what is your motivation to become a skilled "pianist"?

[cubber]

just want to know...

i simply want to be better all the time because i want to be able to play difficult pieces of chopin, debussy etc. i am currently practicing on a piece which is much easier, but it still gives me goosebumps sometimes. can't imagine how it will feel to be able to play revolutionary etude by chopin one day in the future, that must be extraordinary

[leucippus]

I started learning the piano simply because I wanted something challenging to do.  I got over ambitious at the same time and started the violin too.  I started them both pretty much at the same time.  I'm a self-learner which is another part of the challenge for me.  I started a year ago but it would really be incorrect to say that I've been playing for a year because I basically don't have time to practice during the summer months.  So I really only have one winter under my belt thus far.  It would probably be fair to say that I've been playing both instruments for about 6 months of serious practice.

Both the piano and the violin introduce their own individual difficulties.  With the violin I only need to read one staff of music in the treble clef which makes sight-ready quite easy.  However, it's very difficult to produce perfect intonation and other sound quality on a violin.  This is especially true in higher positions and when trying to playing multiple stops cleanly.  The violin is quite a challenge.

The piano, on the other hand, has the added base clef which makes sight-reading a bit more difficult.  It's not just reading a different staff, but I think the hardest thing is learning hand independence.  Also, I can pretty much find the notes on the violin without looking.  There's nothing to look at on a violin fingerboard anyway since they are fretless.  But when playing the piano I find it very difficult not to look at the keyboard, at least when the notes are far apart.  I can play simple pieces where I don't need to move my hands around much, but even something like Fur Elise I find myself having to look, even after I've already memorized the music.  I just have reached the stage where I can play by feel with my eyes closed.

So I'm working on both playing by feel, and sight-reading with the piano.  I don't really consider myself a "musician" I'm not so much into the music as I am into just learning how to play the instruments.  Of course, making the music sound good is important too and I do record myself playing so I can get a feel for how I'm progressing.

But this is all just for personal enjoyment for me.  I have no desire to become a performer.   Learning a nice piece is like putting together a puzzle.  It's a game to me.  And when the piece is complete and I can play it well enough to record it and be proud to say that it was me that played that, then I feel that I have completed that particular puzzle.   I think it's because all the pieces are usually made up of a bunch of little parts that need to be learned and put together.

So I guess in a real sense playing the piano and violin are kind of like playing puzzle games to me.

[jspash]

to get chix 

[leucippus]

to get chix 

You have to play the piano to get Chix?

Where I live you can buy Chix in the grocery stores.  They usually have Wheat Chix and Corn Chix and Rice Chix to choose from.  I usually buy one of each cuz I like to have lots of Chix around.

[tac-tics]

You have to play the piano to get Chix?

Where I live you can buy Chix in the grocery stores.  They usually have Wheat Chix and Corn Chix and Rice Chix to choose from.  I usually buy one of each cuz I like to have lots of Chix around.

Those are Chex. They are much more delicious than Chix.

[maestoso]

i want to because i love the sound of a piano and the things you can create with practice and commitment. i also play guitar and it's fun to try to transpose extremely difficult piano pieces onto guitar. right now i can play the first parts of f.I. with no pick. playing piano has made me want to use both hands on guitar. but most of all i am a musician and a person who loves  the thingsother people that cause a love for their music  and inspire creativity. cause that's what it's all about to me.

[leucippus]

i also play guitar and it's fun to try to transpose extremely difficult piano pieces onto guitar. right now i can play the first parts of f.I. with no pick.

That's interesting Maestoso.  I do a similar thing.  I used to play classical guitar years ago so I can play guitar much better than either the piano or violin.  In fact, I can actually site read on the guitar fairly well too, but still not good enough to actually play a piece right from the score.  But good enough to help me learn quicker.

In any case, I too transpose piano and violin pieces onto guitar.  I transposed Schumann's Melody onto guitar and to be quite honest I think it fits the guitar better than the piano!  It's actually quite simple to play on the guitar just the way it's written no transposing necessary really.

