigs. Working as an accompanist in dance classes or musical theater groups can also physically and mentally tax a pianist, as material may have to be repeated several times during rehearsals. Many experienced pianists also earn a side salary by performing at weddings and funerals. Local music stores may also have openings for private instructors or instrument demonstrators. Some musicians earn their living by learning the technical aspects of the instrument and becoming professional piano tuners or restorers.
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