Musical instruments

Playing an instrument

Note the use of de with jouer :

to play the piano

= jouer du piano

to play the clarinet

= jouer de la clarinette

but

to learn the piano

= apprendre le piano

Players

English -ist is often French -iste ; the gender reflects the sex of the player.

a violinist

= un or une violoniste

a pianist

= un or une pianiste

A phrase with joueur/joueuse de X is usually safe.

a piccolo player

= un joueur or une joueuse de piccolo

a horn player

= un joueur or une joueuse de cor

But note the French when these words are used with good and bad like this :

he’s a good pianist

= il joue bien du piano

he’s not a good pianist

= il ne joue pas bien du piano

he’s a bad pianist

= il joue mal du piano

As in English, the name of the instrument is often used to refer to its player :

she’s a first violin

= elle est premier violon

Music

a piano piece

= un morceau pour piano

a piano arrangement

= un arrangement pour piano

a piano sonata

= une sonate pour piano

a concerto for piano and orchestra

= un concerto pour piano et orchestre

the piano part

= la partie pour piano

Use with another noun

De is usually correct :

to take piano lessons

= prendre des leçons de piano

a violin maker

= un fabricant de violons

a violin solo

= un solo de violon

a piano teacher

= un professeur de piano

but note the à here :

a violin case

= un étui à violon

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.