Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel, played by 13 year-old volunteer pianist

13 year-old volunteer pianist, performs "Root Beer Rag" by Billy Joel at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, NC.

[@bigredfreak2]

Only advice, slow down! You have a lot of talent

[@moonbubbles3046]

This is the tempo of the song.

[@bigredfreak2]

@@moonbubbles3046 I have listened to the original a number of times, in a few places it’s a tad fast and the notes are getting jumbled up. It wasn’t a critique, it just seemed like the boy was playing a tad fast in places. After you hear something quite a few times, you can hear the subtle changes.

[@PianoOutlet]

He’s playing it the right tempo.

[@STL-Railfan]

That's how it's written and how Billy plays it.

[@toblerabbey4381]

@@bigredfreak2 agreed

[@Kevin-tt7uz]

When he gets to high school, have him join the jazz band. He will have a ton of fun there, especially during soloing opportunities!

[@ayokay123]

I love the key shift halfway through the piece!

[@charliehorsenm3446]

You are absolutely GREAT! It's so nice to see kids with real talent! I also love your rendition of "The Entertainer"! Keep up the great work!

[@char8190]

im a 14 year old myself and started playing piano as a class just for credits at school. i fell in love with piano. i've learn fur elise, canon in d minor, and river flows in you. im so jealous of him. i havent been playing for a year, and i wanna be just like him. i'd pay to meet him!

[@kencedeno1697]

Traveled through Charlotte many times. Wish I had been there for his performance!!

[@lakewackoMom]

Hi Ken. Evan usually plays on Saturday or Sunday afternoons.

[@kencedeno1697]

@@lakewackoMom I'll look for him next time I pass through and hope it's a weekend.

[@dankdav]

@lakewackMom is Evan still performing 😂 I’m a little late to the party but I also travel through Charlotte often and would love to come watch, or perform with him. Sounding good!

[@tobias9189]

Absolute pure talent mate 👏 New Billy Joel

[@thegoouch]

If I see someone playing this out in the wild it's an instant $100 bill!

[@Milocurasepega]

I admire your work a lot, it shows that you have great talent. Keep it up. Greetings from Chile!

[@lakewackoMom]

Hi Juan. Thanks so much for writing!

[@STL-Railfan]

Whoa! Key change! Even Billy doesn't do that!

[@latibes]

Did you just go from C to D flat? Props to doing that, you're gonna be awesome!

[@gllhouk]

Wow, those fingers and keys fly so fast I can't even follow them with my eyes. And I like the fried egg socks too!

[@tadpolesoup]

Wow! Great job. I have never heard of this piece by Billy Joel.

[@user-js2fr2hh3s]

Браво,голям музикант !!! Пожелавам му много здраве и успехи !!!!!

[@gary1705]

Absolutely amazing 👏👏👍👌😍🙋‍♂️

[@lakewackoMom]

Thanks Gary!

[@dow67]

AWESOME young man! :) Thank-you for making, & sharing this! :) YOU are CERTAINLY VERY TALENTED! :)

[@fathillboy]

I certainly look forward to more videos .....you're an amazing player.

[@lizb853]

Nimble fingers,very good technique, lovely sense of style and rhythm. Yes! There WERE a couple of rough edges, but they'll iron out with time plus your piano teachers guidance, but for all your 13 years of age, you have the makings of a young master pianist. Bravo son! Very well done You GO man, you,ve sure got a bright future ahead of you.

[@esthermiller2713]

OH MY GOODNESS this young man is EXCEPTIONALLY talented!!!! WOW!!! I’m SUPER impressed!!! That level of skill represents MANY HOURS of practice practice PRACTICE!!! NICELY DONE!!! 👍🏻 🇨🇦

[@michaelpalmer4013]

I'm lost for words!!! How long did it take you to learn that!!!! Fabulous fantastic!!!!! Greetings and much appreciation from UK.

[@lakewackoMom]

Wow, thanks for writing! I think it's hotter in the UK now than it is here in NC! Evan took a couple of weeks to work this one out.

[@TheReubenKincaid]

@@lakewackoMom the extra week was when he decided to shake it up and go up that half step lol. Bravo

[@eileensickel]

Very good. Thank you.

[@MoonMahmood]

Evan, was a pleasure meeting you and your Mom my friend at CLT airport. Keep up the great work! - Moon

[@lakewackoMom]

Hi Moon. When are you in Charlotte next? Evan is playing tomorrow; Sunday!

