A compilation of film music played on the piano / that I want to play on the piano
Music is essential to films, whether it heightens a scene with a poignant melody or builds excitement for what comes next with a bright tune.
Many film scores feature the piano, whose beautiful timbre adds rich color to the cinematic experience.
In this article, we’ll introduce film music performed on the piano, as well as popular movie pieces that will make you want to play them on the piano yourself.
Revisit your favorite movie memories by listening to the music, try playing it on the piano, and enjoy film music in a variety of ways.
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A Collection of Movie Music Played on the Piano / That I Want to Play (1–10)
He is the pirate.
The main theme of the 2003 blockbuster film Pirates of the Caribbean is He’s a Pirate.
The music was composed by Germany’s renowned film composer Hans Zimmer.
Originally characterized by its grand, powerful orchestral performance, the piece requires both power and precise keystrokes when played on the piano.
It’s a challenging piece, but the joy of mastering it is all the greater! Give it a try.
Moonlight Serenade
Moonlight Serenade is a jazz standard composed in 1939 by jazz trombonist Glenn Miller.
It was also used as a featured song in The Glenn Miller Story, a film released in 1954 that portrays Miller’s life, and in the 2004 Japanese film Swing Girls.
It’s a relaxed ballad with the pleasing, intricate harmonies characteristic of jazz, and it works beautifully on the piano.
It’s definitely a piece I’d love to see you play stylishly in a jazz-piano vibe!
The Godfather: Love Theme
The piece known as “Love Theme” is the theme song from the 1972 film The Godfather.
It’s a famous tune that almost everyone has heard at least once.
In Japan, it topped the Oricon Western music singles chart for 14 consecutive weeks and ranked No.
1 on the year-end chart for 1972.
Its wistful melody lends a pensive mood, and it has been covered by artists across a variety of genres.
It also suits the piano perfectly, so be sure to give it a try in your practice!
A collection of film music played on—or I want to play on—the piano (11–20)
Nocturne No. 20 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin
Set in wartime Warsaw, the Franco-German-Polish-British co-production The Pianist features Frédéric Chopin’s Nocturne No.
20 in C-sharp minor, composed in 1830.
It is said that Chopin wrote it as a study piece for his sister Ludwika, who was practicing his Piano Concerto No.
2.
Since C-sharp minor uses four black keys, the fingering can be a bit challenging, but do give it a try!
Merry Christmas Mr.LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi
A popular choice for a piano solo to try playing is Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “Merry Christmas Mr.
Lawrence.” Composed as the theme for the 1983 Japan–UK–Australia–New Zealand co-produced film “Merry Christmas, Mr.
Lawrence,” it is one of Sakamoto’s most widely known works.
The melody is primarily played using the pentatonic scale, which omits about two notes from the standard diatonic scale, giving it a distinctive oriental atmosphere.
It’s a classic that almost everyone has heard at least once, so it’s definitely a piece you should challenge yourself to master!
The Entertainer
“The Entertainer” is a piano piece by American composer Scott Joplin, published in 1902.
It is a ragtime work, a musical genre that emerged in the late 19th century characterized by strong forward momentum and syncopation influenced by Black music.
Used as the theme for the 1973 Academy Award–winning film “The Sting,” it helped spark a ragtime revival in the 1970s.
While the left-hand technique known as stride can be fairly challenging, give it a try!
Romance of Love
“Romance of Love” is a well-known piece used as the theme song for the 1952 French film “Forbidden Games,” and it is also famous as a guitar etude.
In Japan, lyrics were added in 1964, and it was featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” The piece is characterized by a distinctive playing style that fuses chord arpeggios with melody, and when performed on the piano it has a different charm from the original guitar atmosphere.
While playing the arpeggios can be challenging, please give it a try so the melody can be heard clearly!