Inspire your children to learn to play the piano by watching these historic videos of the Great Pianists in action. Remember to turn up the volume on your computer!
There are a variety of styles represented here in our VIDEO ARCHIVE.
CLASSICAL
VLADIMIR HOROWITZ PLAYS CHOPIN
Here's Frederic Chopin's magnificient Ballade #1 Opus 23 in G minor. It is Horowitz's personal masterpiece as a virtuoso, and he plays it better than anyone ever has! This is the same piece you hear in the movie THE PIANIST. Watch for the thrilling ending, and wear a seat belt! From his Carnegie Hall comeback concert.
VLADIMIR HOROWITZ PLAYS MOZART
Here's Horowitz playing the delightful, bubbly finale to the Mozart Concerto #23. Watch as he playfully waves his arms in encouragement to the excellent orchestra during this studio recording session.
EVGENY KISSIN PLAYS RACHMANINOFF CONCERTO #2:
SVIATOSLAV RICHTER PLAYS A CHOPIN ETUDE WITH BRUTAL STRENGTH:
VAN CLIBURN PLAYS THE TCHAIKOVSKY CONCERTO, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MODERN PIANO PERFORMANCES EVER:
GLENN GOULD PLAYING HIS TRANSCRIPTION OF WAGNER'S PRELUDE TO DIE MEISTERSINGER:
Gould was the most eccentric and lovable of pianists, quitting the stage at the peak of his career to become, well, even more eccentric. Watch as he mumbles and sings while he plays a marvelous, rare but incomplete perfomance you won't hear anywhere else.
JAZZ
ART TATUM PLAYS "YESTERDAYS."
Jazz legend Art Tatum was famous for his smoothness, dexterity and musical erudition: Tatum could play anything, from Chopin to the wildest jazz. Here he is playing "Yesterdays."
DAVE BRUBECK "BLUE RONDO."
BOOGIE WOOGIE
Pete Johnson "Rocket Boogie"
ROCK
JERRY LEE LEWIS "WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOING ON"
COMEDIANS
CHICO MARX PLAYS A POLKA IN "GO WEST."
The piano was often a vehicle for brilliant comedians. Here's Chico Marx in the film GO WEST playing in his entirely unique comic style. Watch for the amazing index finger dexterity, followed by the spectacular surprise finale!
CHICO MARX IN "A Day At The Races."
CHICO MARX IN "Horsefeathers."
CHICO MARX IN "The Big Store ."
VICTOR BORGE (and assistant) PLAY FRANZ LISZT
Victor Borge was a master comedian and no slouch as a pianist, either. He was a star from the Golden Age of Hollywood who carried on the tradition of Chico Marx in his own way. This footage is of Borge and an assistant attempting to share the piano keyboard, while playing a Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt in an impossibly funny routine. A great, hard to find classic of piano-comedy, and the only known instance of "tag-team" piano playing ever seen!
VICTOR BORGE IN "THE PIANO TUNER"
VICTOR BORGE WITH THE MUPPETS
TOM LEHRER SINGS "WERNER VON BRAUN:
TOM LEHRER SINGS "THE ELEMENTS" :
PIANO IS EASY BOOK PACKAGE INCLUDES:
PIANO IS EASY (ISBN # 0-9718936-1-6) Sturdily bound, durable, colorful 120 page illustrated song book with 50 songs such as Jingle Bells and London Bridge, Play Along Audio CD and removable numbered stickers.
Every book package order of PIANO IS EASY includes a copy of I CAN READ MUSIC. This fun, easy-to-understand music activity book is the best way to start children reading music. Click here for sample pages.
Every book package order of PIANO IS EASY includes a FREE copy of the 56 minute DVD video from TEACH YOURSELF PIANO. This video will have you playing chords (three piano keys played with the left hand) and fun, familiar songs with both hands right away. That's a $16.95 value free!
