Stupid things non-musicians say to us

[ajspiano]

What a quaintly old fashioned definition. Cup of tea in hand when you wrote that?

Yes, but I didnt write it..  I googled "define music".


Unfortunately I will have to deal with the fact that google also defines dubstep as a form of music..

I have a cup of tea in my hand almost permanently, or atleast near by..  you can feel free to send me that earl grey.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Haha. You should hear me on country, too. 

And I prefer the word "discerning". 

We have a mutual distaste for rap and country.  most of it at least.

But you forgot about Bach.

[j_menz]

But you forgot about Bach.

That's what makes me discerning and you a music snob. 

[j_menz]

Yes, but I didnt write it..  I googled "define music".


Unfortunately I will have to deal with the fact that google also defines dubstep as a form of music..

I have a cup of tea in my hand almost permanently, or atleast near by..  you can feel free to send me that earl grey.

Haha, Google has a lot to answer for.

And you only get the tea if you fit the composers I listed to the definition. 

[ajspiano]

And you only get the tea if you fit the composers I listed to the definition. 

Not a big deal, I already have enough earl grey to get me through dolly parton's discography 10 times over unscathed.

[j_menz]

I have enough earl grey to get me through dolly parton's discography 10 times over unscathed.

Bergamot must be anaesthetising in large doses. Or hallucenogenic.  That must be why Twinings took it out. 

[ajspiano]

Bergamot must be anaesthetising in large doses. Or hallucenogenic.  That must be why Twinings took it out. 

Actually I just use the tea to burn myself during the particularly tough ones like "9 to 5".

[black_keys]

What a quaintly old fashioned definition.  Cup of tea in hand when you wrote that?  

Looooooooool 
the tea is not old fashioned , i drink tea right now.   

[gep]

I will never succumb to Bach!  We will always be enemies; in this life and the next.

How tragic this loss is for you! I really pity you here. It's like reading someone stating he loves to eat but can't stand food.

Mind you, music after Bach would have been profoundly different had Bach not been around. Rachmaninov for ex. would not have existed, or at least not as he did now.

If there is a next life for me (although my karma will probably let me incarnate as a rock) and it doesn't contain Bach,  I'll pass.

NB: I'm sure I read somewhere here that someone thought Justin Bieber made music. Must have mistaken here....

all best,
gep

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Haha. You should hear me on country, too.  

We have a mutual hatred for country music...

[davidjosepha]

this whole "dubstep/rap/country/Justin Bieber's not music" thing is rather ridiculous, don't you think? Of course it's music. It's organized sound. Is it good music? I don't like country or Justin Bieber or (most) dubstep, but I like some rap. You can say what you want about whether or not you like it, but that doesn't make it not music, just, in your opinion, bad music. It's awfully presumptuous to think one person gets to decide that another persons music isn't music.

I know at least some of you were joking around, but I see that sense of condescension a lot in classical musicians and it gets old. I got harassed once by a violinist who told me percussion (I'm assuming she meant non-melodic percussion) isn't music. I then, of course, retorted that she shouldn't feel so smug, since her instrument could only play one more note at a time than drums, while I could play 9 more than her on a piano. (Yes, I know a violin can technically play 3 or 4 notes at a time, and a piano can play at least 12, or more, depending on how much you like mashing your fingers, plus accounting for the fact that a note can be held with pedal, but it's more effective as a response if you keep it simple). I've had old (and not so old) people at my church state that modern music is too simple, and it's just noise, as they devoutly listen to their 3 chord hymns 

Think about it. Wouldn't Mozart be appalled if he heard half the 20th century music so many of us enjoy? I think Mozart would be equally inclined to wonder why someone would listen to Schoenberg as to rap, yet people enjoy both.

I'm not trying to make a statement like "Everything is art, the sound of footsteps is music, the wind is music, a white wall is art," I'm just trying to get a lot of these musical purists to get off their mount.

[j_menz]

I'm just trying to get a lot of these musical purists to get off their mount.

A crowbar, or explosives, may be more effective to that end than argument. 

Besides, some of us are quite comfortable up here.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

this whole "dubstep/rap/country/Justin Bieber's not music" thing is rather ridiculous, don't you think? Of course it's music. It's organized sound. Is it good music? I don't like country or Justin Bieber or (most) dubstep, but I like some rap. You can say what you want about whether or not you like it, but that doesn't make it not music, just, in your opinion, bad music. It's awfully presumptuous to think one person gets to decide that another persons music isn't music.

