virtuoso
vur-choo-OH-sohnounMeaning a person with outstanding skill, especially in playing music
Memory hook vir-CHOO-OH-SO: fast as a CHOO-CHOO. Lin’s fingers race over the piano keys like a speeding train: choo-choo, oh so fast! She is a virtuoso.
The violin virtuoso played so fast that her bow seemed to blur.
In context Many players can stumble through that hard passage, but only a virtuoso like Lin makes it sound easy, as if her fingers were simply dancing on the keys.
Similar master, maestro, expert, ace
Opposite novice, beginner, amateur
From Italian virtuoso, “skilled, excellent,” from Latin virtus, “excellence, worth.”