piano player

Meaning

A piano player is a person who plays the piano, either as a hobby or as a professional job. While the word 'pianist' is also common and slightly more formal, 'piano player' is widely used in casual, everyday English.

Examples

• My sister is a great piano player and plays at local weddings.

  My sister is a great piano player and plays at local weddings.

• The restaurant has a live piano player who plays jazz every Friday night.

  The restaurant has a live piano player who plays jazz every Friday night.

• He wants to become a professional piano player when he grows up.

  He wants to become a professional piano player when he grows up.

• We are looking for a piano player to join our school band.

  We are looking for a piano player to join our school band.

• The piano player received a standing ovation after her beautiful performance.

  The piano player received a standing ovation after her beautiful performance.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She is a very good piano play.

  ✓ She is a very good piano player.

  The noun for the person is 'player' (or 'pianist'), not 'play', which is a verb or a theater show.

• ✗ The band needs a piano man.

  ✓ The band needs a piano player.

  While 'Piano Man' is a famous song, 'piano player' or 'pianist' is the standard, gender-neutral term used to describe someone who plays the instrument.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The jazz club hired a new ___ for the weekend shows.

  💡 A person who plays the piano.

  Show answer

  piano player

• He is a talented ___ who can play classical music by ear.

  💡 Someone skilled at playing the piano.

  Show answer

  piano player