The Piano Guys are a musical group that gained popularity through YouTube in the late 2000s and early 2010s. They are best known for their piano and cello covers of popular songs and original compositions. The group consists of Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Al van der Beek, and Paul Anderson.
The Piano Guys have become one of the most successful instrumental groups on YouTube, with over 1.9 billion views and 6 million subscribers on their channel as of October 2023. Their music combines classical, pop, and rock styles for a unique and engaging sound.
Beyond their YouTube fame, The Piano Guys have toured around the world and released multiple hit albums. Their refreshing musical style and skilled playing have earned them praise from critics and fans alike.
However, one question that often comes up is: Are the Piano Guys Mormon? Mormonism, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has a significant cultural presence in the region where the Piano Guys got their start.
This article will examine the religious backgrounds of each Piano Guys member and determine whether or not the group can be considered a “Mormon” band.
Background on Mormonism and Music
Mormonism is a religious tradition that began in the 1820s in upstate New York. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the religion is formally known, believe that founder Joseph Smith translated ancient scripture detailing Christ’s activities in the Americas after his resurrection.
Today, the LDS Church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and has over 16 million members worldwide. Mormon beliefs tend to be socially and politically conservative.
Music and performance have always been important parts of Mormon culture. In the early days of the church, Mormon tabernacles featured choirs and organs to accompany worship services.
As Mormon communities flourished in Utah and surrounding states in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, musical groups gained prominence at church events and local community gatherings. Bands that toured to promote Mormon principles became popular.
Today, music continues to be an integral part of the Mormon faith. Worship services feature music choirs, hymns, and musical numbers. Many Mormon musicians also achieve crossover mainstream success in classical, folk, pop, and rock genres.
Some well-known Mormon musical artists include David Archuleta, Lindsey Stirling, and Neon Trees. Given the close ties between music and Mormon culture, the Mormon background of the Piano Guys has been a point of interest for fans seeking to learn more about the band.
Background on The Piano Guys
As mentioned, The Piano Guys consists of 4 members. Here is some background information on each:
Jon Schmidt
Jon Schmidt was born in Salt Lake City in 1966 and grew up in Utah. He comes from a musical family and took an early interest in piano. By age 11 he was composing piano pieces and performing publicly.
Schmidt studied piano at Utah State University and later moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a music career. He released several solo albums in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2011, Schmidt teamed up with the other Piano Guys to release YouTube videos and albums. He is married with 4 children and is still an active member of the LDS Church.
Steven Sharp Nelson
Steven Sharp Nelson was born in Salt Lake City in 1977. He began piano lessons at age 8 and cello at age 12. Nelson studied cello performance at the University of Utah.
After graduating, he played with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and began producing and arranging music for TV and ad campaigns. Nelson met Jon Schmidt in 2006 and they began collaborating.
When The Piano Guys project launched in 2011, Nelson handled much of the video and social media production. He remains an active Mormon and has 8 children.
Al van der Beek
Al van der Beek serves as the music producer, recording engineer, and studio technician for The Piano Guys. Originally from rural Idaho, van der Beek graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
He opened his own recording studio in Salt Lake City where he and Jon Schmidt worked together composing and recording music for ad agencies and TV networks. Al helped connect Schmidt and Nelson for their initial collaborations.
Al van der Beek focuses on the technical side of The Piano Guys’ productions. Information on his current religious affiliations is not definitive, but he worked extensively with Mormon musicians early in his career.
Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson handles the business operations and creative marketing for The Piano Guys. Growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, Anderson moved to Utah after a Mormon mission trip. There he started a piano moving business.
Through this work he met Jon Schmidt and Al van der Beek and began discussing music video concepts. Anderson’s creative vision combining music videos, social media, and savvy marketing helped launch The Piano Guys to rapid online popularity starting in 2011.
Paul Anderson has been less public about his personal life but appears to maintain ties to Mormonism. He and his wife have one daughter.
Analysis of Mormon Connections
Based on the backgrounds summarized above, it is clear that Mormon roots run deep for The Piano Guys. Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, and Al van der Beek all came out of Mormon musical circles in Utah. Paul Anderson migrated to Utah as a Mormon missionary.
