Are there Amish pianists/musicians?

[Bob]

I don't think I've ever seen any.

Do they limit themselves to praise music and shape notes?

Is classical music too much for them?  The daring 18th century ideals pushing their limits too much?

[thalbergmad]

I reckon they all play the banjo.

Thal

[senanserat]

I lol'd

[outin]

I seem to remember they do not feel it is appropriate to play instruments, so they only do singing...

[kevin69]

google told me about this tv episode featuring an amish piano prodigy:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490096/

but amishamerica.com says:

Amish church music is unaccompanied, and generally, the Amish do not play musical instruments.  Stringed musical instruments such as guitars and banjos are seen as avenues for self-expression which call unnecessary attention to the individual.

I expect this would apply to piano playing too.

[emill]

I reckon they all play the banjo.

Thal   

  ! ! !


Some additional info:

The Amish on Music

Amish do not play musical instruments because it is viewed as a means of self-expression, which would garner feelings of pride and superiority.

Amish church songs derive from the Ausbund, the High German songbook, which has no musical notes. Tunes are passed on from generation to generation.

The Ausbund, first published in German in 1564, is among the most seminal books to the Amish. It is regarded to be the oldest Protestant hymnal in continuous use.

Ausbund songs invoke the martyrdom of their Anabaptist past, as many hymnals are said to have been written by men awaiting the death sentence during a time of intense persecution. Author Paul M. Yoder notes: "the dominant tone found in most of them is one of great sorrow, deep loneliness, or protest against the world of wickedness which was putting forth every effort to crush the righteous.”


And for those interested:  National Geographic has an interesting list - - -

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/amish-out-of-order/articles/amish-out-of-order-facts/



HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !

[ted]

Amish do not play musical instruments because it is viewed as a means of self-expression, which would garner feelings of pride and superiority.

How extraordinarily sad. Why could they not just as easily argue, as did Aldous Huxley and others, that musical acts are in fact the very reverse of this, breaking down the doors of perception, and putting the creative musical mind in direct contact with something much greater, the ground of all being, God, whatever you like to call it. What you actually believe about these things doesn't matter, music is a completely harmless ecstasy and an unpunishable passion for any human being. What depressingly stupid nonsense.

Happy New Year to you too, with buckets of unbridled musical pride and joy. "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" - in music anyway.

[pianoplunker]

google told me about this tv episode featuring an amish piano prodigy:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490096/

but amishamerica.com says:

Amish church music is unaccompanied, and generally, the Amish do not play musical instruments.  Stringed musical instruments such as guitars and banjos are seen as avenues for self-expression which call unnecessary attention to the individual.

I expect this would apply to piano playing too.

That is all just an excuse for not practicing !