I know at least some of you were joking around, but I see that sense of condescension a lot in classical musicians and it gets old. I got harassed once by a violinist who told me percussion (I'm assuming she meant non-melodic percussion) isn't music. I then, of course, retorted that she shouldn't feel so smug, since her instrument could only play one more note at a time than drums, while I could play 9 more than her on a piano. (Yes, I know a violin can technically play 3 or 4 notes at a time, and a piano can play at least 12, or more, depending on how much you like mashing your fingers, plus accounting for the fact that a note can be held with pedal, but it's more effective as a response if you keep it simple). I've had old (and not so old) people at my church state that modern music is too simple, and it's just noise, as they devoutly listen to their 3 chord hymns  

Think about it. Wouldn't Mozart be appalled if he heard half the 20th century music so many of us enjoy? I think Mozart would be equally inclined to wonder why someone would listen to Schoenberg as to rap, yet people enjoy both.

I'm not trying to make a statement like "Everything is art, the sound of footsteps is music, the wind is music, a white wall is art," I'm just trying to get a lot of these musical purists to get off their mount.

You're right dude.  The definition of music is organized sound.  So since dubsetp, country, rap is organized sound, then it's music.  

Music is only the pattern of sound waves of different frequencies and wave lengths vibrating the hairs in your ear, (forgot what they're called) and those vibrations are converted into electrical signals that are then sent to your brain to interpret.

But despite that, J_Menz will still admire Bach, and I will still be loyal to my Rachmaninoff!  

[ihck]

You're right dude.  The definition of music is organized sound.  So since dubsetp, country, rap is organized sound, then it's music. 

Music is only the pattern of sound waves of different frequencies and wave lengths vibrating the hairs in your ear, (forgot what they're called) and those vibrations are converted into electrical signals that are then sent to your brain to interpret.

But despite that, J_Menz will still admire Bach, and I will still be loyal to my Rachmaninoff! 

"Music is sonorous air..." -Ferruccio Busoni

[j_menz]

"Music is sonorous air..." -Ferruccio Busoni

"Thereby hangs a tail.." - Shakespeare (Othello 3/1)

[davidjosepha]

"Thereby hangs a tail.." - Shakespeare (Othello 3/1)

"'What three things does drink especially provoke?' / 'Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and / urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes; / it provokes the desire, but it takes / away the performance.'" (Macbeth 2.3.787-91)

[j_menz]

nose-painting

 

Never really noticed that before. What a fun lot the Elizabethans were.

[davidjosepha]

Never really noticed that before. What a fun lot the Elizabethans were.

I read Macbeth in 9th grade, so needless to say, the combination of being completely bored and not understanding sexual references, this entire joke went wayyyyy over my head (or, I assume it did, since I have no recollection of it from when I was actually reading the play).

[rachmaninoff_forever]

'Bigger hands = better pianist'

Yeah okay...

[j_menz]

'Bigger hands = better pianist'

Yeah okay...

A number of threads on this forum would indicate that there are plenty of pianists who believe that as well. 

[ajspiano]

A number of threads on this forum would indicate that there are plenty of pianists who believe that as well. 

perhaps in the same way that musicians aren't necessarily pianists..  pianists aren't necessarily musicians 

[davidjosepha]

'Bigger hands = better pianist'

Yeah okay...

I think you might've misheard the word "pianist" because I've heard that too!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I think you might've misheard the word "pianist" because I've heard that too!

Lol peeanist?

[outin]

I think you might've misheard the word "pianist" because I've heard that too!

I always thought it was bigger thumbs 
Still experimenting though...

[davidjosepha]

Lol peeanist?

I've noticed a definite switch in pronunciation since I started taking piano lessons 11-12 years ago. People used to say "PI-anist" but now they say "pi-AN-ist". I'm thinking this might have something to do with the dropping maturity rate in people, but maybe I'm imagining it. I still say PI-anist because that's the way I used to say it and I think pi-AN-ist sounds dumb. What do you guys say?

[jollisg]

I've noticed a definite switch in pronunciation since I started taking piano lessons 11-12 years ago. People used to say "PI-anist" but now they say "pi-AN-ist". I'm thinking this might have something to do with the dropping maturity rate in people, but maybe I'm imagining it. I still say PI-anist because that's the way I used to say it and I think pi-AN-ist sounds dumb. What do you guys say?

I say PI-anist. I think that sound right..
By the way, on swedish we say pian-IST 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I've noticed a definite switch in pronunciation since I started taking piano lessons 11-12 years ago. People used to say "PI-anist" but now they say "pi-AN-ist". I'm thinking this might have something to do with the dropping maturity rate in people, but maybe I'm imagining it. I still say PI-anist because that's the way I used to say it and I think pi-AN-ist sounds dumb. What do you guys say?