I also learned the first cello prelude from Bach's cello suites on the guitar.  I did that because I'm trying to learn it on the violin and I felt that playing it on the guitar will help me on the violin.  I think it does too.  Although that's a really difficult piece to play on a violin for a beginner, but I'm making progress with it.

Then just for fun I transposed the cello prelude onto piano.  To do that I used Finale Notepad music writing software and I actually had to change things around quite a bit to make it sound really nice.  Like adding actual chords for the beat notes etc.   It's coming along rather nicely in notepad.  I'm not sure how long it will take me to actually learn it on the piano as I haven't even started to practice it yet.  Maybe when I finish it I'll post a recording of me playing it on the piano. 

I wonder if that will be a first?  Probably not, but I never really heard the Bach cello prelude played on piano.  I'm sure it must have been done before.  But mine will probably be a bit different since I'm doing the transposition entirely off the top of my head and I'm making some major changes in the precise way I'm transposing it.

I'm not sure if I even have the motivation to become a really skilled pianist.  I'm just enjoying fiddling around with music and instruments.  I try to do the best I can on all of them but I have no real goal.  My only goal is to enjoy what I'm doing while I'm doing it.  And so far I've been achieving that goal. 

[maestoso]

wow! that's a little more in depth than i go! im from the yngwie malmsteen randy rhoads shredder genre trying to switch to a purely classical musician. that's impressive what you do, i have played classical guitar off an on over the years but i've played in so many rock bands that i really haven't devoted the proper time to it. i presently have given up on bands to focus on the music solely. i find the quest for knowlege a challenge and the sheer beauty of classical is amazing.  i have a bad habit of picking the hardest stuff to play but i seem more challenged by easier stuff. i suck at sight reading so i'm working on that but overall since i have buckled down and started to focus i  have become a better musician.  the crazy thing is i get inspired for guitar from a piano forum! it' really cool to share stories and ask questions from people and see how much everyone has in common. take care.

[quasimodo]

To be a skilled pianist before I die 

[lagin]

The piano, on the other hand, has the added base clef which makes sight-reading a bit more difficult.  It's not just reading a different staff, but I think the hardest thing is learning hand independence.  Also, I can pretty much find the notes on the violin without looking.  There's nothing to look at on a violin fingerboard anyway since they are fretless.  But when playing the piano I find it very difficult not to look at the keyboard, at least when the notes are far apart.  I can play simple pieces where I don't need to move my hands around much, but even something like Fur Elise I find myself having to look, even after I've already memorized the music.  I just have reached the stage where I can play by feel with my eyes closed.

That's cool, but you do know that even the greatest pianists look at the keys, right?  I mean, there are times when you don't have too and can feel your way around, but playing a piece blindfolded from start to finish isn't necessary to consider it "learned." 

[le_poete_mourant]

Those are Chex. They are much more delicious than Chix.

I don't know.  Chix can taste pretty good if you know where to [omitted].   


Seriously, what motivates me is that I want to prove wrong all the people who said I would not be good enough to 1) go to college for piano perf., 2) play what I want to play, 3) make a career out of music. 

And, I love a challenge, I love learning, and I love solving the puzzle that is a piece of music. 

[rc]

I love music and want to be able to share it with others.  The stuff just tickles my emotions and imagination.  Given the chance, anyone can love the great music as well.

I will wind up as a teacher.  When I become dust with all the rest, I would like to have left some people with the particular enrichment of music.

The challenge is great too

[archneko]

My motivation is from the music itself, and my friends and families. I'm always prideful about the way I play, and its a wonderful feeling to play an extraordinary song in front of those whom you talk and relate with. I remember my friends' reaction when I played Fantasie. They had that dumb look on their face and say, "Dude, how'd you do that? Do it again!" Also, its nice to close your eyes after mastering the song and being carried away by the music.