Mikk Kaasik says the piano can do it all

Jazz pianist Mikk Kaasik says the piano can express everything from quiet melodies to deep sadness. He discussed his instrument on the “Musician and instrument” segment of ETV’s culture programme “OP”, ERR reported.

Kaasik said his parents enrolled him in piano lessons after a music school told them that, unlike a violin or flute, a piano would always be available where he played.

“I can play calm, beautiful melodies that do not sound piercing, or play with such force that the ladies in the front row get a little startled,” he said. The piano can also convey emotions ranging from joy to melancholy and sadness, he added.

Kaasik recalled breaking a small bone in his right little finger two weeks before a music school performance exam a few years ago. He had to postpone the exam because a technically demanding piece could not be played with nine fingers. His finger was put in a splint for about a month, and he was allowed to keep it straight only.

He gave many concerts during that month. People often praised him for playing with nine fingers, but the splint scraped along the keys and rattled during quiet passages in ballads. “It turns out you can play the piano with nine fingers, and I think I could have managed with even fewer,” he said.

“OP” airs on ETV on Thursdays at 20:00.