Pianella Piano unplugged : The interview
- tom1771
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
*본 인터뷰는 한국어를 지원합니다. 상단의 언어 선택 상자에서 '한국어'를 선택해 주십시오.
*このインタビューは日本語に対応しています。上記の言語選択ボックスから日本語を選択してください。
It's a pleasure to have Pianella Piano with us today. She's been a part of our community for a long time and is one of our most treasured musicians. We're so excited for this interview, as her musical values resonate with everything we stand for.
We can't wait to hear about her journey and what music means to her.
Now, let’s begin the conversation.
mymusic5 : Hello, Pianella Piano. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. To begin the interview, could you briefly introduce yourself and your music? Also, I'm curious about the story behind your name, 'Pianella Piano.’
Pianella Piano : Hello, my name is Pianella Piano. I’ve been making piano covers and piano tutorials on YouTube for pop dan K-pop songs since July 2019. I also create many piano mashups and medleys, piano beats, 3-8 hands piano videos, projects where classical/pop meet jazz, and original piano compositions.
The story behind the name Pianella Piano: At that time, I wanted a name that represented the word piano itself. I thought it would be nice if the name started with “Pia” and ended with something sweet that represented a female pianist. During my search, I came across the word “Pianella”.
Pianella is actually the name of a town in the Abruzzo region of Italy, and it can also be used as a surname. The surname originates from the geographical term for flatlands or plains, derived from the Italian word "piano". From the moment I discovered “Pianella”, I immediately fell in love with it. Later, I added the word “Piano” after “Pianella”, which completed the name “Pianella Piano”.
mymusic5 : You've certainly had many moments on your journey to where you are today. I'm curious about the starting point. When you first began learning piano and creating sheet music, what was the moment that brought you the most joy?
Pianella Piano : I started learning music when I was 5 years old. I was born into a non-musical family, but since I seemed to enjoy playing with a toy piano, my parents enrolled me in music lessons.
When it was time to apply to university, I wasn’t able to pursue medical school for several reasons, so I decided to study music instead. I learned a Bachelor’s degree in Music, majoring in piano performance with drums as my secondary instrument.
Later, I continued my studies with a Master’s degree in Composition, focusing on classical and jazz big band composition. Along the way, I have worked as a music teacher, lecturer, composer and arranger, as well as a live performer on piano. I also played as a drummer in a jazz band and performed at various jazz festivals.
However, in 2019, I began to feel that much of my work as a performer might be temporary. When I played live, my music brought joy to the audience in the moment, but it felt more like entertainment than something lasting or educational. I had hundreds of videos of my live performances, but they didn’t seem to contribute much beyond the event itself. That made me think about how I could create something more meaningful and lasting in music, especially with the piano.
So, I began making piano videos on YouTube. Within just a month, I had gained 100,000 subscribers, and the response from the audience was incredible. That experience inspired me to continue creating content that could reach and impact many more people.
I also began creating sheet music to help others learn to play the piano. What brings me the most joy is seeing people enjoy my piano videos, especially when they feel inspired to learn the instrument themselves.
Many of them even wait for my sheet music so they can practice new songs. Feeling that kind of love and support from my listeners is incredibly meaningful. It brings me immense joy and is truly priceless in my life. I am very grateful for over 1,400,000 subscribers who always enjoy the piano journey with me.
mymusic5 : Pianella Piano, you are known for consistently producing new performance videos every day. With such a relentless work schedule, you must experience moments of creative slump. We're curious to know how you overcome those slumps and regain the energy to sit down at the piano again.
Pianella Piano : This question is very relatable. As a musician, I always experience ups and downs in my creative process. I'm also just human, with limited time, mood, and energy. I often get sick, feel physically and mentally exhausted, and lack sleep due to deadlines. Many pianists also experience broken and bleeding nails from playing too much, yet they still have to perform. But I always maintain discipline and do everything professionally.
As a pianist on YouTube, I feel responsible for my channel, and many people even wait for my sheet music every time a new song is released. That’s why time is very precious to me. When I face difficult times, I accept it and get through it, but I won't let it drag on because I need to get back to creating for the many people who always give me love, support, and encouragement. They are the ones who give me the strength to keep sitting at the piano, even during hard times.
mymusic5 : Now, let's focus on your work. As of September 2025, your performance of "Golden Hour" is one of the most famous versions, with over 15 million views. I have a lot of questions about this video. Were there any specific elements you paid special attention to while performing this piece?
The part starting at approximately 2 minutes and 50 seconds is especially impressive, where you use triplet arpeggios in your right hand to break up the rhythm and add flair. What inspired you to arrange the piece that way?
Pianella Piano : Golden Hour is a song about a love story, a beautiful feeling that can be described as the golden hour itself. The first element I focused on was wanting my listeners to really feel the meaning of the song, even when it is played only on the piano. I wanted them to experience the emotions of falling in love, heart fluttering and feeling a powerful sense of happiness and positive energy through the music.
The second element I focused on was how I arranged and adapted the original song into a piano cover. I kept the main melody as it is, while shaping the left hand accompaniment and enhancing the right hand part to make the arrangement more expressive and beautiful. For example, at around 2:50, I used triplet broken chords in my right hand. The idea is quite simple and usually taught early in classical piano studies, but when it applied in the right moment, it creates a new texture and helps build a strong climax toward the end of the piece.
