Welcome

This site is a celebration of the rich, diverse world of American piano music—its hidden gems, iconic voices, and everything in between. From the syncopated charm of ragtime to the soulful pulse of jazz, blues, and modern classical, American Piano Music is here to spotlight the composers who helped define the sound of a nation. If you’re drawn to expressive piano playing and musical discovery, you’ve come to the right place.

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About Me

My name is Corte Swearingen. I’m a pianist living in the beautiful, historic city of St. Augustine, Florida. Though I’ve been playing the piano for nearly 50 years, it wasn’t until I moved here in 2018 that I began seriously recording and sharing my performances.

 

My focus today is clear: I research, interpret, and promote the piano works of American composers—some well known, many too often overlooked. I believe this music is as rich and meaningful as anything you’ll hear in the concert hall, and I want to give it the spotlight it deserves.

 

The spark for this journey was lit when I was just 10 years old. Wandering through Walt Disney World's Main Street U.S.A., I heard a pianist playing Scott Joplin’s Magnetic Rag—though I didn’t know what it was at the time. I was transfixed. That experience planted a seed, and decades later, it's grown into this project.

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About This Site

AmericanPianoMusic.com is more than a performance archive—it's a curated experience and growing digital library of America’s pianistic voice. Each composer featured here has a dedicated section with a brief biography, select video performances (many performed by me), and a list of their solo piano works.

 

You’ll find a wide range of genres represented: ragtime, classical, blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, modernist, minimalist—you name it. Some of the composers wrote just a handful of piano pieces. Others left behind vast catalogs. I include them all not based on fame, but on the strength of the music itself.

 

I also provide links to sheet music wherever possible, so if you’re a pianist yourself, you can explore this repertoire directly.

 

New composers are being added regularly, so check back often! You can also subscribe to my American Piano Music YouTube channel. 

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Choosing the Music

This site isn't about showcasing the "greatest hits" of American piano music—though you’ll certainly find some here. It’s about discovery. You’ll encounter composers who shaped musical trends, challenged conventions, or simply wrote a beautiful piece or two that deserves to be heard.

 

Quantity isn’t the goal—quality is. Every composer featured has something meaningful to offer. And whether you're here to listen, learn, or play the music yourself, I hope you’ll find inspiration in the diversity and depth of this repertoire.

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Thanks for stopping by, and for letting me share this music with you. I hope it sparks your curiosity, deepens your appreciation, and connects you to the rich legacy of American piano music.

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—Corte Swearingen

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