Hello from Kurdistan-Iraq!!!

[b.piano]

Hello everybody.. 1st I have t say that I am Impressed with your nice Piano forum.. coz there are none. Kurdish or Arabic piano forums 

anyway.. I just wanted to tell you guys abou myslelf.. & lesten to what you guys ar gonna say..

ok.. My name is Boran.. 15 years old girl.. live in Arbil- Kurdistan- Iraq..

I started playing keybord & reading notes when I was 6.. but never had a Piano teacher or even a Piano coz it was expinsive.. when I was 6 till 12 I was living in Syria...

I always loved Piano.. was crazy about Piano.. but couldn't buy one till we moved here to Kurdistan where my father works in the Fine Art's college_ musicology lecturer.. he is a great guitarist..   not a Pianist!!!

so.. I did keep playing keybord.. learnt a lotta things by my self.. Preludes for Bach.. moonlight 1st movement.. such things..

anyway.. I dicieded to become a pianist long time ago.. I'm now a studint in the Fine Art's institute- Music Department- Piano.. gonna study there for 3 years then go to the fine arts college.. then maybe go to Europ to study more & more about music..

the next satuerday the institute is gonna start.. I am a little afraid of .. hmmm not to find a good piano teacher there....... 

I bought a Yamaha Clavinova CLP 230 2 weeks ago.. do you think it's good piano for me??

after all.. I want to know: DO I HAVE THE CHANCE TO BECOME A WORLD CLASS PIANIST???    I am ready to do what ever it takes.. play for 14 hours a day & do all the Hanon practice.. what do you guys think??

I really want to hear from you..

thanks & sorry coz my English is not that good..

 

[Kassaa]

Honestly, you're not going to be a world class pianist without a grand piano. A good instrument is one of the most important things, simply because when you perform on big stages, you are going to play on an extremely good and sensitive instrument. A clavinova is not really suitable for that. Apart from that, everything is possible.

Welcome on the forum though!

[pianowolfi]

Ok, Kassaa, first you need to ask her if she could afford a grand. Not self-evident in that region of the world i think. And you can learn a lot on a Clavinova. But Boran, I am so glad to hear of your piano enthousiasm and I wish you all the best for your career! I would not recommend you to practise 14 hours a day regularly. In exceptional cases maybe, but please be careful! Don't overdo it. Listen to your body and don't treat it rudely or violently. There are several harms you may do to yourself with overpractising.
If you will be able to become a world famous pianist does not depend from you only, but also from a good portion of luck, the right relations to people in the music business and so on. Your goal can be to become a good pianist, even an outstanding pianist. Develope your own style, your personal interpretations. The idea of studying in Europe is also very good i think. I'm sure there are a lot of European piano students here on this forum who can give you up-to-date advice on where to go for studies and which teachers and so on. Good luck!

pianowolfi

[prometheus]

There are many pianists in the world. Only a very small percentage of them will be world class. And of those only a few actually make it.

Just be happy that you can play and learn.

As for studying piano in northern Iraq, I have never been there. You live there. I think the only person here that has been in northern Iraq is Zheer.

But if you want to study on a really high level it would be a good idea to try to study in a place where there is a tradition of classical music.

[jazzyprof]

Boran, welcome to the forum!  Your Yamaha Clavinova CLP 230 is a perfectly fine piano for now.  It will never go out of tune and you can practice late at night with your headphones on and not bother the rest of the family.  The only famous pianist I know from your part of the world is Idil Biret who is Turkish.  Are you close to the Turkish border? 

You will find much helpful advice here on piano practice.  Check out Bernhard's posts in particular.https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,17014.msg182709.html#msg182709

 Try not to spend too much time on Hanon …get your technique from Bach, Chopin, Beethoven…

[prometheus]

I like Fazil Say too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fazil_say

[b.piano]

Honestly, you're not going to be a world class pianist without a grand piano. A good instrument is one of the most important things, simply because when you perform on big stages, you are going to play on an extremely good and sensitive instrument. A clavinova is not really suitable for that. Apart from that, everything is possible.

Welcome on the forum though!

Hi Kassaa.. thanks for replying.. but I don't think I can buy a grand piano now.. I don't have a room at home.. I hardly could find a place for my clavinova!!

I play on a grand piano in the institute.. but it's not in tune!!!

thanks again!!

[b.piano]

Ok, Kassaa, first you need to ask her if she could afford a grand. Not self-evident in that region of the world i think. And you can learn a lot on a Clavinova. But Boran, I am so glad to hear of your piano enthousiasm and I wish you all the best for your career! I would not recommend you to practise 14 hours a day regularly. In exceptional cases maybe, but please be careful! Don't overdo it. Listen to your body and don't treat it rudely or violently. There are several harms you may do to yourself with overpractising.
If you will be able to become a world famous pianist does not depend from you only, but also from a good portion of luck, the right relations to people in the music business and so on. Your goal can be to become a good pianist, even an outstanding pianist. Develope your own style, your personal interpretations. The idea of studying in Europe is also very good i think. I'm sure there are a lot of European piano students here on this forum who can give you up-to-date advice on where to go for studies and which teachers and so on. Good luck!

pianowolfi

Thank yoy.. that was a big support from you.. 

