Player Pianos

Player pianos were invented in 1895. That’s before the invention of cars and the widespread use of electricity. They predate playable synthesizers by almost 70 years.

Modern player pianos can play any song ever transcribed, with convincing emotion. Yamaha is even creating a piano that uses AI to create generative accompaniments.

Yet if you walk through the lobby of a fancy hotel, there’s a often musician plunking away on a piano.

Why bother paying someone close to $100 an hour to come play music when we’ve literally perfected player pianos? Player pianos play perfectly for as long as you want, never need a break, have an unlimited repertoire, and never get sick. They’re only slightly pricier than a regular piano, and a bargain when you consider the money you save on pianists.

When people hire musicians, it’s rarely just for their technical skills.

People hire musicians to show status, because “that’s always been the way we do it”, to care, to make the music feel important, to bring personality. Musicians who support a vibe during the process, bring emotional understanding and input, create unexpected surprises, encourage, provide human interaction, and bring expertise and momentum that goes beyond the project get picked first.

As we enter the age of endless virtual musicians that can churn out perfect performances, somebody is still going to keep showing up in the proverbial hotel lobby. And it’s probably the musician who can do the soft skills the best.