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Piano Board => Teaching => Topic started by: fliszt on January 03, 2006, 11:49:57 AM

Title: songs or pieces
Post by: fliszt on January 03, 2006, 11:49:57 AM
okey i actually didnt want to start this topic.. but am i the only one who's irritated by people that claim to be good pianist and then call a piece a song!! what!!

i think it is a very bad habbit for pianist to call pieces songs. Even in the teacher forum i see teachers calling pieces songs.. i just cant stand it!

can someone give me an explenation ( im dutch.. dont know the exact words ) why you guys call it the wrong way?


grtz
Title: Re: songs or pieces
Post by: infectedmushroom on January 03, 2006, 12:54:40 PM
I think some people don't mind if a piece is called a "piece" or called a "song".

I have to agree with you, it's kinda unproffesional to call, for example, a Chopin Etude a "song". When I think of songs, I have to think of Coldplay and stuff, not about those great classical pieces.  ;)

Anyway, I don't get that irritated if people call pieces a "song". In most of the situations you know what the pianist is talking about, but okay, it should be "piece" if it is a piece.  :P ::)
Title: Re: songs or pieces
Post by: abell88 on January 03, 2006, 01:17:48 PM
In beginner books, the pieces often have words, so they are truly songs. Since "song" is a word children are familiar with, perhaps people get in the habit then.
Title: Re: songs or pieces
Post by: jamie_liszt on January 03, 2006, 02:58:59 PM
You refer to Etudes as Etudes, Songs as songs and pieces as pieces, if someone calls a piece a song dont get so worked up about it, if you want to tell them tell them, but dont say "you are very unprofessional and not good because you called it a song" and dont go posting smartass comments in other posts treating them like dumbasses.

Its like someone calling a pop song from the top 40's a piece and not a song, if someone did i might mention it, or i might just let it go because its so stupid to get so worked up about.

oh and yes this topic is a bit stupid.
Title: Re: songs or pieces
Post by: astroboy on January 04, 2006, 04:45:35 PM
I just use the general rule of thumb: songs are sung, and pieces are played. It was only when I started my music course at university I was informed about the pieces/songs thingy. oops hehe
Title: Re: songs or pieces
Post by: donjuan on January 04, 2006, 06:23:43 PM
You refer to Etudes as Etudes, Songs as songs and pieces as pieces, if someone calls a piece a song dont get so worked up about it, if you want to tell them tell them, but dont say "you are very unprofessional and not good because you called it a song" and dont go posting smartass comments in other posts treating them like dumbasses.

Its like someone calling a pop song from the top 40's a piece and not a song, if someone did i might mention it, or i might just let it go because its so stupid to get so worked up about.

oh and yes this topic is a bit stupid.
agree 100%