Normal pianists?

[Bob]

So many I see seem a little off in some way.  Not quite normal.  I wonder if they got a little messed up mentally from studying the piano.

What performers or teachers are "normal?"

I just ran into one...  creeped me out and reminded me of this idea.

[steve jones]

Its probably the years of deprivation, isolation etc, combined with a good dose of extrovertism!

SJ

[rc]

hahah, piano creeps eh?

I can start to feel myself turning strange when I've been holed up practicing for too long without much human contact. I'm sure a lifestyle like that would produce a weirdo.

[donjuan]

many people in the arts are weird; you should see the english department of my university - they are all a bunch of communists!  A lot of the profs -even the men- are ravonously feminist.  Pianists are the same way; I guess its considered 'fashionable' to deviate from the norm.

[steve jones]

Yes, but only with those who need to imitate!

SJ

[Tash]

since when was anyone normal?

[alejo_90]

since when was anyone normal?

True !

[henrah]

Normality is a mentality, and if the pianists live their life how they want there is nothing to render them abnormal, except towards other people who's living is different.

We would most prefer a normal partner (one with not many differences to ourselves) than an abnormal partner (one with completely the opposite personality), wouldn't we? Though a well known saying tells otherwise...

Henrah

[m1469]

I am normal 

[alwaystheangel]

piano players are nothing compared to composers and Conducters.  But the really into-it pianists seem to tend towards the unhinged side of the spectrum.

[quantum]

I remember talking to some of my classmates during our very first week at university as music students.  One of the professors apparantly drove around for 6 hours trying to look for some "tone" he heard in his head.  We all joked that the scary thing about being a music student is some day we would be doing the same thing.

.... Couple years later - we are so much on our way to becoming like that.  Thank you profs, you taught us well.   

Actually I don't think he ever did find that tone he was searching for. 

[penguinlover]

I am normal too, m1469.  I do live with hundreds of penguins and tend to harmonize with school bells and other random tones.  But  that comes with the territory!

[arensky]

since when was anyone normal?

yes....

[dinosaurtales]

Well let's face it - it takes a special personality to spend 5 hours at a time in a practice room by yourself.  That's one reason I also play the clarinet - in a band - to get some social interaction.  Folks that play orchiestral instruments get more interaction on a regular basis. not as lonely.

[quantum]

What if it is infact us musicians who are normal and the rest of the world that isn't normal? 

[anekdote]

Piano had no influence over my normality. I was abnormal from birth.

[quantum]

Well according to Webster normal is:

2b : conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern
3 : occurring naturally

So from those definitions woudn't a state or abnormality constitute a state of normality within the state of abnormality? 

Couldn't we then agree to divide all such behaviours into classes of abnormality within which is contained a state of relative normality?

Therefore is it possible to say that x is an element of abnormality such that in each state of abnormality there exists a subset of normality.

Wouldn't this mean then that the concept of "abnormality" is not a description but rather  one of many classifier headings under which substates of "normality" can exist. 

Eg: Think of abnormality as a star in the galaxy.  There are many stars which can contain solar systems of planetiods.  There is a possibility that life could be evolving on similar such solar systems as ours.  Normality is a presumed within the interactions of the life within the solar system, but once there is an attempt to contact life elsewhere it may appear that such life forms are not "normal" because they do not contain the same specifications. 

Is my thinking abnormal?    but wait then that would mean it is really normal. 

[alwaystheangel]

I think RC was asking if piano player can be normal as in are there any pianists that aren't socially retarded?

[Mozartian]

Well, the concept of "normalcy" is subjective, as the general meaning people have when they use the word "normal" is "like everyone else".

Therefore, being "normal" may actually be undesirable!

Take example A: everyone randomly becomes obsessed with eating nothing but bananas and playing dragonballz. Would you want to be "normal" in that scenario?

However, I do agree- professional pianists are.. weird.

[donjuan]

However, I do agree- professional pianists are.. weird.

  i'll say..

[Mozartian]

...I have no words.

LOL

[alwaystheangel]

what's he doing with his hands. Kind of Alien-like, I think.

[alejo_90]

Hey, he looks like a child in that photo. I think he's playing with his hands.

[alwaystheangel]

well, it creeps me out, I mean look at his EYES, they're like "wanna play?" creepy doll/ child in a horror film eyes... *shudder*

[alejo_90]

well, it creeps me out, I mean look at his EYES, they're like "wanna play?" creepy doll/ child in a horror film eyes... *shudder*

Lol  Nice description. Also note that his hair is shorter than normal.

Alex

[alwaystheangel]

well, you know :$

[nanabush]

Ya I play piano, and I'm a weirdo haha.  Not weird like "wanna play?" weird... I'm just really random and spontanious.  My personality can be described by an episode of family guy. 

[alejo_90]

BTW Have you heard Kissin's voice. It's something like : "It wath neveth vigtuothithy fog the thake of the thound" (It was never virtuosity for the sake of the sound). And sometimes he stops talking for about a minute while he looks at the floor, then he starts again. It's just too funny. 

Cheers
Alex

[alwaystheangel]

See? See? Socially Retarded!!!
Poor bugger...

[donjuan]

BTW Have you heard Kissin's voice. It's something like : "It wath neveth vigtuothithy fog the thake of the thound" (It was never virtuosity for the sake of the sound). And sometimes he stops talking for about a minute while he looks at the floor, then he starts again. It's just too funny. 

Cheers
Alex

I believe the line was "Et wath nevah vaightuothec.....(9 seconds)....foe tha sthAke.. of vaightuothitay" 

haha kind of like Mr. Bean

[alejo_90]

Bwahahahahahahahhahahahahahahaha  

Yes it was like that!
It's from "The art of Piano" Interview !

Lol