Creating this cover of Golden Hour was both challenging and enjoyable, but I believe that balance between emotional depth and careful arrangement is what made the performance meaningful and why it connected with so many listeners. I feel really grateful that my piano cover of Golden Hour has been watched over 15 million times on YouTube, and I’m also thankful that the sheet music has become one of my best-selling sheets.
mymusic5 : Of all the countless pieces you've arranged and performed, including "Golden Hour," which one holds the most special meaning for you? We're also curious about the behind-the-scenes story: what was the most challenging part of completing that piece, and how did you overcome it?
Pianella Piano : Besides Golden Hour, there are several videos that have special meaning for me, including:
1. "TOP 50 ALAN WALKER SONGS MASHUP!"
The concept of this project was a six hands piano arrangement that combined 50 of Alan Walker's top songs into a four-minute piano cover, supported by a drum track I composed myself. Blending 50 songs with different key signatures, tempos, and melodies into a six hands arrangement was no easy feat. I dedicated days just to the arrangement process before I could even begin practicing and recording.
2. "70 BTS SONGS 7 HANDS 7 MINUTES 1 PIANO"
In this video, I combined 70 famous BTS songs into a 7 hands arrangements, all within 7 minutes. Each 7 symbolizing the 7 members of BTS.
3. "I play BASS for BLACKPINK meets JAZZ?? (HOW YOU LIKE THAT Piano Cover)
This was a unique project where besides piano and drums, I also played bass. I arranged the song using jazz chords while introducing jazz subgenres like Afro Jazz, Brazilian Jazz (Samba), Swing and Neo Soul Jazz. I also added odd meter parts to make arrangement truly unique.
4. "Golden" from the KPop Demon Hunters OST
Recently, as the KPop Demon Hunters soundtracks have been trending, the piano covers have been in high demand. My piano cover of "Golden" received an incredible response, and the sheet music became one of my best sellers.
mymusic5 : Was there a specific moment when you thought, "Maybe I should try selling sheet music?" as your YouTube channel grew and your fanbase increased? I'm curious about the moment you became convinced that selling sheet music could be a new opportunity, going beyond the simple satisfaction of performing.
Pianella Piano : As my YouTube channel and fanbase have grown, so has the demand for sheet music. Since sheet music is such an essential part of my life as a teacher, composer, arranger, and performer, it felt natural to include it with my videos, especially for educational purposes. My videos can be used as tutorials, as they already show which notes are being played, but sheet music is equally important for supporting the learning process.
mymusic5: Among countless platforms, you've chosen to stay with us for a long time. Is there a specific reason you chose our platform? We're curious to know what you found most appealing about it.
“Yes, I’ve been with this platform for quite some time—perhaps one of the earliest artists here. It’s been truly inspiring to witness its growth from the very beginning to the success it has achieved today. I’m deeply grateful that we’ve grown together and created such a meaningful impact on so many people.
What I value most about this platform is its fairness and professionalism. The revenue share model is transparent and balanced, which shows real respect for artists’ work. From the start, communication has always been clear, honest, and highly professional—something I truly admire and that continues to motivate me.
I also appreciate how the team constantly strives to improve. They listen carefully to feedback from both artists and customers, face challenges directly, and take steady steps toward meaningful progress. Above all, they consistently think ahead—developing the website and its features in ways that genuinely benefit everyone involved. It’s this forward-thinking and collaborative spirit that makes me proud to be part of this journey.”
mymusic5 : Many performers are active on YouTube, but few are able to generate income from their work. You've successfully established a new business model through sheet music sales. What was the single most important factor for you during this process?
Pianella Piano : The most important factor for me is the arrangement. When creating videos, I always think about building an arrangement concept that is clear and easy to understand. This way, people who buy the sheet music and study it can play the song properly. I also make sure that what I play in the video matches exactly what is written in the sheet music.
Accuracy and precision are a must. Another key factor is speed, especially for new releases. I like to create new arrangements quickly, record the video, and then release the sheet music so that anyone can learn the song right away.
mymusic5 : I'm sure the success of your sheet music sales has been a huge help for your music career and your future goals. Since you are still actively selling sheet music, we're curious to know how you are reinvesting the profits to further your career.
Pianella Piano : As musicians, we always need to upgrade, whether in terms of skills, musical instruments, or studio investments. These are all essential for our growth and future.
mymusic5 : mymusic5's newly launched service includes an 'AI Viewer' feature that allows users to conveniently view sheet music on their mobile devices and automatically turns the pages in sync with their playing. As both a performer and a creator, what new experiences and value do you believe these features will bring to not only you but also to the users who purchase and play your sheet music?
Pianella Piano : As a pianist and creator, I see every meaningful upgrade as something positive. The AI Viewer feature, for example, makes learning sheet music much easier. It’s incredibly helpful for users, and also supports artists by giving them a way to offer sheet music with advanced tools built in.
mymusic5 : This is our last question. What final message would you like to share with your fans who love your music and sheet music, as well as with the new users who will discover your music through our new service?
Pianella Piano : First of all, I’d like to thank all the fans who have supported my music and sheet music. Learning music is never an easy journey, it’s full of challenges. But if you don’t give up, every step will bring you closer to the results you dream of.
Learning through sheet music is not just about hitting the right notes, it’s about enjoying the journey step by step. Treat every practice session as a small victory, and let the process itself become a beautiful part of your life.
Over 400,000 sheets with various songs and instruments, and 15 different local payment methods, mymusic5 provides the most convenient platform service for those of you who love music.
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