Reason to be jalous?

[franz_]

I know a guy, 11 years old, playing Shostakovich 2nd pianoconcerto. His brother, 14 years old, playing Liszt 1st concerto. I'm almost 18 and I try to tackle the Grieg concerto.
I'm feeling quiet depressed when I hear such things    Sometimes I have the feeling: 'Why should I work for that, look to the concurention, I will néver be as good as they do, I will néver become a professional pianist'.

What is your opinion?

[avetma]

Age is not worthy anymore when you grow up. If you understand me. When you are 25 or 35, it is not important how many Liszt and Chopin etudes have you played when you was 10. Something else matters.

[thaicheow]

It is ok to feel envy, though it is as well unneccessary.

The thing is: Do you enjoy playing the piano? The music? Then it is fine.

Just focus on the music itself. Music has never meant to be competed like sports.

[shun]

I know a guy, 11 years old, playing Shostakovich 2nd pianoconcerto. His brother, 14 years old, playing Liszt 1st concerto. I'm almost 18 and I try to tackle the Grieg concerto.
I'm feeling quiet depressed when I hear such things    Sometimes I have the feeling: 'Why should I work for that, look to the concurention, I will néver be as good as they do, I will néver become a professional pianist'.

I know exactly how you feel. I'm always walking past the practise rooms at Uni and I hear the high school kids playing pieces that I have been dreaming of playing for years. I didn't really start playing till I was 18 and I always worry that it's too late for me ever play any of the big pieces. But I try to put that worry aside and just do what I can and enjoy it.

[infectedmushroom]

Volodos started playing the piano really late, just keep thinking of that. 


It's never really too late!

[nanabush]

What really throws me off is when someone literally comes up to you in person and says "find another career, you started too late", when I started when I had just turned 7... one year 'behind' the prodigy type ppl when ur a teenager may be big; I only know about 4 ppl my age who have been playing at least a year longer than me, but they're all d*cks about it.  None of them want to pursue music, but if I say I do, theyr like "look at me, I've been playing longer than you and I dont even have a shot"... even though the standards at universities near me aren't that high 

[pianohenry]

in the end, 1 year or so doesnt make a difference. i also started when i was around 7 or 8.

[desordre]

 Dear Franz:
 When you say:

(...)Why should I work for that, look to the concurention, I will never be as good as they do, I will never become a professional pianist.

two things occur me. First, that you did mention an international standard career as pianist; second, that you don't know how to get there. Well, let me analyze the situations in two ways.
 How someone get such a career? Normally, winning some concours. That's the "easiest" way, and when someone gets that way, needs to know what shall expect: the evaluation of the highest standard piano playing. Notice that I said "standard", because that's the way it is: standard repertory, standard technique, standard interpretation, etc, of course, at peek level. I don't know the life history of all winners, but it's very common you find people that lived for the instrument since childhood. If your idea of "career" and of life is that one, maybe you're late. Period.
 In the other hand, there are many possibilities outside the mainstream. You can have a career of recitals regionally or even nationally; you may play chamber music or work as an accompanist; you may look for a state-of-the-art academic life, towards a professor position. Outside the standard there are even more opportunities: work with composers, with new repertory, etc. There are so many ideas, is just a matter of working very hard. If you do really like music and piano, it will not be difficult.
 I almost forget to say something very important. You don't choose to have an international career: it chooses you. The fact that your fellows are playing Shosta's, Liszt's or whatever don't mean that they will get there. I know a bunch of musicians that started very early and yet (in their twenties or thirties) they didn't reach the goal. A very harsh example is a friend of mine that started playing at age 7, won some minor concours, played a lot of recitals (chamber and orchestra, also) and nowadays he's an architect.
 Last but not least, jealousy is a non-sense and a waste of time. Play your Grieg and be happy. Musically, it's far more important and beautiful than the Liszt's first, in my humble opinion.
 To end this with a very personal note, I never wanted such a life. I enjoy travelling and knowing different places and people, and play live, but every night, day after day, it must be boring as hell. I wonder how this magic people gets interested in their repertory and in playing after a year of two hundred recitals, and I am very grateful to them for it. Someone have to do the dirty job...
 Best wishes!

