How many people play the piano?

In the years from 1992 to 2012, the college-level study of piano skills increased astronomically, while youth studies began to fall. Undergraduates majoring in piano studies increased by 25 percent, while beginner students between the ages of 8 and 10 in America declined in lesson enrollment.

The sale of new pianos experienced a sharp decline in the years between 2005 and 2012. In 2005, about 35,000 new grand pianos were sold in the United States. As of 2012, that figure had dropped to about 12,000. It's fair to infer that interest in playing the piano has experienced a sharp decline, though the exact number of students is difficult to pin down.