The practice schedule of the supervirtuosos!

[sevencircles]

I have always wondered how much the best of the best really practise.

People like Volodos, Libetta,Wunder etc. How much do they practice?

Hamelin has stated that he rarely practice for more then 3 hours a day and so did Hofmann.

I wonder how good Hofmann and Hamelin would be if they played as much as Adolph Von Henselt did?

Another pianist that was said to be almost superhuman was Saint-Saens.

It was said that he could play almost any of Liszt´s pieces after hearing them ONES?

I can´t imagine that anyone in the world today can do that.

[el nino]

well,i know that lang lang used to play a lot when he was younger (something like 8 hours a day),but now he says that he is down to 2 due to lack of time,of course.

[daniel patschan]

15 minutes daily and usually Scarlatti. 

[super5james]

I pratice as MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I know you may not belive this but on school days i usslay do about six hours and on Sat. ill do about 12 hours.

[pianoman1977]

I know that Volodos doesn't practise at all, he just plays the piece when he wants. I think the only way he (and many other great artists) 'practise', is mentally. Once it is clear in the head, they can play it with incredible ease on the instrument. It's quite amazing.

[steve jones]

I guess super virt's probably need to practice far less than mere mortals - they already have killer skills, so its more about maintanence than anything. This probably explains why LL had to practice loads as a youngster but not so much now.

SJ

[daniel patschan]

I know that Volodos doesn't practise at all, he just plays the piece when he wants. I think the only way he (and many other great artists) 'practise', is mentally. Once it is clear in the head, they can play it with incredible ease on the instrument. It's quite amazing.

Dream on.

[kreso]

Ivo Pogorelich practice about 12 hours a day, when he is not at tour..

[jlh]

well,i know that lang lang used to play a lot when he was younger (something like 8 hours a day),but now he says that he is down to 2 due to lack of time,of course.

dream on for this as well... 2 hrs is not enough time, even for immortals.  not all practice is done on a piano...

Here's a secret:  almost all pianists lie when telling how much they practice.

[semme]

I know that Volodos doesn't practise at all, he just plays the piece when he wants. I think the only way he (and many other great artists) 'practise', is mentally. Once it is clear in the head, they can play it with incredible ease on the instrument. It's quite amazing.

can you approve this

[sevencircles]

I know that Volodos doesn't practise at all, he just plays the piece when he wants. I think the only way he (and many other great artists) 'practise', is mentally. Once it is clear in the head, they can play it with incredible ease on the instrument. It's quite amazing.

This may be true for players that played 10 hours a day all through their childhood but Volodos was hardly one of those.

I wouldn´t believe that he practice for less then 5 hours a week even if I heard it from his own mouth.

[timothy42b]

This may be true for players that played 10 hours a day all through their childhood but Volodos was hardly one of those.

I wouldn´t believe that he practice for less then 5 hours a week even if I heard it from his own mouth.

Maybe he doesn't wste any time. 

Let's face it, when you play 40 hours a week you're not concentrating the whole time.  Much of it is wasted.  (For amateurs, probably 90 - 95%) So it does not seem unreasonable that a pro who really knew what he was doing and was disciplined enough to do what he needed, not what was fun, could get practice down to a minimum. 

[stevie]

I guess super virt's probably need to practice far less than mere mortals - they already have killer skills, so its more about maintanence than anything. This probably explains why LL had to practice loads as a youngster but not so much now.

SJ

correctly, when theyve reached a certain level of technique, with a certain amount of pieces in their repertoire, it doesnt take THAT much time each day to maintain it.

those who practice more than a few hours each day shouldnt be doing so for technique, the only reason someone would need to work that much each day is for amassing a huge repertoire.

for technique, playing too much is bas, because the mind and body especially go through a cycle of work and recovery, too much work and minimal recovery time will just deplete your tech.

