"While he was waiting in line, he saw a piano and was playing classical music like it was Symphony Hall, " McCarthy said.

CNN: SHARE THIS

Apart from my classical training in piano, I have learned everything I know about music by watching other people -- many of them the best in their fields -- play online.

CNN: The Internet was my music teacher

Between her roots in classical piano and her jazz-guitar education at the Berklee College of Music, it would be easy for Larkin to fall back on technical prowess and ability to experiment with instruments such as the "baribow" (a baritone guitar played with a violin bow).

NPR: Patty Larkin: Haunted Songs

" Inspired by this quote, and the music and life of Johnny Cash, I composed a classical piano trio called "Poets and Prophets.

NPR: Johnny Cash's 'Big River'

They did not own a piano, but his father had a gramophone and a collection of classical music records to which the young Davis would listen avidly.

BBC: Obituary: Colin Davis

He took classical piano lessons as a child which later contributed to the fusion style of The Doors' music.

BBC: Doors co-founder Ray Manzarek dies at 74 in Germany

Having been schooled in piano improvisation at USC's Thorton School of Music, Eldar has released three albums on Sony Classical.

NPR: Eldar: Complex Improvisation