Bradley Cooper is one of the most talented actors and filmmakers in Hollywood right now. He made his debut in the entertainment industry with the 2001 film Wet Hot American Summer. For someone who considered giving up acting altogether just a couple of years into his acting career, Cooper has come a long way as he has not only starred in some of the greatest films but also directed some of them.
Bradley Cooper’s most recent project is Maestro, which was released last month. Besides directing the movie, he has also starred as its lead character American composer Leonard Bernstein. In one of the scenes in the movie, he is seen playing the piano which leads the audience to question whether or not Cooper really learned to play piano for the movie or not.
Did Bradley Cooper Learn to Play the Piano?
It is not uncommon for actors to use body doubles to shoot certain scenes of a movie such as the fight sequences or other skills that the actors do not know. Similarly, actors learning certain skills for a movie is also not unheard of, especially if they are dedicated to making scenes as realistic as possible.
Bradley Cooper happens to be of the latter kind. For his portrayal of the established singer Jackson Maine in the 2018 film A Star is Born, he undertook 18 months of vocal training. Directed by Cooper, A Star is Born earned great critical and commercial acclaim.
The Guardians of the Galaxy star did it again for Maestro in the scene in which he plays piano alongside his best friend Brian Clements’ character Aaron Copland, Bernstein’s close friend. He actually learned piano for the movie according to what he told Classic FM in an interview. He said:
“I can only learn the thing that you see! The same thing as in A Star is Born – I just learned those specific pieces because I never wanted to cut to a hand, or do some sort of face replacement. We spent months learning that piece. And that’s us playing. What you’re hearing is a much, much better version of playing – but that is us playing!”
This revelation adds to the extent to which Bradley Cooper went to make sure that the movie was as good as it could possibly be. Maestro evidently deserves every bit of the appreciation it is getting if not more.
Bradley Cooper Learned Conducting for Maestro
Bradley Cooper did not spend six years making Maestro for nothing. He strived to make the movie the cinematic masterpiece it has turned out to be. With Carey Mulligan playing the role of Felicia Montealegre and the likes of Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg co-producing the movie alongside Cooper, the movie couldn’t be any better.
Read More: Maestro: 1 Bradley Cooper Act Even Made Leonard Bernstein’s Daughter Take a Bow
Talking of his journey to becoming Bernstein, Bradley Cooper told Classical FM:
“It was a terrifying, daunting journey. It wasn’t as if every day I was like, I’m one step closer to Lenny. It took a lot a tremendous amount of work – on the voice, on learning how to conduct, specifically Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’, studying his mannerisms … the way he spoke and then simultaneously writing the script.”
Cooper has indeed done a great job of playing Bernstein in the movie while also directing it. So far, the movie has received great critical acclaim and is even nominated for Golden Globe Awards.
Frequently asked questions
Did Bradley Cooper really learn to play piano for Maestro?
Yes, Cooper told Classic FM he spent months learning specific piano pieces for Maestro so he would never need a hand double or face replacement during those scenes.
Did Bradley Cooper also train for A Star Is Born?
Yes, Cooper undertook 18 months of vocal training to play singer Jackson Maine in the 2018 film A Star Is Born, which he also directed.
What other skill did Bradley Cooper learn for Maestro?
Beyond piano, Cooper learned conducting for Maestro, including practicing Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony to portray composer Leonard Bernstein.
