Alec and Cait (example of Alec's playing)
New Orleans jazz (f. Noah Plotkin
Atlantic Co bar, Brooklyn, NY 8/13. Photo by Christian Carroll.
Atlantic Co bar, Brooklyn, NY 8/13. Photo by Christian Carroll.
Stockholm Studios, 2/14. Photo by Christian Carroll.
Photo by Christian Carroll
Article on my musical work
I have played piano since I was 7 years old and now have decades of recording and performing experience. Skilled in jazz improvisation and possessing a large repertoire of pop, folk and rock classics, I can adapt well to various events including cocktail hours, wedding music, parties, etc. I'm psyched to do whatever you want, be it gentle background classical or jazz-influenced improvs, 10 Beatles tunes in a row or a set ranging from Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" to Disney tunes to Tom Waits. I prefer to play gigs instrumentally, but if you want vocals, I have folks I can call up to join me and make a duo. I will respond quickly and am happy to answer any questions you have!
9 reviews
Angela F.
March 31, 2025We hired Alec to play piano at my baby shower after listening to his videos. He was proactive in asking for requests and details surrounding the event. At the shower he played for 4 straight hours nonstop. He took requests from guests and everyone raved about his playing. A little one asked him to play music from Frozen and he happily obliged. So many people wondered how he could play for so long and how he knew so many different variations of songs. Alec was absolutely wonderful, talented and professional. I highly recommend him for your next event, you will not be disappointed and your guests will be in awe!
Hired as: Pianist
Alec Betterley
Thanks, Angela! Loved being a part of your wonderful event :).
Alec
Crystal K.
November 16, 2024I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you, Alec for the beautiful music you played at my mom's surprise 70th birthday celebration. Your performance truly added a magical touch to the event and created a warm, elegant atmosphere that everyone will remember. You are very talented! Thank you again!
Hired as: Pianist
Paul Z.
January 13, 2024Alec was great. He arrived early which really worked out well. He was happy to just play awesome music in the background and right there when we wanted to get up and sing. Everyone really enjoyed his playing!
Hired as: Pianist
Nilsa B.
November 20, 2016Alec was a total gentleman, professional, talented and very accomodatiNguyen. made our party amazing. I can't thank him enough. was on time and can play abynthing!! thanks Alec!!
Hired as: Pianist
Alec Betterley
Thanks Nilsa! I had a wonderful time playing your party.
Price range: $250 and up
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 300 minutes
I travel by car and have both a Yamaha P120 and Nord Stage 2 keyboard, stands and a Roland amp that can meet most sound level needs. I bring all necessary cables/adapters including power strips, extension cords, etc. A piano onsite is very ideal; if a tuned piano is available for the performance, that might result in a lower fee. I ask that the host or venue pay to have the piano tuned if a tuning is necessary.
Other gear that I own and can transport for certain gigs include my Mellotron Mini M4000D, Yamaha DX7 and Korg M1 keyboards.
Alec Betterley is an Albany, NY-based songwriter, freelance pianist and film composer. Trained in classical piano during his formative years, Alec branched out into jazz, blues and rock piano as a teenager and has been performing primarily in these styles ever since. Alec completed a Masters in Music Therapy at New York University and currently works as a full-time music therapist at Wildwood School in Schenectady, NY. Experienced playing weddings, cocktail hours and parties of all varieties, Alec can mold his piano stylings and large repertoire to your specifications. Alec can improvise jazz, classical-style, and blues music and can weave classic songs into and out of the mix. Easy to work with, friendly and adaptable to the requests of all clients, Alec will be a great addition to your event.
Most common/ideal events:
-Wedding package (play couple down the aisle as well as provide cocktail hour music)
-Holiday parties
-Cocktail parties
-Engagement proposals
-Birthday parties
If you have a piano, chances are that's all I'll need sound-wise. Those things can usually fill a room pretty nicely! If the piano needs to be mic'd, I will need to have those supplies provided; I do not currently have the ability to travel with a PA and mic a piano.
