Rob Vanandel

Rob Vanandel is a Dutch pianist who lives in The Netherlands. Born around 1956, he describes himself as a musical omnivore: pop, jazz, semi-classical, hard rock and blues all appeal to him, and he plays them all. He spent over 50 years playing in bands and combos before deciding, in August 2020, to concentrate on recording his own piano compositions and covers.

His best-known pieces are the "Quietudes", a name that plays on "quiet etudes". These are calm, relaxing piano pieces meant to guide listeners into a feeling of serenity. He suggests they suit daydreaming, meditating and sleeping, and also times of grief or melancholy. He says that if you open your heart to them, they can accompany you through any emotion, from sadness to joy, and gently lead you toward calm. Each Quietude is numbered, so listeners can build playlists to fit their own practice. For a 10-15 minute meditation session, for example, he suggests combining three or four.

Alongside the Quietudes, Rob records covers of recent pop songs. He chooses songs that appeal to him, or that pose the challenge of turning them into an attractive piano piece. His videos are recorded live and paired with Pixabay pictures, and he shares them on his YouTube channel as romantic, relaxing piano music that also suits meditation and yoga.