He has studied for a time with Luciano Berio and also at the Milan Conservatory. As a pianist, most of his compositions involve the piano in some form, either as pieces for solo piano or as part of a small chamber group with piano and strings. His compositions aare relatively simple but heartfelt. As a reference points, his works can be described as belonging to the minimalist school with some similarities to the work of Philip Glass and Michael Nyman, particularly the latter's music for the film The Piano. However Einaudi's lyricism and chord progressions also seem to imply synergies with folk or popular music, perhaps suggesting some affinity with the work of Yann Tiersen and Clint Mansell or ambient composers such as Brian Eno, with some tracks bearing a resemblance to James Horner's music for "Legends of the Fall".