Don't Let Live Music Become a Luxury

A Festival That Got Me Thinking

I came home from a tribute festival recently with mixed feelings.

There were some excellent acts and the audience had a fantastic time, but I couldn't help noticing how many of them seemed to rely heavily on backing tracks. Many performances these days are a hybrid of live musicians and pre-recorded elements, but I find myself drawn to the acts that appear to rely almost entirely on live musicians.

For me, the highlight was Sound of the Lioness, an Amy Winehouse tribute. Watching talented musicians perform together reminded me why live music is so special. There was a spontaneity and energy that simply can't be programmed. The musicians listened to each other, responded to each other and created something unique in that moment. That's what audiences connect with, even if they can't always explain why.

More Than Just a Job

Perhaps I'm more aware of it because music isn't simply something I enjoy; it's my livelihood and, in many ways, it's part of who I am.

I've spent decades learning my craft, and I still practise, learn new music and look for ways to improve. Every musician you see performing live has invested countless hours - usually years, and often decades - developing the skills that make what they do look effortless. Behind every performance are early mornings, late nights, exams, rehearsals, disappointments, successes and an unwavering commitment to mastering an instrument.

When someone books a live musician, they aren't simply paying for the hour they're performing. They're investing in everything that came before it: the experience, the judgement, the adaptability and the dedication that only come from years of real-life performance.

That's something I think audiences still value enormously, even if they don't always realise it.

Why Live Music Matters in Ballet

Alongside performing at weddings and events, I also work as a ballet pianist. Every day I see first-hand how important live music is to the creative process.

I'm fortunate to work with organisations such as The Royal Ballet School and Birmingham Royal Ballet, where live pianists remain an integral part of classes, auditions and rehearsals, and where live orchestras continue to accompany performances.

In ballet, the relationship between dancer and musician is incredibly close. A pianist isn't simply providing background music; they're responding constantly to what is happening in the room. A teacher might ask for a different quality, a dancer might need a fraction more time for a combination, or the atmosphere might call for a completely different style of accompaniment. That dialogue simply isn't possible with a recording.

Unfortunately, not every organisation continues to invest in live musicians. In recent years we've seen difficult decisions made within both ballet and opera as companies try to balance rising costs. Some productions have replaced live orchestras with recorded music, prompting understandable concern from musicians and audiences alike. While these decisions are often driven by financial pressures rather than artistic ones, they raise an important question: once we accept recorded music as "good enough", where do we stop?

The Next Challenge: Artificial Intelligence

Now another challenge is emerging, and it's one that concerns many professional musicians.

Artificial intelligence is developing at an astonishing pace. It can already compose convincing music, clone voices and generate performances in almost any style. There have even been demonstrations of AI-powered hologram performers entertaining travellers in public spaces. At the moment it's a novelty, but it isn't difficult to imagine a future where venues begin asking whether they really need to hire a live musician at all, and I genuinely hope we never reach that point.

Imagine arriving at your wedding breakfast to find a computer-generated performer providing the entertainment. It might be note perfect, but would it feel personal?

I don't believe people book live musicians simply because they need music. They book them because they value the human being behind the instrument. They value the years of study, the experience, the personality and the ability to respond instinctively to the moment. Those qualities can't simply be downloaded or generated at the touch of a button.

What Happens If Nobody Learns?

Perhaps my biggest concern isn't whether technology becomes more capable. It's what happens if future generations decide that learning an instrument simply isn't worth the effort.

Learning music develops patience, discipline and creativity. It teaches resilience because progress rarely comes quickly. It builds confidence, improves concentration, encourages teamwork and has well-documented benefits for mental wellbeing. For many children and adults alike, it also provides friendship, purpose and a lifelong source of enjoyment.

Music has shaped who I am. It has introduced me to incredible people, taken me to places I never imagined I'd work, and given me a career that I genuinely love. I would hate to see a future where fewer children pick up an instrument because they think a computer can do it better.

The world doesn't need fewer musicians.

It needs more people experiencing the joy of making music for themselves.

Keeping Music Alive

Technology has always had a place in music, and I'm certainly not arguing that we should reject it. Digital instruments, recording software and sound technology have all transformed what musicians can do. Used well, backing tracks can enhance a performance, and Artificial intelligence is undoubtedly another useful tool.

The danger comes when the tool starts replacing the artist.

If we continue down that road, we'll save money, but we'll lose something much more valuable. Live music isn't just about reproducing songs accurately. It's about communication, creativity and shared moments that exist only once. Every performance is slightly different because every audience is different. That's something no algorithm can replicate.

So yes, embrace technology where it genuinely enhances what we do. But let's continue to value the musicians who spend years mastering their craft, the orchestras that bring performances to life, the bands who really play together on stage, and the young people who are practising scales today in the hope that one day they'll share their own music with the world.

Because once we stop valuing live music, we won't just lose performances.

We'll lose a part of what makes us human. If you value live music and are thinking of booking a pianist for your event, get in touch.