Ever dreamed of wowing people at a party, by jumping on the old Joanna and performing a perfect rendition of a popular tune?
Well, you aren’t alone, as a new study of the nation’s wannabe musicians, has revealed over half of us (53 percent) admit we wish we had learned to play piano. And the survey reveals a list of the songs and riffs, we most WISH we could play, with Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (32 percent), Your Song by Elton John (24 percent) and Imagine by John Lennon (24 percent) taking the top spots.
The Beatles 1970 iconic hit, Let It Be (19 percent) came fourth, with Adele’s breakup tune Someone Like You (19 percent) rounding off the top five. Other songs to feature highly, according to the study by the music exam board Trinity College London, include Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis (15 percent), Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (15 percent), Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush (14 percent) and Fallin’ by Alicia Keys (10 percent).
Dr Francesca Christmas, director of music and music publishing, Trinity College London:
“The range of pieces people have identified that they would like to play, spanning from Vivaldi’s Spring to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, showcases the piano’s extraordinary capacity to bridge different genres and historical periods. This collection – the majority which are included in our books or syllabuses – highlights the instrument’s versatility and its ability to produce captivating music that resonates with a diverse audience across various ages and backgrounds.”
Classical pieces, including Spring from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi (12 percent), Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven (11 percent) and Dance of the Little Swans from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky (11 percent) all made the list, alongside the less traditional opening notes to Dr Dre’s hip hop anthem, Still D.R.E (seven percent).
The research also revealed that Brits are music lovers with four in ten (42 percent) admitting they love listening to it. In fact, the average Brit spends as many as 15 hours a week listening to tunes. Pop (31 percent), rock (20 percent), R’n’B (nine percent), Indie (eight percent) and soul (six percent) are the nation’s favourite genres of music.
Yet, the music sector estimates that only around one in five (20 percent) of Brits currently play a musical instrument. A further one in three (36 percent) would love to learn, while 33 percent did learn to play one when they were younger but gave up.
Changing priorities (46 percent), not enough time to practise (32 percent), not having the patience to practise enough (31 percent) and taking too much time to learn (21 percent) are the main reasons for giving up. Over half (53 percent) say they would love to learn to play the piano, while 47 percent would like to be able to pick up a guitar and play a piece. Drums (21 percent), saxophone (14 percent), violin (10 percent) and harp (six percent) also make the list of the instruments Brits would love to play.
It’s no surprise that 95 percent of the nation think that the piano is one of the most enjoyable instruments to listen to.
Of the one in four (23 percent) that don’t want their child to learn to play an instrument, 21 percent don’t have the money, with a further 20 percent preferring peace and quiet. 18 percent don’t have the patience. Eight in ten (83 percent) agree that modern technology and AI would make learning an instrument easier with a further 79 percent believing that patience and persistence is the key. 53 percent believe that anyone can learn a musical instrument with the right help.
98 percent agree that learning a musical instrument can help improve brain function, with a further 97 percent believing that playing a musical instrument can give lasting benefits, something that would encourage 85 percent to play an instrument.
Dr Francesca Christmas, director of music and music publishing, Trinity College London:
“The pieces people want to learn to play are more than just songs; they are narratives that evoke emotions and memories. This is why people are drawn to them. Playing them on the piano is a beautiful, immersive experience that transcends mere listening. Over half of the songs in the top 20 are performed by British artists. And with the BRIT Awards taking place this weekend, perhaps we’ll see even more British performers on our future lists in the years to come.”
Top 25 Tunes
- Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen – 32%
- Your Song, Elton John – 24%
- Imagine, John Lennon – 24%
- Let It Be, The Beatles – 19%
- Someone Like You, Adele – 19%
- Can’t Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley – 16%
- With or Without You, U2 – 15%
- Don’t Look Back in Anger, Oasis – 15%
- All of Me, John Legend – 15%
- Wuthering Heights, Kate Bush – 14%
- Thinking Of You, Ed Sheeran – 14%
- My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion – 13%
- Clocks, Coldplay – 13%
- Piano Man, Billy Joel – 13%
- Kiss From A Rose, Seal – 12%
- Spring from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi – 12%
- I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Marvin Gaye – 12%
- Rule The World, Take That – 12%
- Mad World, Tears For Fears – 11%
- Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison – 11%
- Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven – 11%
- Dance of the Little Swans from Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky – 11%
- With A Little Help From My Friends, Joe Cocker – 10%
- Fallin’, Alicia Keys – 10%
- I Don’t Like Mondays, The Boomtown Rats – 10%
