It’s been a while since we posted about the Royals, but it seems like they never really left our hearts. The latest news is that Meghan and Harry have officially opened the royal doors again to welcome their second child. It’s been reported that the baby girl will be christened in the next few weeks and will be the first member of the clan to be born since 2011.
The couple’s son, Prince George, was also seen playing his first piano recital just last week. Little George is quite the little prodigy, debuting at just four years old, and is already performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He also loves to dress up like a fairy and is seen frequently in costume at royal events. As for Prince Harry and Meghan’s new baby, sources tell the Telegraph that she’s doing ‘superbly’, praising the hospital staff for their ‘incredible care’. As for Harry, he had previously stated that he doesn’t want to be a dad yet, but changed his mind once he held his daughter for the first time.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge weren’t the only famous faces welcoming a new baby recently. Last month, Hollywood stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart celebrated the arrival of their first child together, a son. The British actors, who got engaged in December 2019 and have been dating since June 2018, are both 41 and share a passion for music. In fact, Stewart revealed in April that she had already picked out her first piano teacher for the child. So, how does a musician become a parent?
How Does a Musician Become a Dad?
Pattinson grew up in Scotland and began playing the piano at the age of three. He went on to study music at university and pursued a career in contemporary piano performance around Europe. The Londoner has had a prolific career as a classical pianist and is known for his work with popular artists like U2 and Will Smith. He also collaborated with producer Pharrell Williams on the song ‘Happy’ from the musical film Despicable Me 3.
As for how to become a dad, Pattinson revealed in December that he had initially been nervous about becoming a father. The actor stated that he wanted to be a father to “my son, who I will teach to be a better person than I am”. As he got to know Stewart, who’s also a parent, he realized that he had made the right choice and was confident that he and his partner could “handle this as professionally as possible”.
Pianos Have a Special Place In The Heart Of Popular Artists
Whether it’s for sentimental reasons or because they just want to be seen with something classic, musicians and famous individuals alike have been spotted carrying pianos around with them. In 2018, Louis Vuitton designed a watch inspired by Beethoven’s Concerto No. 3 in D Minor (‘Emperor’ Concerto). The luxury watch company launched a limited-edition collection of the classical composer’s work, complete with a signed portrait. Other popular artists that have been photographed with pianos include Sting, Quincy Jones, Björk, Drake, and Miley Cyrus.
It seems like a magnet for musicians. Some of the most famous pianos in pop culture are: Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano, which graced the cover of Michael Jackson’s album Thriller (1982); The grand piano that Madonna played at the end of her 1986 film Desperately Seeking Susan; And the yellow piano that Prince sang to in his 1983 movie Purple Rain.
Pianos Have A Special Place In The Hearts Of Classic Moviegoers
Pianos aren’t just a feature of popular culture. They also have a special place in the hearts of classic moviegoers. Perhaps it’s because there’s something quintessentially cinematic about watching an artist perform live. It makes a scene more alive. Pianos have played a central role in some of cinema’s most memorable moments. In the 1997 movie Titanic, the female protagonist played by Kate Winslet sits at the grand piano on her way to her room after Jack’s death. As she plays, she wears a diamond-encrusted white dress that accentuates her slim figure. While watching the film, it’s easy to understand why Kate Winslet was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Other famous film pianists include Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972), who was famous for his emotional performances, as well as Shirley MacLaine in The Apartment (1963), who plays a central role in the film and later sued its director, Billy Wilder, for unpaid bills. Then there’s Shirley MacLaine’s character, Maureen Hacketty, whose very presence in the film is enough to make it memorable. She carries a small piano with her wherever she goes.
One of the most iconic images from the 2019 movie Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is the long take of Rick Schroder (who plays Cliff Booth) as he plays piano. In the shot, Rick plays an intimate, romantic melody to his wife Jennifer, who plays along on the keyboard. Even if you’ve never heard of, or seen, the film, you’ll likely remember the piano scene when it comes time to name your next baby boy or girl.
Pianists Aren’t All Gentlemen
While we’re on the subject of babies, let’s not forget about the other half of the population that makes up the modern family. It seems that some famous pianists aren’t all that good with their hands. While it might be difficult to find evidence of them physically harming a piano (except for that one time in The Never Ending Story when Tchaikovsky’s piano gets trapped under a bus), there are numerous examples of famous pianists who’ve committed musical arson. One of the most infamous cases is that of Sergei Rachmaninov, who set fire to his wife’s piano after an argument. In a fit of rage, the piano-busting Rachmaninov later apologized, claiming that he wasn’t mentally well at the time. This brings us to our next point:
Pianists Aren’t All Gentlemen
While it’s true that all pianists aren’t, technically speaking, gentlemen, the stereotype certainly applies to the majority of them. The vast majority of pianists live in Europe, and it’s been noted that most of them are homosexual or bisexual. It seems like a paradox – they’re often associated with masculinity but are frequently found playing women’s music or music that’s more in tune with femininity. So, it seems that when it comes to gender, there isn’t much of a difference between musicians and non-musicians. A 2019 study found that while men make up the majority of classical music consumers, women are more prevalent amongst jazz and rock music fans.
Pianos And Jazz Have A Long History Together
The connection between jazz and the piano is a centuries-old one. Spanish-American composer George Gershwin was one of the first to acknowledge the link between jazz and classical music, and even wrote a classical piano piece, Rhapsody in Blue, that he later turned into a jazz standard. The piece is named after the famous American blues singer, singer Bessie Smith, who first sang it. After Gershwin, other composers turned their works into jazz standards, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Robert Schumann.
While jazz and the piano have been associated for a long time, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the genres started to really cross paths. That’s when ragtime, jazz, and classical music started to be heard and taught alongside each other. Even then, the lines between the three were blurred. By the 1920s, jazz was firmly established as its own thing, separate from classical music. Nevertheless, it never really left the classical world. Even now, jazz and the piano are frequently found side by side, with jazz students often learning about composition and poise at the same time as they learn their scales. Perhaps that’s because they recognize the importance of both in creating a memorable performance.
Pianos Are A Sign Of Culture
When we think about culture, it’s usually in a positive light. Nevertheless, the mention of pianos can often (although not always) entail an image of an older gentleman playing and enjoying himself while sipping a drink. It seems that in some countries, that’s still how people think about pianos. In many Eastern European countries, it’s customary for a man to play the piano for his wife or mother-in-law upon their arrival at a wedding or other family event. They play throughout the celebration, pausing only to drink a toast to the happy couple.