A pianist is someone who plays the piano. Some pianists perform classical music in concert halls, their fingers flying across the keys as they play complicated pieces by composers like Mozart or Chopin. Other pianists play jazz in small clubs, improvising melodies on the spot. Still others accompany singers, play at weddings, compose film scores, or teach students.

Becoming a skilled pianist takes years of practice. Professional pianists often start learning as young children, spending hours each day training their fingers to move independently and their minds to read complex music. A concert pianist might practice a single difficult passage hundreds of times before performing it for an audience.

Unlike earlier keyboard instruments, the piano responds to how hard you press the keys, giving pianists incredible control over expression and emotion in their music.