Stupid things non-musicians say to us

[perprocrastinate]

My dad after my recital the other day: "You must have played well because you didn't play any wrong notes!"

Oh, how I wish..

[thalberg]

I started this thread in 2005.  It's now 2014.  700 replies and 41,000 views.  I cannot believe it.

[schwartzer]

"I love Classical music, even though the only ones I know is Moonlight sonata, für elise and a fraction of 9th symphony's 4th movement"

[Bob]

I started this thread in 2005.  It's now 2014.  700 replies and 41,000 views.  I cannot believe it.

Stupidity is timeless.

Stupidity transcends time.

[pianoboy91]

Well the thing that everyone says to me is:

"Oh you play piano? That's so nice, i wish i could play....do you know what? I used to play when i was 8 years old and then i gave up. Wish i'd never given up....blah blah blah".

I always think - if you wish you could play why didn't you stick with it? I guess it's not for everyone or perhaps not everyone is so determined. But if i had a pound for every time someone said that to me...

Exactly! 

[superstition2]

I played Ruth Laredo's rendition of Scriabin's sonata #7 and my sister said it was "music to fall down the stairs to".

[pianist1976]

Stupid things non-musicians say to us

I feel much more worried by the stupid things many musicians say (or write) to other musicians.

[chopinlover01]

I feel much more worried by the stupid things many musicians say (or write) to other musicians.

This. And, I have a quote, from one "musician" to an aspiring pianist. The pianist in question was asking whether or not whether it was worth it to read music. I actually put my .02 cents in. It was something to the effect of "f*** sheet music, that s*** is frustrating and complicated." Or something like that. Another person said not to go to a teacher because all they do is grind scales.

So... yeah. That killed me on the inside, since the people talking are probably just making assumptions rather than educated guesses, unfortunately.
Wait, this is the INTERNET for God's sake. Why do I expect people to be educated?

[quantum]

Random person I've never met before:

"What do you do for a living?"

"I'm a musician."

"Musician eh.  You must play bass guitar, can you teach me to play bass guitar, I've always wanted to play bass guitar, what's your phone number, bass guitar is so cool, hey where do you live, I want to take bass guitar lessons, when can we start lessons.........."

[cwjalex]

deleted

[stevensk]

Non-musician:

Oh, you are a pianist? I suppose you know Earl Hamilton?

Me: -No..

You dont? But you know Lazlo Johnson?

Me: -No..

Ok..but you know Johnny Lassing?

Me: -No..

Ok..Gregory Mack?

Me: -No..

-Mackery Grogg?

Me: -No..

Ok..Grogg McHenzey?

Me: -No..

Ok..Henz Groggmartin?

[juliaalessandra]

Ok this thread is a bit old but I LOOOVE it! 

- I was playing Chopin Nocturne Op 9 No 2 which is here also used in TV.
When I came out of the practice room a random guy who had begun with lessonsb recently asked: "Ooooh that was the one from the detergent advertisement....!! How beautiful it is, right?!"
And I was like: o.O yeah, sure...

Also I get asked if I was a professional everytime Í play in holidays....or even one time at church, coming from a man who also played piano. I donīt know..its a compliment but also annoying because it means they wouldnīt notice further improvement...

Oh and my favorite: "You play sooo great!!! Really, I usually donīt listen to classic, but I enjoy it since I heard a great piece last week....Einaudi is the composer...can you even play songs from him?" - I told him that Einaudi wasnīt considered to be classic. Some people are able to learn and I have hope for them.

[perfect_pitch]

- I was playing Chopin Nocturne Op 9 No 2 which is here also used in TV.
When I came out of the practice room a random guy who had begun with lessonsb recently asked: "Ooooh that was the one from the detergent advertisement....!! How beautiful it is, right?!"

Once, there was a gravy advert that used part of Chopins Valse in c# minor (the quick quaver runs in the B section).

Shame that such beautiful music is used to advertise usually the most mundane, and pathetic crap.

[timothy42b]

Oh and my favorite: "You play sooo great!!! Really, I usually donīt listen to classic, but I enjoy it since I heard a great piece last week....Einaudi is the composer...can you even play songs from him?" - I told him that Einaudi wasnīt considered to be classic. Some people are able to learn and I have hope for them.

Better answer:  "Well, he isn't classic yet, he's still alive, but if he stands the test of time it might happen.  What is it you like about his music?" 

[ajlongspiano]

&feature=youtu.be [/youtube]

 

[piulento]

&feature=youtu.be [/youtube]

 

THIS IS SO TRUE.

Other things I hate:
- "If you've been playing the piano for years, why are you still learning with a teacher? You already know sheet music and chords and stuff, so you can just learn by yourself!"
- When people try to act like they're experts and say stuff like "So what are you studying right now? A symphony by Bach or something?"
- "I don't like classical music at all because it's boring" (yeah, I bet you listened to such a wide range of classical music before making that assumption...)
- "Do you know Fur Elise?"
- "I heard that jazz is way harder because you have to improvise."
- "But why do you keep playing old music instead of learning current songs?"
- "Can you play really difficult pieces like Claire De Lune?"

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I had a violinist friend of mine tell me that theory isn't important -_-

[briansaddleback]

Other things I hate:
- "Can you play really difficult pieces like Claire De Lune?"

If you hate hearing this, which I do hear at times, then I am not sure what is your purpose behind learning to be a musician other than gaining arrogance?

[kawai_cs]

haha, funny video, Aj! 
Me playing Haydn sonata.
"Well, this sounds like children's music. Are you able to play more advanced pieces?"
GRRRRR...

[piulento]

If you hate hearing this, which I do hear at times, then I am not sure what is your purpose behind learning to be a musician other than gaining arrogance?

Not sure what you mean by that. The reason I hate hearing this is because it usually means the person I'm talking to is not familiar with piano repertoire at all, but still thinks he's in a position to add his own commentary. I've never heard this type of sentence from somebody who genuinely likes classical music - it's usually from people who want to show they know something about everything...
I'm still pretty arrogant though TBH

[briansaddleback]

Not sure what you mean by that. The reason I hate hearing this is because it usually means the person I'm talking to is not familiar with piano repertoire at all, but still thinks he's in a position to add his own commentary. I've never heard this type of sentence from somebody who genuinely likes classical music - it's usually from people who want to show they know something about everything...
I'm still pretty arrogant though TBH

Ok i get you. haha thanks.

[ajlongspiano]

haha, funny video, Aj! 
Me playing Haydn sonata.
"Well, this sounds like children's music. Are you able to play more advanced pieces?"
GRRRRR...

Thank you, Kawai! I hope you're well.

Best,
AJ