What if.....?

[Chad]

I was thinking today and this thought crossed my mind.  Do you think that people like Mozart, Chopin, and Beethoven would still be as great if they had all the distractions that exist today?  I mean what if video games were around back then or t.v.  Do you think any of them may have never became a pianist or at least not as good as they were in writing music.

I also think that if today we didnt have any of those things to distract us what kind or classical musicains would be around today and still producing things that will be remembered like Beethovens works or Mozarts.

Just a thought  

[glamfolk]

I agree.  The first part of every piano method should be "get rid of your television."   Our entertainment has become our reason for being, and its a huge reason why we've forgotten how to create, converse, and be artistic in general.  Pretty sad.  Such potential wasted.

[BuyBuy]

My teacher actually used to tell me that, let's say, in the XIX century, people would have much more time than we do now (at least the ones withmoney or with a patron), and that's why you would have such a huge musical production.

But now, everybody's rushing everywhere. Stress and no time is today's society motor.

[allchopin]

I think they definitely would, if they were exposed to the piano at their early age and not Starcraft (which rocks by the way....   oops, hippocrite?)
If your life and mind are set "in tune" with the piano, then thats what youre gonna do.  I actually think that people today are much smarter than people back then, given the exposure to such media and technology.  We have excellent educations today (well, in USA anyway, im unaware about other schools).

Actually, I dont really know what im talking about...
:-/

[glamfolk]

DiabloII  is pretty good, too.   An intense way to let off steam when taking those much-deserved practice breaks.  

[TwinkleFingers]

I will own you in Rise of Nations baby!!! By the way, interesting what if topic.  I wonder now how well I could of been at the piano given I was more devoted to it.

[NetherMagic]

haha Rise of Nations is indeed a sweet game

TwinkleFingers wuts your favorite nation

[amee]

I think in today's world Mozart, Beethoven etc would have to choose between being a composer and a pianist.  And of course they would Mozart would not be employed by an Archbishop, and Chopin would not be playing in salons.

[glamfolk]

Which sort of begs the question (and steers dangerously close to starting another topic):  What is available to solo pianists for small venues?  There are no more salons, I think, although they may be simply disguised as "rich people's parties."  I've done a lot of solo folk work with both piano and guitar, and House Concerts may be the thing for people.  Simply host a party, ask the guests to contribute a few (insert your national denomination here) for the artist or artists, and you'll have provided a venue for people to hear good music, as well as providing badly-needed work for struggling musicians.  Coffee houses are out--they're far noisier than they used to be.  Where can we play?