Sadly this craft is governed by ignorance, exploited by the ignorant and manipulated by the greedy.
Hi,I started playing the piano at the age of 10. After studying for about 8 year I could no longer practice since I started studying in a University which didn't leave me much time. Recently, at the age of 42, I found myself being attracted to piano more and more. I am taking lessons with a professional teacher and practice about 4 hours a day.I am wondering if there is any way I can make up for the lost years and become a professional concert pianist. Currently I play some of Chopin's etudes, Mozart's sonatas, and many many finger dexterity exercises. I can play the etudes with no mistakes at an acceptable speed but not as brilliantly as those that you hear on CDs. What do you think ? Is it too late ?Does anyone share the same story ?Thanks,Tsachi Rosenhouse
m1469 is right in one point.There is no "king" deciding who can or cannot be a concert pianist.
Which is where a person commitment, "want" and I would say "guts" come in. It is where a tough skin comes in.Tough skin to face skeptics, to face strangers, friends and family who disagree with the goal/goals.
Okay, FINE, I'll tell you my own plan, but this is pretty much top secret, as far as somebody like *cough* (MachineMe) *cough* is concerned. 1. Keep studying my buns off (not all the way off) with my fab teachers.2. Get mind-blowingly good.3. Win some contests. Continue building my bio. 4. Get super gorgeous and wear great clothes.5. Website/YouTube/etc..6. Local/regional (branching) concerts.7. Play the piano even at singing events ... hee hee.8. Sing the pants off of things (to get more people's attention).9. ooooohhhh ... magic 9 ... win my audience over one by one and love them .10. etc.11. Find people who believe in me. If MachineMe kills me though, it's on YOUR shoulders! I'm not going to lie to you, there's probably going to be a few more tears involved. I'ma gonna leave the past in the dust, and I'ma gonna builds me a futuh! *runs to the piano*
Your "success" may also be determined on what exactly you mean by "professional concert pianist". If you mean "I want to be in a situation where the concert promoter says 'Hmmm....either Kissin or this guy" and "this guy" is you...then maybe the odds are really, really poor.However, if you want to be known in your community and region and not take bookings away from Hamelin, then maybe there is a way if you are creative. I am sick of the "star" system and would gladly pay to hear a decent pianist I hadn't heard of, playing repertoire that aren't full of war horses - but I don't get any information on them because the system is so skewed towards STARS. I know I can't be the only one out there who feels like this. The question is how to tap this market? The alternative "indie" musicians do it by small clubs and a fervent promotion/identification to/with their fans - and bypass the whole music business which could care less about them. There has to be a way for good regional musicians to do the same thing!
Valentina LisitsaValentina LisitsaValentina LisitsaValentina LisitsaAnd that Ukranian blonde that i forgot the name...i think its Valentina Something...
I didn't read all the comments is detail but some should have mentioned You Tube. All you have to do is play some spectacular show-pieces (or even delicate masterpieces like Bach or Scarlatti), have the camera record them and see what people say on the internet. You Tube, Check it out.
I am wondering if there were any well known concert pianist(s) that started their professional career after the age of 35?
Well, that is where you and I finally, after all these years, strongly disagree. I think that if there is one ingredient that IS actually necessary, it's that cats must be somehow involved (and probably the bigger the better). And, fyi, I don't wake up at two in the morning thinking about piano-related things and wanting to get up and practice in the freezing garage on my digital because I am mellow about it!
What do you think ? Is it too late ?