Well if you pronounce it as pi-anist, people will go like, 'hahahaha, you said penis!'

And it's really stupid so I say it the other way.  But I hate it when people go like, 'yeah so did you hear the piANist yesterday?  She was awesome!'

I get that from a lot of snobs.  They put soo much emphasis on the an, and it sounds unnatural.

[black_keys]

I used to say pian-IST in the frensh accent

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Oooooooh here's another one I don't know if I posted something like this before

*playing f minor scale*

Janitor at my school:  what Beethoven piece is that?

Me:  oh this isn't Beethoven, this is an f minor scale

WHAT THE FREAKING HECK?!?!

And here's another thing that's...  You know...

*playing a Chopin nocturne*

Someone:  your music is gift from god

Me:  Thanks but god had very little to do with this.  This music is a gift from Chopin!

Someone:  okay?  Well your playing is a gift from god!

Me:  Thanks again, but god had very little to do with that too.  My playing is a gift from myself!  I put hours and hours of practice into playing this!


Lol I trolled her SOOOOO HARD!

[zezhyrule]

Someone just earlier said the bach prelude I was practicing sounded like an exercise. Not that I disagree But I just started learning it so it probably did sound pretty crappy  

[perprocrastinate]

I actually said this before I started playing piano seriously:

"Chopin Etude Op. 10, No. 1? Basically just the right hand. Easy."

[jollisg]

"Of course you always can play as good as you did on the concert!" -nooo, it's totally different when there's an audience sitting there 

"If you have a lot of concerts you don't have to practice as much, because you are practicing DURING the concert!" ..........

[davidjosepha]

"If you have a lot of concerts you don't have to practice as much, because you are practicing DURING the concert!" ..........

Hahaha this one's great. In a way, it's true, because you are practicing...you're practicing performing. But of course, that doesn't help you practice the music too much

[jollisg]

Me: I am playing on a funeral tomorrow, two pieces of Chopin
Friend: Will you get payed for it?
Me: Yes, 500SEK per piece, so 1000SEK total (1000 SEK are about $150)
Friend: Wow, that is REALLY much hourly wage! Pianists must be really rich!
Me: Well... If you count in all the practice I will have to do, it's not that much actually.
Friend: But the practice is optional, you don't have to practice, so they can't pay you for it..
Me: *Silent*

[davidjosepha]

Me: I am playing on a funeral tomorrow, two pieces of Chopin
Friend: Will you get payed for it?
Me: Yes, 500SEK per piece, so 1000SEK total (1000 SEK are about $150)
Friend: Wow, that is REALLY much hourly wage! Pianists must be really rich!
Me: Well... If you count in all the practice I will have to do, it's not that much actually.
Friend: But the practice is optional, you don't have to practice, so they can't pay you for it..
Me: *Silent*

hahaha that's great! At least you (hopefully) enjoy a lot of the time you spend practicing, unlike him, who's probably miserable at his job.

[ajspiano]

Me: I am playing on a funeral tomorrow, two pieces of Chopin
Friend: Will you get payed for it?
Me: Yes, 500SEK per piece, so 1000SEK total (1000 SEK are about $150)
Friend: Wow, that is REALLY much hourly wage! Pianists must be really rich!
Me: Well... If you count in all the practice I will have to do, it's not that much actually.
Friend: But the practice is optional, you don't have to practice, so they can't pay you for it..
Me: *Silent*

LOL. I actually used to charge people a few hours practice time if they required a specific piece that I didn't know.

[zezhyrule]

LOL. I actually used to charge people a few hours practice time if they required a specific piece that I didn't know.

That is amazing. I'm going to remember that.

[Bob]

Marvin Hamlisch wrote The Entertainer.

That was on national news.

Adapted, orchestrated, arranged, yes. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

My mom said that Bach was stupid.

I don't like Bach, but... 

I wouldn't go that far.  That would be a death wish!

However, I did get a bit closer to my mother when she said that.

[j_menz]

My mom said that Bach was stupid.

I don't like Bach, but... 

I wouldn't go that far.  That would be a death wish!

However, I did get a bit closer to my mother when she said that.

Perhaps, if her chief exposure to his music is hearing you play him, she might have not heard him at his best. 

Or she's just humouring you. Mothers do that sometimes.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Perhaps, if her chief exposure to his music is hearing you play him, she might have not heard him at his best. 

Or she's just humouring you. Mothers do that sometimes.

Well I was listening to a youtube recording.

She is NOT humoring me!  Everything she says is 100% serious and she never changes her mind.  The work and composer she knows is Beethovens 5th symphony. 

