Welcome to pianola.co.nz! Here you can listen to the performances of the great pianists and arrangers of the past, converted from the original player piano rolls to modern MIDI format!

In their heydey, between 1897 and 1930, player pianos transformed the way music was enjoyed by bringing live performances directly into homes—well before records, discs, and radios were commonplace or offered acceptable sound quality. During this golden era, hundreds of thousands of piano rolls were produced by dozens of music roll companies, capturing everything from classical masterpieces and ragtime to the popular hits of the day as recorded or arranged by some of the most famous pianists of the era.

Over a century later, the fragile paper rolls are inevitably succumbing to the effects of time. Thanks to the passion and ingenuity of enthusiasts around the globe, we now have the technology to preserve this incredible musical heritage. Using custom-built optical scanners and specialized software, these scans faithfully capture what was originally recorded or arranged — often over 100 years ago. I’m delighted to offer these scanned piano rolls for free download and listening. All I ask in return is that if you enjoy the music, please sign my guestbook and share your thoughts.

To begin, simply click the “Piano Roll MIDI Scans” link in the menu at the top of the page. You can also explore the Piano Roll Artists page for biographical insights into the performers behind these timeless recordings. For an even more immersive experience—watching the piano keys move in sync with the music as if you were watching a live player piano—download the world’s best MIDI player, available for free. Enjoy the music!