[cloches_de_geneve]

Envy is a positive emotion. It tells you what you badly want without having it yourself (yet). It "informs" you how strong your wishes really are. That's good. Now, go and realize them. Transform the emotion into constructive ambition.

[blu217]

A career in music comprises MANY options. Plenty of pianists who never won acceptance to Juilliard have successful careers as accompanists, composers, university teachers, scholars and professors. You can lecture, you can conduct master classes, you can perform at a number of levels--not just concert.

It is true that only the smallest minority of players become concert pianists, but I've yet to meet a single brilliant player who ever told me that's what s/he wanted to be, just the same.

I also don't waste too much time being bummed because my upbringing was such that I wasn't wholly immersed in a classical tradition before starting my university study. I was the afterschool-lessons kid who also took dance lessons, sewing lessons and loved to write so much that everyone was surprised I didn't become an English major instead. Still, I won competitions and had a few scholarship offers, I went to school and I was hardly the best pianist there. But I did get some wonderful and surprising compliments on my playing from some of the students I greatly admired, and I only felt inspired and motivated when I'd see them play. The sense of jealousy didn't last long, because no matter what--I'd never be anyone other than me, and I'm only ever going to be as good as I'm capable of and motivated to be.

Let it motivate you--good for them, they're 11, can play big pieces and spend all their playtime at the piano learning them while you probably actually got to enjoy your childhood. Think instead of your own goals. Practice, play, love it and keep your eyes on the future you intend for you. Anything else is just a pointless waste of precious practice time!

[lagin]

Envy is a positive emotion. It tells you what you badly want without having it yourself (yet). It "informs" you how strong your wishes really are. That's good. Now, go and realize them. Transform the emotion into constructive ambition.

I personally disagree with the first part of that.  Envy is a destructive emotion.  Strive to be the best you can be, not "as good" or "better than" others.  If you pass them, fine, if you do not, fine.  You can trully, honestly, really, no matter how badly you wish it otherwise, only be as good as YOUR best.  If anything, like said above, be inspired to practice, but don't be jealous.  There will ALWAYS be someone better than you no matter what.  And there will ALWAYS be someone worse.  Just do your best and enjoy your music. 

[chromatickler]

When you are 25 or 35, it is not important how many Liszt and Chopin etudes have you played when you was 10. Something else matters.

precisely:

[franz_]

@ Desordre: Very nice and interesting post! Thank you very much. May I ask you what you're doing in professional life? Did you ever attempt or are a professional pianist?

[dnephi]

precisely:

Da zpeed? 

How about this: Accuracy?  Emotion?  Artistry?

[ramseytheii]

There are many aphorisms that can help you, like "Slow and steady wins the race."
I have heard from some in the industry in Amerika that audiences here are getting tired of the "prodigy" phenomenon and want more serious artists, who appear to have something to say, or who actually do have something to say.
Also, many who appear to be prodigies peak at a pubescent age and either cannot improve or lose the desire to!
Furthermore, tehre are many examples in music history that can inspire you.  Paderewski started practicing seriously in his late 20's; Volodos started late; even Rubinstein said he was envious when he heard someone play a piece note-perfect- he always felt insecure about his technique, since he didnt' start practicing until much later.  Of course he was talented, nobody disputes that.  But even he was not playing Brahms 2nd concerto at 16.

I think this may come down to you actually.  If you are feeling satisfied about what you do, you can find your own niche, and you do not need to be threatened by others.  If you do feel insecure because of others who are younger, perhaps you are not working hard enough to appease your own inner standards.  Never underestimate the conscience!

Walter Ramsey