User:Bkat004/List of Instruments Played by U.S. Presidents



Though most of the 44 Presidents of the United States have stated their appreciation for listening to Music, only 14 have displayed some proficiency in playing a musical instrument. Only one of Presidential Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, was musically proficient, most especially in playing an instrument which has become the most popular among American Presidents - the Violin. (Benjamin Franklin was also quite adept in music.)

Though singing could be regarded as a musical instrument, this fact will not be included in the following, though Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt did have vocal singing training.

As music technology and music instrument production had made themselves more accessible during the 20th century, people were able to learn music themselves independantly. So was the case for Presidents: 10 of the past 24 presidents were musically proficient.

Thomas Jefferson

 * Clavichord
 * Violin
 * Cello

John Quincy Adams

 * Flute
 * Violin
 * Harp

John Tyler

 * Violin

Abraham Lincoln

 * Violin

Theodore Roosevelt

 * Piano

Chester Alan Arthur

 * Banjo

Franklin D. Roosevelt

 * Organ

Woodrow Wilson

 * Violin

Warren G. Harding

 * Sousaphone

Calvin Coolidge

 * Harmonica

Harry Truman

 * Piano

Richard Nixon

 * Piano
 * Accordion

Ronald Reagan

 * Harmonica

Bill Clinton

 * Saxophone

George W. Bush

 * Guitar