[pianoman1977]

Well, I am pretty sure about my statements about Volodos' practising, since I am a student of Volodos' teacher and I live with a someone who is a personal friend of him.
She told me that when she was in his home, he was playing all the time for her (and for others), you could aks him any piece,  and he would have played it for you.

I remember meeting him after a concert backstage. He asked me what I was studying now. I mentioned the second sonata of Rachminoff (which isn't so easy). He played it for me (not all the piece, but some parts) right at the moment.

I also have heard that when he was in the school, he almost didn't practise (about one hour, or less). Don't ask me how this is possible, for me this is also a big enigma, but I know it is true, since I have seen it myself.

Remember that we are talking about practising, not about playing. He can play for ten hours a day, it depends. He himself said that 'through the concerts (the playing), I am practising most of the time'

[sevencircles]

She told me that when she was in his home, he was playing all the time for her (and for others), you could aks him any piece,  and he would have played it for you.

Really! His repertoire doesn´t seem to be very big based on his live performances and recordings.

Based on what you say he may well be the most gifted pianist in history.

Everyone has to practice if they want to be as good as good as Volodos.

Hamelin has stated in interviews that he is pretty lazy and that  he doesn´t like to practice but still spends a very effective 3 hours every day practicing.

He would propably have practiced less then that if he didn´t have to.

[pianoman1977]

Really! His repertoire doesn´t seem to be very big based on his live performances and recordings.

His repertoire in his concerts is indeed rather small. I've always wondered why. It could have several reasons.
I have heard that not he, but the managers decide what he has to play, although I am not sure if this is completely true.
Maybe he is lazy to polish his pieces until they are 'perfect' for him to perform on stage, don't know.

He could be one of the most gifted pianist in history, yes.

[sevencircles]

His repertoire in his concerts is indeed rather small. I've always wondered why. It could have several reasons.
I have heard that not he, but the managers decide what he has to play, although I am not sure if this is completely true.

Maybe so!

I know that Barere recorded the same pieces over and over even though his repertoire was much larger.

He could play Medtner´s hardest works as well as some of Godowsky´s chopin Studies for instance.

[elevateme]

I pratice as MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I know you may not belive this but on school days i usslay do about six hours and on Sat. ill do about 12 hours.

thats because you don't have a life.

[franzliszt2]

All the great super virtuoso's are super humans. They have amazng talent, photographic memories, and can recall anything they can hear. Not anyone can become a top pianist, it takes talent, that is the biggest thing. Rubinstein said that, and I believe him.

13 hours is stupid, unless you are doing a big concert and aint learnt the piece, I still would refuse to do 12 hours, it's just stupid, and hardly possible, and and teenager doing 12 hours like super5 james CLAIMS to be, is stupid, why??? why?? what is the point? I do 4 hours on an average day when not at school, I reach 6 and thats my limit, I get enough work done to be satisfyed, If I havn;t covered enogh, I sit and think WHY? not "more!!!!" Its stupid, you obviously can't practice properly,. And how do you post on this site, that's 12 hours a day, food, drink, toilet etc..... sleep, and ... pianostreet.. doesn;t add up.

All the greats admit they practiced 8 hours a day in youth, and I think that is a nice amount, I myself have done that much, 2 days before my 1st conservatoire audition for example, and when I become obbssesed with a new piece. But 12 is stupid. Theres to much lies about practice, some guy the other day tried to tell me Godowsky did 20 hours a day!! Thta is total lies, it's just stupid, he was a super virtuoso. It's all a mystery, to me, practice is a personal thing, and should not be timed. 

[steve jones]

Its a little bit like the guy who claims to be able to do 500 sit ups, yet uses incorrect technique to take the strain off his stomach muscles. The same guy is crippled after doing 50 'proper' situps.

this true story!

When the top couches in the world say that 4-5 hours is the maximum per day for a concert grade pianist, 12+ sounds even more silly. I dont think any pianist could perform 12 hours of 'proper' practice in a day.