[@MoonMahmood]

@@lakewackoMom Hello! I might pass through CLT Sunday evening. Otherwise next stop in CLT will be Tuesday, July 2nd. Hope everything is well and hopefully see you guys soon! 😊

[@MoonMahmood]

@@lakewackoMom if I do come to CLT Sunday, I'll stop by for sure!

[@brandonrein]

I'm 13 and working on this now. Getting there

[@nicop200]

Brandon Rein goodluck!

[@draco4569]

Good luck. My arrangement is a little harder than most.

[@marcofranzinelli8800]

nice

[@jimmieroberts4430]

Half step up key change nice touch..... Tighten up. Well done

[@draco4569]

FINALLY, I find a video of someone playing MY arrangement of this piece. Yes, I'M the one who implemented that key change, and I can confirm that it makes the song considerably harder. Very impressive!! Also, for those of you wanting to get your hands on the sheet music, they're right here: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/root-beer-rag-digital-sheet-music/21431672

[@JJRicks]

Hey nice!

[@draco4569]

@@JJRicks I'm definitely happy it's getting the appreciation that it has, especially since it actually sounds like a rag.

[@christopherbellpianist]

Great Job Evan Would you like to be in my Piano Contest?

[@pauladrien1408]

So talented

[@lakewackoMom]

Thank you Paul

[@mthaygood3334]

This kid’s insane

[@Titandenver]

Slow down. It’s not about how fast you play it

[@kc9kepextra460]

A modulation in the midst! Very difficult (at least it would be for me!)

[@tinklychickn9623]

WOW, this is amazing. How did you learn this piece? Sheet music?

[@draco4569]

Here's the sheet music: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/root-beer-rag-digital-sheet-music/21431672 And yes, I'm the one who arranged this. It's already my 2nd most popular piece I've sold on the website.

[@billhildebrand5053]

14,361 views..live it up..😄😀😄

[@rrp1127]

Keyboard players never get the credit. Guitar and vocal in the front and keyboard sitting out back with the real talent.

[@libhunterz3507]

I’m 41 and just learned this and this kid makes me look like an amateur lol. I still have fun though

[@jennakeith5711]

Being able to play this song is a feat itself! I wish I could play this

[@chief988b7]

Who are the 14 clowns that would give this a thumbs down??

[@marcpags1048]

Wow just wow

[@christopherbellpianist]

Would you like to be in my piano Contest?

[@harveyrng2706]

Sounds messy

[@jonathankirstein5927]

how well can you play that same piece

[@billhildebrand5053]

14,363 - two new..

[@gregorygingras6134]

Almost better than Billy could play this today

[@nicop200]

Gregory Gingras almost...

[@ianbaskerville9748]

I wouldn't go that far. Very impressive though.

[@binky8843]

Alternate title, fingers have seizure and so does the tempo

[@bagwaun]

nice applause ...ic bacon .... my mum plays that song on the harp same thing as a piano just upright and strings.... u could put something out 4 tips maybe donate some of the money

[@whippyboy6272]

Mushy

[@superchudy9446]

Veery nice 😀😀😀😀. If u can, so please play song: scott joplin: entertiner 🤗

[@lakewackoMom]

Evan always starts his shift with The Entertainer. I will have to add this one to youtube!

[@lukegreen5696]

Too fast

[@user-vm8ii2ni5k]

To fast please play slower than its so mutch more beautiful

[@MrSimonious]

Too fast.

[@donaldthomas1963]

have we considered America's Got Talent yet? suggestion look up and smile sometimes

[@lakewackoMom]

Thanks Donald. Good suggestions...I will share this with Evan.

[@lissmcclymont8977]

@lukewackomom he's too talented for that show. Despite the minor errors .Dont do it. He's as fast as Billy in his younger days, you should comtact him.

[@jamiepasquariello2652]

What pisses me off is all of the people not even acknowledging this. I'm a pianist. We're doing something 99.9999999999999999% of the human population can't do.

[@georgewrigley368]

Get a metronome

[@ciararespect4296]

Much too fast causing timing out completely

[@donnybeyes12]

slow down enjoy the song sounds terrible like this

[@brucep9729]

You're good kid, but work on your tempo and timeing.

[@Solero0001]

He's trying to play a little too fast and he's not quite got the rhythm

[@PetraVonOrkoSoft]

Plays toooooooo fast

[@showtunegirl659]

He is playing it too fast and out of time

[@setafirecarp]

( ･ω･)ﾉ 後半下手になってない？