Jake Harper
In 2017, Shannon Myers and Sei-Hee Arii appeared on America's Got Talent with their piano-playing hen, Jokgu, a 2-year-old Buff Brahma from Germantown, Maryland. Jokgu played the melody of 'America the Beautiful' on a chicken-sized keyboard, receiving four yeses from the judges and a standing ovation from Simon Cowell. Jokgu was not alone, as Japanese pianist Aya also performed classical piano with a chicken named Piinaccho sitting on her head.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Jokgu |
| Species | Chicken |
| Breed | Buff Brahma |
| Age | 2 years old |
| Gender | Female |
| Owners | Shannon Myers and Sei-Hee Arii (also known as Seiree Arii) |
| Band | The Flockstars |
| Training Method | Clicker training |
| Television Appearances | America's Got Talent |
| Songs Played | "America the Beautiful", "The Star-Spangled Banner" |
| Other Notable Performances | Played "Heart and Soul" with a human friend on bass |
| Social Media Presence | YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
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What You'll Learn
Jokgu, the piano-playing chicken, appeared on America's Got Talent
Jokgu, the piano-playing chicken, first rose to fame in 2017 with her viral performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner". She later appeared on America's Got Talent, where she played "America the Beautiful" on a miniature keyboard in front of a live audience. Jokgu's owners, Shannon Myers and Seiree Arii, claimed that their intelligent chicken would play the melodic tribute to America's Purple Mountain Majesties. While Jokgu did not exactly "play" the keyboard like a human pianist, she followed a red light that appeared next to each key. Despite this, her performance was impressive and entertaining enough to wow the judges and receive a standing ovation from Simon Cowell.
Jokgu is a 2-year-old Buff Brahma bantam chicken from Germantown, Maryland. She is part of a band called The Flockstars, which includes her chicken sisters, Spaetzl on drums and Millie on the xylophone. The chicken's owners used clicker training, a gentle reinforcement-based strategy, to help Jokgu develop her piano skills. While she may not be a traditional pianist, her unique talent has certainly captured the hearts of many.
In her initial appearance on America's Got Talent, Jokgu performed "America the Beautiful" while her owners, Myers and Arii, played music over the sound system. However, despite the duo's claims, Jokgu did not play any notes on the keyboard during this performance. She instead went about her "chicken business", turning around and pecking at her feathers. This did not deter the judges, who voted yes and sent Jokgu to the Judge Cuts.
In the next round, Jokgu was joined by her sister, Aichan, and they attempted to play "Born to be Wild" together on the piano. Unfortunately, both chickens refused to play the pianos in front of them, despite prodding from their owners. This time, the judges buzzed the act, eliminating Jokgu and Aichan from the competition. Despite their early exit, Jokgu and her feathered bandmates continued to captivate audiences and even launched their own line of e-greeting cards and apparel.
Jokgu, the piano-playing chicken, may not have won America's Got Talent, but she certainly left a lasting impression. Her unique talent and adorable stage presence captured the hearts of judges and viewers alike, proving that chickens can indeed be musical sensations. While her time on the show was brief, Jokgu's legacy as a piano-playing chicken lives on, showing that even feathered friends can find their rhythm and shine on stage.
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Jokgu's owners used clicker training to teach her to play
Jokgu, the piano-playing chicken, rose to fame in 2017 after appearing on America's Got Talent. Her owners, Shannon Myers and Sei-Hee (Seiree) Arii, also known as Two Creative Chicks, trained Jokgu to play the piano using clicker training, a gentle reinforcement-based training strategy.
Clicker training is a positive reinforcement technique that has been used to train a variety of animals, from dolphins to dogs, and even chickens! It involves marking a desired behavior with a distinct signal, often a clicker, followed by a reward. This helps the animal associate the behavior with a positive outcome, encouraging them to repeat it.
In the case of Jokgu, her owners likely broke down the complex task of playing the piano into smaller, achievable steps. Each step would be rewarded with a click and a treat, gradually building up to the final behavior of playing a melody on the piano. While Jokgu may not have played the piano with the same finesse as a human pianist, her performance was still impressive and entertaining.
Jokgu's performance on America's Got Talent showcased her unique talent. Initially, she appeared reluctant, perhaps due to stage fright, and instead went about her "chicken business," pecking at her feathers. However, with encouragement from her owners, Jokgu began to play "America the Beautiful" on her miniature keyboard, following a red light appearing next to each key. Her performance delighted the judges and the audience, receiving a standing ovation from Simon Cowell and advancing to the next round.
