The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but rather the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity.
Glenn Gould
Canada is known for having a thriving arts and music scene, particularly in the world of piano. Some of the greatest artists to play this grand, percussive instrument come from the Northern nation, playing a diverse range of styles, including classical, jazz, and modern.
The most famous Canadian pianists took the simple act of playing the keyboard and invested their passion, personality, and skill. Many notable piano players have won international awards, including Grammys, and their work inspires the next generation of musicians.
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This article explores the biographies of renowned Canadian pianists and showcases their work and accomplishments. Get inspired from their successes and perhaps you will be motivated to learn or enhance your piano playing skills!
See how to succeed as a pianist in Canada.
Canadian Jazz Legend Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, and one of the most important Canadian musicians. He was known for his virtuoso technique and improvisational skills, and played around the world with other jazz greats.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, on August 15, 1925, Peterson came from a family that valued music and ensured he received musical training. He started playing piano at age 7. He studied classical piano under Hungarian pieanist Paul de Marky, and was strongly influenced by jazz artists Art Tatum, Nat King Cole, and Teddy Wilson.
By the 1940s Peterson started performing on Canadian Radio and at Montreal clubs. He started the Oscar Peterson Trio, and released albums like Night Train (1963), Canadiana Suite (1964), and We Get Requests (1964).
A proud Canadian, Peterson created works like he Canadiana Suite, a tribute to his native Canada, and Hymn to Freedom, which became an anthem for the civil rights movement. He received eight Grammy Awards, the Companion of the Order of Canada, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Canadian Pianist and Musician Gregory Charles
Musician Gregory Charles was born in Montreal, Quebec on February 12, 1968. He has built a multifaceted musical career as a pianist, vocalist, conductor, and television personality.
Charles credits his supportive Trinidadian-Canadian family for their influence and support on his career. His father was an amateur musician and his mother was an educator who encouraged Charles' growth as a musician. By age 4, he already showed strong musical abilities on the piano, and he later developed his skills as a classical pianist at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec.
As a musician, Charles performed with symphony orchestras, including the the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. His knack of transitioning seamlessly between genres, including Gospel music, made him a popular performer at both classical and pop music festivals. He released his debut album, I Think of You, in 2002.
Charles is also known for his international tours, television appearances, and contributions to music education for young people. He was appointed an officer to the Order of Canada by the Governor-General in 2016, and continues to share his talent through his online music school, Gregory's Academy, and television roles.
Rufus Wainwright, One of the Most Beloved Canadian Musicians
Born in New York to folk singers Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle, Rufus Wainwright grew up with musically talented parents. Wainwright spent most of his childhood in Montreal with his mother after his parents divorced, though he would move back and forth between Canada and the United States for school.
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Wainwright started playing the piano at age six and toured with his family in the group, "The McGarrigle Sisters and Family." Wainwright made his name as a top-rated musician when he received a Genie award nomination at 14 for a song he wrote, "I'm a-Runnin".
By the age of 16, Wainwright started performing in New York and soon moved to Los Angeles where he recorded his first self-titled studio album. Rufus Wainwright received critical acclaim and numerous awards from the Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards. Though he struggled with addiction at different points, he created award-winning music. His other studio albums include:
- Poses
- Want
- Release the Stars
- All Days are Nights: Songs for Lulu
- Out of the Game
- Unfollow the Rules
- Folkocracy
Wainwright was strongly influenced by opera music as a teenager and studied classical music. His first opera, Prima Donna, was performed in Manchester in 2009. His second opera, Hadrian, debuted with the Canadian Opera Company in 2018.
Rufus Wainwright co-parents a daughter with Lorca Cohen, the daughter of Canadian music legend Leonard Cohen. Their daughter Viva Wainwright Cohen was born in 2011.
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Daniel Powter, Canadian Piano Player and Pop Star
Daniel Powter is a British Columbia born pianist whose story is truly inspiring. Originally starting with the violin, Powter switched to the piano at age 16 after being bullied at school and having his violin destroyed by schoolmates.
Powter struggled with dyslexia and his learning disability caused him to drop out of university because he had difficulty reading sheet music. He left school to focus on music on his own terms, learning songs by ear and recording his own melodies.
At the age of 22, he moved to Vancouver and met producer Jeff Dawson. He released his first album, I am Your Betty, in 2000. The album had a limited release.
In 2005, Powter released his hit single, "Bad Day." The single was released prior to his self-titled album, and brough Powter to stardom. It was played extensively across Europe and gained popularity in North America, and was named Billboard Magazine's Song of the Year.
While Powter has released new music, his "Bad Day" remains his most popular and well-known song, and was featured in a 2024 NHL commercial.
