The Piano Guys bring hip classics to Manila

Ira Agting

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4 guys who 'put their hearts and souls into every note and frame'

PASSION. The Piano Guys fuse classic and modern tunes fit for any age. All photos by Mark Demayo

MANILA, Philippines – Classical orchestra pieces and contemporary techno hits may be centuries apart, but YouTube sensation The Piano Guys recently proved just how powerful music is in bridging generations.

In meet and greet sessions held September 5 to 7 at SM Aura, Podium, and SM Southmall, the musicians from Utah presented mini-live shows as a prelude to their first major Philippine concert held September 7 at the SM Mall of Asia Center Stage.

Following the birth of YouTube and social media, 4 musicians came together to produce would-be viral videos.

Two members, Jon Schmidt (pianist/songwriter) and Steven Sharp Nelson (cellist/songwriter), serve as the instrumentalists, while Paul Anderson (video producer/videographer) and Al van der Beek (music producer/songwriter) serve as co-producers and co-composers.

What started out as a hobby and marketing strategy for piano-seller Paul Anderson soon turned into a career for the 4 men.

5 years, 2 albums, and 268,645,836 video views later, the band has become a global phenomenon.

THE PIANO GUYS. Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul Anderson, Al van der Beek

The Piano Dads

Aside from their passion for music, one thing common among The Piano Guys is their love for their families. In their press conference, the 4 doting dads all agreed that they drew inspiration from their children.

The first step in creating a composition or cover is finding material suitable for families, said the band members. Their kids and teenagers fill them in on the latest hits, which they infuse with music from their own generation.

Who would have guessed One Direction, David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, Taylor Swift, and Coldplay, among others, would sound divine on piano and cello.

Watch their ‘Titanium’/Pavane cover here:

One of The Piano Guys’ most popular videos, which they gladly showed to their press-con audience, had the men playing the keys and plucking the strings of a grand piano to the tune of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.”

The band’s cellist, Steven, so wanted to urge his son to play the cello that he made a Star Wars parody of himself playing the cello with a light saber.

Watch ‘Cello Wars’ here:

“It’s very important for us to create music that includes the entire family, that parents and children and families can enjoy together,” said Steven.

“No age limit. 3 year olds to grandmas. That’s one thing that’s very exciting for us – to be able to create something that includes the whole family.”

BEAUTIFUL. A classical yet playful take on One Direction

Fun and variety

“We never stop having fun,” the cellist said about their dynamic.

Each member contributes a special flavor to the mix. Al, for one, is influenced by classical music and hiphop, while Jon takes inspiration from the blues and jazz. Paul is a Top 40, pop-tune kind of guy, and Steven takes inspiration from “fun types” of bands like U2.

“All of us wear multiple hats. That’s why it’s so fun. All of us help direct the videos, all of us help write music. We’ve got this fun variety,” he explained.

In their videos, Jon and Steven are seen playing in scenic locations, one of which features goofing around town and skydiving. With their plans getting bigger, so do their productions. Coming soon is a music video set on the Great Wall of China.

Each Piano Guy has his own favortie cover. Here are their choices:

1. “What Makes You Beautiful” (Jon Schmidt)

When asked about this cover, Jon was the first to answer. He picked their take on One Direction, saying it was the most fun to do.

2. “Code Name Vivaldi” (Al van der Beek)

The “Bourne” sountrack and Vivaldi Double Cello Concerto mashup presents “dynamics, a lot of tension, beauty,” said Al. In true Bourne fashion, it was shot on a speeding train.

3. “O Come, Emmanuel” (Paul Anderson)

“I wept when I heard it,” said Paul, who was in awe of the “incredible music and the arrangement of tunes.”

4. “Me and My Cello – Happy Together” (Steven Sharp Nelson) 

The playful video features Steven on a date around town with his cello. The pair is seen driving around, playing sports, going to the grocery, and even skydiving.

“Everyone thought the cello was damaged [by the skydive], but no, it got damaged by a shopping cart,” he chuckles.

“That was just a fun time for us, a pressure-release valve.” he said.

– Rappler.com

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