SJ

[tompilk]

I remember meeting him after a concert backstage. He asked me what I was studying now. I mentioned the second sonata of Rachminoff (which isn't so easy). He played it for me (not all the piece, but some parts) right at the moment.

It is very standard repertoire remember... probably learnt it and played it sooooooooo many times... i can play pieces that i haven't played for 3 years without music...
Tom

[pianoman1977]

It is very standard repertoire remember... probably learnt it and played it sooooooooo many times... i can play pieces that i haven't played for 3 years without music...
Tom

As far as I know, he never played it in public and never studied the work seriously. He can play anything in a very short time in fact.
One example more? The Scherzo of Tchaikovsky/Feinberg (which can be found on his debute disc and here on pianoforum played by thracozaag) he learned in just one hour by only looking at the score. He knew the original Symphony, though.  This is not standard repertoire and is very very difficult. I think nobody can do that.

[timothy42b]

Years ago I heard Mosconi speak (at the time the top rated pool player.) 

He said he really didn't practice at all.  His physical skills were maintained well enough by competitions, but most of the game was mental at his level.  He said he only had so much mental concentration available, he couldn't afford to waste it on practice.  Practicing without full concentration was dangerous, likely to lead to bad habits, better not to do it at all.

[icarus89]

Really interesting... but it seems like the conclusion, drawn from all of the comments, is that once you reach the level of "virtuosity," practice becomes minimal. Hmm... but I seem to remember reading an article about Kissin, and about how he practiced 6~8 hours a day before a concert. I also wonder what you guys mean by "proper" practice... I think you can practice 12 hours a day, if you include just reading music a "practice," or listening to music to train your ears.
& about that comment about not concentrating during practice... I will have to agree with that. However, who really concentrate while they are doing Hanon?

correctly, when theyve reached a certain level of technique, with a certain amount of pieces in their repertoire, it doesnt take THAT much time each day to maintain it.

those who practice more than a few hours each day shouldnt be doing so for technique, the only reason someone would need to work that much each day is for amassing a huge repertoire.

I agree. Hahaha.

[gruffalo]

12 hours of practice is possible. 12 hours of proper effective practice, not going to say its not possible, but unlikely. practice without proper amount of concentration is more time wasting as opposed to effective practice. if you dont feel tired after 5-6 hours of practice, then you either havent done it properly or you are superhuman.

[daniloperusina]

dream on for this as well... 2 hrs is not enough time, even for immortals.  not all practice is done on a piano...

Here's a secret:  almost all pianists lie when telling how much they practice.

I think this is true! I don't think great musicians are inclined to talk about how many hours they spend practising, it's digressing from their true talent, as if trying to find a rational exlanation; "the fact that you practice 12 hours a day, mr Volodos, is the obvious explanation for your genius!"

On the contrary, I'd say that determination to master every detail is more what it's about, coupled with huge talent. Stamina is another issue. 2-3 hours a day can mean that you don't exhaust yourself. Some are naturals that don't really need lots of practice, like Rubinstein. Others, like Richter, need 8-12 hours a day to be able to play like a technical freak! Arrau beleived in doing technical exercises every day, Kempff deemed those "unworthy". Arrau never tried out the concert-iano beforehand, he wanted the excitement of the surprise. Michalengeli notoriously went through several pianos in search of the perfect instrument. Barenboim prepares himself only slightly to be able to catch the "inspiration of the moment", while Gould dismissed such lack of control as "naive".

Perhaps Michelangeli made the funniest remark: "a concert pianist should practice until pain forces him to stop!" ...hmmmm..."warning: don't try this at home, you might cause damage!"

[sevencircles]

Some are naturals that don't really need lots of practice, like Rubinstein. Others, like Richter, need 8-12 hours a day to be able to play like a technical freak!

Many of the so called naturals played a lot when they were really young that´s why they don´t have to practice very much as adults. Richter started pretty late and that´s why he had to practice more.