Jokgu's journey to becoming a piano-playing sensation demonstrates the effectiveness of clicker training and the potential for animals to learn surprising new skills. While it may not be the traditional way to learn the piano, Jokgu and her owners have certainly proven that it is possible and captivated audiences worldwide with their unique act.
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The chicken's band is called The Flockstars
The piano-playing chicken named Jokgu rose to fame in 2017 when she appeared on America's Got Talent, playing "America the Beautiful" on a chicken-sized keyboard. Jokgu is a 2-year-old Buff Brahma from Germantown, Maryland, and part of the band The Flockstars. The chicken duo, comprising Jokgu and her partner chicken, Aichan, made it past the first round of the competition, impressing the judges with their unusual talent. However, in the next round, the pair refused to play the pianos and were sent home.
Jokgu's journey to becoming a piano-playing sensation began with her owners, Shannon Myers and Sei-Hee or Seiree Arii, also known as Two Creative Chicks. They used clicker training, a gentle reinforcement-based training strategy, to teach Jokgu how to play the piano. While Jokgu may not play the piano like a human pianist, her unique talent captured the hearts of many.
The Flockstars, Jokgu's band, includes Spaetzl, an Appenzeller Spitzhauben on drums, and Millie, a Mille Fleur D'uccle on the xylophone. Together, they perform at various events, including weddings, birthdays, and New Year's parties, and have a dedicated fan base on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Jokgu's rise to stardom showcases the unexpected talents that animals can possess when given the right training and encouragement. Her story has inspired and entertained people worldwide, proving that sometimes, all it takes is a unique skill to stand out and make a name for oneself.
While Jokgu and her fellow Flockstars may not be the next Mozart, their musical pursuits have brought joy to many, and their dedication to their craft is admirable. They have shown that even chickens can join in on the fun of making music, and their popularity continues to grow with each performance.
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The piano-playing chicken followed a red light appearing next to each key
In 2017, Shannon Myers and Sei-Hee Arii appeared on America's Got Talent with their piano-playing hen, Jokgu. The chicken delighted the sceptical audience and judges when she started to play "America the Beautiful" on a miniature chicken-sized keyboard.
Jokgu, a 2-year-old Buff Brahma from Germantown, Maryland, first rose to fame in 2017 with her viral hit, "The Star-Spangled Banner". She plays the piano with her band, The Flockstars, which includes Spaetzl, an Appenzeller Spitzhauben on drums, and Millie, a Mille Fleur D’uccle on the xylophone.
Jokgu's owners used clicker training, a gentle reinforcement-based training strategy, to help get the chicken’s pianist skills up to par. While it may not be as structured as the Suzuki Method, Jokgu's rhythm is sometimes a little off. However, it seems to have been just the thing to propel her musical career into stardom.
Jokgu's performance on America's Got Talent was certainly entertaining. While she did not exactly “play” the keyboard like human pianists, she followed a red light that appeared next to each key. This is similar to how some other animals have been trained to play the piano, with the keys being pressed by the animal following a light or a treat.
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A video of a chicken playing a piano was posted on Reddit
A video of a chicken playing the piano was posted on Reddit in 2016. The video, titled "Chicken plays piano. Does a great job," shows a chicken playing a toy piano and garnered various comments and reactions from Redditors. Some users debated the authenticity of the video, with some believing that the chicken's notes were edited or manipulated to fit a melody. Others commented on the chicken's skill, the unique nature of the performance, and the potential training methods used.
The chicken in the video is likely Jokgu, a piano-playing Buff Brahma from Germantown, Maryland, who gained fame in 2017. Jokgu first rose to prominence after a video of her playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" went viral. She later appeared on "America's Got Talent" alongside her owners, Shannon Myers and Sei-Hee or Seiree Arii, where she played "'America the Beautiful' on a miniature keyboard. Jokgu's performance impressed the judges, including Simon Cowell, who gave her a standing ovation.
Jokgu's talent can be attributed to clicker training, a gentle reinforcement-based strategy employed by her owners, who are advocates of "fowl play." While Jokgu may not play the piano in the traditional sense, following a red light appearing next to each key, her performances have captivated audiences and showcased the potential of chickens to learn and perform unexpected tasks.
The Reddit post and subsequent comments highlight the internet's fascination with unique and adorable animal talents. Jokgu's piano-playing skills have not only entertained people but also sparked discussions about music, training methods, and the potential of chickens as performers. The chicken's Reddit appearance and subsequent rise to fame demonstrate the power of online platforms to launch animals, and their owners, into the spotlight.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the piano-playing chicken is Jokgu.
Jokgu was trained by Shannon Myers and Seiree or Sei-Hee Arii, also known as Two Creative Chicks.
Jokgu performed on America's Got Talent in 2017 and received a standing ovation from Simon Cowell.