All four original members grew up as practicing Mormons. Three out of four (Schmidt, Nelson, and Anderson) appear to remain active in the LDS church based on available information.
While The Piano Guys have enjoyed crossover mainstream success beyond their Mormon origins, the influences of Mormon music culture, networking, and values are undoubtedly present in the group’s foundation and style.
However, it is difficult to conclusively classify The Piano Guys as a straightforward “Mormon band.” They do not overtly focus on religious themes or affiliate directly with the LDS Church as an institution. Their musical content spans secular popular culture along with classical and sacred Christian pieces.
Overall, while Mormon backgrounds shaped the formation of The Piano Guys, their music appeals to diverse global audiences beyond the Mormon demographic. But the imprint of Mormon upbringings remains significant.
Examples of Mormon Influences
Although not exclusively “Mormon music,” The Piano Guys’ repertoire and approach does reflect Mormon cultural influences in the following ways:
Emphasis on Spiritual Themes
While covering many secular hits, The Piano Guys take care to also pay tribute to sacred hymns and passages. Clear spiritual messages appear in originals like “The Spirit of God,” “Amazing Grace,” and “How Great Thou Art.” This reflects the Mormon priority of centering music around faith and reverence.
Connection to Nature
The Piano Guys frequently utilize outdoor mountain, desert, or forest settings in their videos and photo shoots. This fits with the Mormon appreciation of God’s creations in nature. Utah’s natural landscapes hold particular spiritual significance for Mormons.
Focus on Wholesomeness
Mormon cultural standards place a strong emphasis on family-friendly wholesome entertainment. The Piano Guys steer clear of profanity, violence, and sexually explicit themes in their music and videos. Their songs promote inspiration, hope, and human emotional connection.
Collaborative Community
From their origins in Mormon networks to their creative teamwork as a band, The Piano Guys exhibit a collaborative communal approach influenced by Mormon community values. This cooperative perspective shapes their musical arrangements and group cohesion as well.
The Piano Guys’ Crossover Success
Although shaped by their Mormon roots and connections, The Piano Guys have achieved huge mainstream success that reaches far beyond the Mormon demographic. Several factors contribute to their ability to connect with broad mainstream audiences:
Fresh Stylistic Fusion
Blending pop music with classical piano and cello intrigues listeners of all backgrounds and ages. The Piano Guys’ novel musical fusion feels both imaginative and nostalgic.
Emotional Expressiveness
Steven Sharp Nelson’s expressive cello adds poignant melodic emotion to their music. The spirituality of the music resonates with secular listeners through its raw passion and humanity.
Spectacular Video Production
Breathtaking video backdrops add cinematic energy to The Piano Guys’ performances. This amplifies the music’s uplifting emotional impact.
Savvy Marketing
The Piano Guys were innovators in leveraging YouTube and social media for music marketing. This online popularity fueled their global recognition beyond just the Mormon fanbase.
Universal Themes
From heartbreak to wonder, their music explores relatable emotional themes that transcend religious boundaries. The Piano Guys treat faith as just one dimension in the universally felt human experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mormon background and culture are inextricably tied to The Piano Guys’ origins and musical style. The imprint of Mormon upbringing manifests in their songs’ spiritual themes, wholesome content, and communal creative process.
However, their music spans beyond strictly Mormon subjects to connect broadly through emotional expressiveness, innovative style, stunning visuals, digital savvy, and universal human themes that resonate with global audiences.
So while definitively shaped by Mormon roots, The Piano Guys achieved success that reaches far beyond one demographic. Their music merges Mormon musicality with universal emotional storytelling.
In this way, The Piano Guys demonstrate both the significance of spiritual community roots and music’s power to transcend outward to find common humanity. Their sound echoes far from its origins while still carrying forward essential influences from that formative Mormon environment.
References
Websites Referenced
- The Piano Guys official website: https://www.thepianoguys.com/
- Mormon Newsroom on Music and Dance in Mormon Culture: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/music-and-dance
- LDS Living article on Famous Mormon Musicians: https://ldsliving.com/11-Famous-Mormon-Musicians/s/80474
Books Referenced
- O’Brien, Kerry J. (2019). Music and Mormonism: A History. Oxford University Press.
- Hicks, Michael (2002). Mormonism and Music. University of Illinois Press.