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Famous Canadian Pianist Glenn Gould
Few pianists capture the imagination quite like Glenn Gould, who is perhaps Canada's most famous classical pianist. Born in 1932 in Toronto, Gould is known as one of the most innovative and influential pianists in the world.
Gould began learning piano at the young age of three, and was taught by his mother. He reportedly read music before he could read words, and his musical gifts quickly became apparent. Gould studied at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music under renowned pianist Alberto Guerrero. From Guerrero, Gould learned a relaxed hand position and unique fingering strategies.
In 1947, Gould made his professional debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. Subsequent performances in New York and Washington, D.C. brought Gould to stardom, and he signed a recording contract with Columbia Masterworks. Gould's 1955 recording of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations showcased the pianist's precision, interpretive depth, and singular approach to tempo and phrasing.
Gould became known for his unconventional yet brilliant playing style. His interpretations of classical music featured unorthodox tempos and phrasing, which sparked controversy among critics. He sat in a low-seated chair that brought him close to the keyboard, and hummed while playing - a signature element of his recordings.
In 1964, Gould decided to retire from live performance and focus exclusively on recording and broadcasting. He used splicing and overdubbing to enhance his performances, and believed that recordings were an ideal medium for musical expression.
Gould passed away after a stroke on Oct. 4, 1982 at the age of 50.
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Diana Krall, Canadian Pianist and Jazz Songstress
I love music so much I love what I do. I work very hard at being the best musician I can be because I love it.
Diana Krall
Diana is a popular jazz pianist and singer whose recordings brought Canada to the forefront of the jazz music scene. Born in 1964 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Diana was inspired by her father, who played the piano at home with the family.
At the young age of 4, Diana took an interest in the piano and began studying it herself. She later enrolled for exams at the Royal Conservatory of Music and became a member of the student jazz group in high school.
A turning point in her career happened when she received a scholarship to study music at the prestigious Berkley College of Music in Boston. In 1992, she returned to Canada to release her first album, Stepping Out. She subsequently released Only Trust Your Heart (1995), and her third album All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio (1996) received a Grammy nomination.
Her fifth and sixth studio album, When I Look Into Your Eyes (1999) and The Look of Love (2001) incorporated memorable orchestral arrangements.
After her world tour in 2001, Diana performed her first live record in 2002 at the Paris Olympia. In 2003, she married popular singer and songwriter, Elvis Costello. She partnered with Costello to compose some of her hit songs, including "The Girl in the Other Room." After its release, this song made it to the Australian top 40 album charts and became the top five in the UK.
In May 2017, Diana released her thirteenth album, "Turn Up the Quiet," co-produced with Tommy Lipuma. The album won a Juno Award in 2018 as the vocal jazz album of the year.
Krall has also made appearances in television, and even voiced the character of Pete's mom in the children's show, Pete the Cat in 2019.
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Canadian Jazz Pianist Paul Bley
Paul is one of the few famous Canadian pianists that played a major role in developing the free jazz movement in the 1960s. He was born in 1932 to a middle-class family in Montreal. Many sources described his music as aesthetically aggressive and deeply original.
Paul Bley was born in Montreal, Quebec. When he turned 5, he started studying the violin. But later switched to the piano after his parent's divorce at the age of 7. He became the head of a band that played in summer resorts in Quebec at 13.
Paul later left for New York and lived there for decades, though never renouncing his Canadian citizenship.
He later joined ECM Records and released his first solo piano recording. The album was a breakthrough in his career as a pianist. He released many other solo performances and won many awards during his time.
In 2010, Paul performed at the La Villette Jazz Festival in Paris. And this was his last public performance. He died in 2016 at the age of 83 years from natural causes.
Neil Young, Guitarist and Pianist
Neil Young is not known widely for his work as a pianist, but his piano playing reveals a side of him few are familiar with. Born in Toronto in 1945, Young is known for many hits including "Harvest Moon," and "Heart of Gold".
Young's most notable piano playing can be heard in songs like "After the Gold Rush," "A Man Needs His Maid", and "Journey Through the Past." His piano style is sparse, simple, and minimalist, creating the perfect atmosphere for his emotional vocals and lyrics.
Final Thoughts
If these popular Canadian pianists inspire you, you may want to take steps to learn piano for beginners in Canada. Why not pursue a goal of learning piano by taking lessons with a private instruction?
Learning with a private piano instructor will enable you to reach your goals, whether it is to learn sheet music or play your favourite songs by ear. A private teacher can support you at a pace that makes sense for you and keep you on track for your musical goals. To start your journey, consider piano lessons with expert tutors across Canada.
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