If I travel with my gear, the Roland amp I have should provide ample sound for most environments. I travel with extra cables/extension cords and I take care of the sound needs so that you can have a worry-free event.
Saturday
Cocktail Party
5:30pm - 9:00pm
•
Manchester Center, VT
Saturday
Baby Shower
1:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Albany, NY
Saturday
Birthday Party
12:00pm - 2:30pm
•
Albany, NY
Saturday
Birthday Party
3:00pm - 6:00pm
•
Voorheesville, NY
Thursday
Dinner Party
8:00pm - 10:00pm
•
Tully, NY
Friday
Christmas Party
5:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Dorset, VT
Saturday
Birthday (Adult)
8:00pm - 10:00pm
•
New York City, NY
Saturday
Cocktail Party
8:00pm - 11:00pm
•
New York City, NY
Saturday
Fundraiser
6:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Pelham Manor, NY
Saturday
Bridal Shower
12:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Allenhurst, NJ
Repertoire (piano-based, instrumental renditions)
Jazz Standards:
All of Me
Autumn Leaves
Beautiful Love
Don’t Get a Round Much Anymore
Fever
Moonlight in Vermont
Take the ‘A’ Train
Valerie
… and many more
Pop/Folk Classics (a tiny sampling):
Beach Boys - God Only Knows
The Beatles - Hey Jude
The Beatles - In My Life
The Beatles - You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
Cass, Mama - Dream a Little Dream Of Me
Grateful Dead - Ripple
Joel, Billy - Piano Man
Joel, Billy - Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Jones, Norah - Don’t Know Why
King, Carole - You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman
King, Carole - You’ve Got a Friend
Lennon, John - Imagine
Mitchell, Joni - River
Simon, Carly - Anticipation
Simon, Carly - Nobody Does it Better
Sinatra, Frank - Just The Way You Look Tonight
Springsteen, Bruce - Fire
Springsteen, Bruce - I’m On Fire
Springsteen, Bruce - Thunder Road
Taylor, James - Fire and Rain
Taylor, James - Sweet Baby James
Wilco - Far Far Away
Winehouse, Amy (/The Zutons) - Valerie
Withers, Bill - Lean On Me
Young, Neil - Harvest Moon
Young, Neil - Out on the Weekend
Young, Neil - Unknown Legend
… and MANY more. Happy to learn songs of your choosing for your special event!
Below is a list of artists where I feel comfortable playing many of 'the hits' as well as a variety of other tunes (instrumentally):
Adele, Alicia Keys, Allman Brothers Band, Amy Winehouse, The Band, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Ben Folds Five(/solo), Beyonce, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Carly Simon, Carole King, Chuck Berry, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Fleet Foxes, Frank Sinatra, G n' R, Grateful Dead, Green Day, James Taylor, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, John Prine, Joni Mitchell, Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, The Kinks, Leonard Cohen, Mariah Carey, Marvin Gaye, Mountain Goats, Neil Young, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nina Simone, Nirvana, Olivia Rodrigo, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Patsy Cline, Phish, The Ramones, R.E.M., Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, Simon & Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, Talking Heads, Taylor Swift, They Might Be Giants, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Traveling Wilburys, Vampire Weekend, Van Morrison, Velvet Underground, Weezer, Wilco, Whitney Houston, Willie Nelson.
& lots more. I am always happy to learn stuff, from jazz standards to instrumental Cardi B and anything in between.
The Beatles, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Disney music, Brian Wilson, Nirvana, Leonard Bernstein, Carole King, Billy Joel and onward... (I could go on all day!)
All I need is a power source with two inputs! For a large event, I prefer to a direct input box into a PA system. That said, I bring a powerful Roland amp and can always use that. If you have a piano in your house, I ask that it be fairly recently tuned.
Pianist