She calls it the "Beethoven song" and she asks me to play it all the time, it's soo freaking annoying?@?@?!?!?!@1

[davidjosepha]

She calls it the "Beethoven song" and she asks me to play it all the time, it's soo freaking annoying?@?@?!?!?!@1

Well maybe if you just got the neighborhood orchestra together to play it for her once, she'd stop asking!

[j_menz]

Well I was listening to a youtube recording.

She is NOT humoring me!  Everything she says is 100% serious and she never changes her mind.  The work and composer she knows is Beethovens 5th symphony. 

She calls it the "Beethoven song" and she asks me to play it all the time, it's soo freaking annoying?@?@?!?!?!@1

Get the Liszt transcription. Highly recommended, and quite a workout!

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Me:  I have piano lessons

Other kid:  really?  I thought you were good!
 

[jollisg]

I was on the phone with a woman that worked in my pre school.
Person: I saw the ad for your concert in the paper, what type of music do you play?
Me: Classical
Person: Ah. I have a question for you.
Me: Yes?
Person: I have a choir, and sometimes we need accompany, on songs like "bridge over troubled water". Can you do that?
Me: Well, I've never accompanied a choir before...
Person: Aaaah, you haven't come that far yet.

As if you first learn classical, to then go over to the "harder" accompanying ... 

[davidjosepha]

I often get comments when I mention that I play piano from people around my age like, "I used to play piano, but then I quit in 8th grade. I was just getting to playing the cool stuff, like what you play." Further questioning about what they played confirmed that I was playing more difficult repertoire in 5th grade than they were when they quit  Of course, I don't point that out, but jeez is that annoying.

Another variation on that that's equally annoying is the comments about how they wish they had kept playing piano so they could be as good as I am. That sounds like a compliment the way I write it, but that's just cause I don't remember the exact words. The actual meaning behind the words that's pretty obvious when they say it is, "The only reason you're good and I'm not is because I quit playing piano. If I had kept practicing 20 minutes a day like I had been doing, I'd be as good as you." Now, of course, they could have ended up being much better than me. But my theory, based on the fact that they couldn't even handle practicing a couple hours a week, is that they wouldn't have dedicated too much time to piano...if they knew just how much time went into everything I play, I don't think they'd be making snarky comments about how getting to a high level of piano playing only requires that you keep doing it, not that you actually devote any time or effort.

[drkilroy]

As if you first learn classical, to then go over to the "harder" accompanying ... 

Actually, being a good accompanist is quite hard I believe... But of course it cannot be compared with playing solo, because you face different problems when you are playing with someone.

Best regards, Dr

[rachmaninoff_forever]

When the school year starts, I'm kinda nervous about practicing in shool now.

smartass:  all you do is play the same stuff!  Why don't you do something different!

Me:  ...

smartass:  seriously,  playing the same stuff over and over again is boring.

Me:  *leaves room*

I was so freaking furious!!!

They have no idea how much practice it takes to get something perfect!

I was working on my audition repertoire for college.  So I have to get that to perfection right?  And I'm still not done, so I'm kinda reluctant to practicing at the school again.  I've been working on the same 35 minutes of music for the past 8 months now, and I'm still not done.  So they're gonna feel salty if they hear the same stuff again.  

[davidjosepha]

I was working on my audition repertoire for college.  So I have to get that to perfection right?  And I'm still not done, so I'm kinda reluctant to practicing at the school again.  I've been working on the same 35 minutes of music for the past 8 months now, and I'm still not done.  So they're gonna feel salty if they hear the same stuff again.  

What are you playing?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

What are you playing?

Pathetique sonata, La Campanella, Rach prelude Op. 32 No. 10, a short piece by Arno Babadjanian, and that tedious p&f by Bach.  Surprisingly I don't have any Scriabin, so I might throw one of his poemes in there as well.  My Bach is a tad bit weak compared to everything else, but whatever dude.  I'll manage...  



And here's another thing that freaking pissed me off!


I went to California for a summer right?  Unfortunately I didn't have a piano to practice on so I asked my aunt.  She was like,

Aunt:  Yeah bro you can use my friends piano!

Me:  Really?!

Aunt:  Yeah man it's a professional digital keyboard!

*I look at the keyboard*

66 freaking keys!!!


And this is another thing that really pissed me off!

Dad:  I want you to play that song that I like for my birthday.  It's a Chopin nocturne

Me:  Yeah sure.  Are you gonna have a piano there?

Dad:  We're gonna have a professional digital keyboard.


That's such an oxymoron!