I won't practice a lot  hehe joking.. but I really enjoy practicing even Hanon!!

wating for the other studunts..

take care!!

[b.piano]

There are many pianists in the world. Only a very small percentage of them will be world class. And of those only a few actually make it.

Just be happy that you can play and learn.

As for studying piano in northern Iraq, I have never been there. You live there. I think the only person here that has been in northern Iraq is Zheer.

But if you want to study on a really high level it would be a good idea to try to study in a place where there is a tradition of classical music.

is Zheer in this forum?? is he Kurdish??

well.. it's ok if I didnt become famous.. the idea is to be able to play everything!! & make people around enjoy my playing.. it's ok if I became a teacher.. it's just that I want people to lesten to my art..

yeah I need to study in somewhere else.. but not now

may when I'm 20 years old or somethin!! I guess I need a scholarship or somethin..

greetings from me.

[b.piano]

Boran, welcome to the forum!  Your Yamaha Clavinova CLP 230 is a perfectly fine piano for now.  It will never go out of tune and you can practice late at night with your headphones on and not bother the rest of the family.  The only famous pianist I know from your part of the world is Idil Biret who is Turkish.  Are you close to the Turkish border? 

You will find much helpful advice here on piano practice.  Check out Bernhard's posts in particular.https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,17014.msg182709.html#msg182709

 Try not to spend too much time on Hanon …get your technique from Bach, Chopin, Beethoven…

I love Chopin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but his pieces are very hard!!

I'm learning anow (Neapolitan song op.39 n. 18 ) for tchaikovsky which is level 5 I guess!! I may finish it today..

I like Bach too.. I play his 1st prelude & another pieces!!

there is a famous Pianist from my part .. Ghazwan Zarakly.. who is Syrian.. He is a world class pianist 

you guys really hate Hanon??? but I really don't have a problem with it!!

see you..

[prometheus]

About Zheer, I think so. But he lives in London right now.
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=8500

[ksnmohan]

Hi Boran,

Welcome to the Forum and I - along with many others on this interactive network - admire your enthusiasm, especially at your age and coming from that part of the world. It is indeed rare.

The Yamaha Clavinova CLP 230 is quite good and I also recommend this to many of my students who cannot afford an Acoustic/Grand Piano.

The Steinway or Bosendorfer will come to you in the course of time!

Your English is very good!

I endorse pianowolfi's advice - 14 hours daily is too long. You have to think of the strain on your fingers. So please don't overdo it.

Then, what is that you understand by "world class"? Virtuosity, headlines, photographs, interviews and constant tours? These may have just the opposite effect and take away the tranquility you get from and in  the music. Has happened to many great performers - you must be able to cope with Fame and Music at the same time! That can be tough.

As far as "your world" is concerned, you already have "class" and that is what matters. You play music firstly for yourself - and incidentally if in the process others like it, well and good. Otherwise it doesn't matter.

As per the Indian philosophy, through Music your soul is  communicating with God. Hence revere Music and put yourself always below it, always looking up to it. Never get the thought that you are going to master it.  It is not possible.

Listen to CDs and watch DVDs of the Bach, Tchaikovsky and Chopin pieces you are practicing. Hear and see how others interpret the same compositions. I can help you with free download sites for Sheet music and MP3s of classical pieces.

Chopin is difficult - but you can master it. Look under another part of this Forum "I have a 10 year old son...". The kid plays Chopin so effortlessly - you can watch it on YOUTUBE under "Enzo".

So much for today. If you want me to e-mail you Sheet music downlaods, I would not like to overload the Forum's bandwidth and will have to use my personal e-mail -
ksnmohan@yahoo.com.

Zheer IS in London.

Regards

Prof K S (Mohan) Narayanan
Musicologist, Composer, Teacher
Chennai, India

[zheer]

is Zheer in this forum?? is he Kurdish??

   Hi b.piano, yes am Kurdish, i live in london and was born in the Uk. You know i lived for five years in Arbil the oldest city on planet earth, but after the golf war i was put on a banana boat and sent to England.
    Nice to know that there is a music school in Kurdistan,anyway welcome to this forum .

[prometheus]

I always thought that Damascus was the oldest city in the world. Is Arbil older?

[zheer]

I always thought that Damascus was the oldest city in the world. Is Arbil older?

 Hi prometheus, am very sure that Arbil is the oldest inhabited city in the world. you know some people in Arbil still live in these castle like things on small hills that are over three thousand years old. Obviously in Arbil people can also live in very large and luxury homes.

[prometheus]

I did some research. It seems that there isn't a good consensus among historians about which city is the oldest(a city that exists today and has been continuously inhabited) but Arbil is a canditate.

Ah, Arbil is Arbela. Famous ancient city.

[pianowolfi]

There are many pianists in the world. Only a very small percentage of them will be world class. And of those only a few actually make it.

Of course it is absolutely true what you say. But sometimes I ask myself if somebody totally unknown starts to perform at the level of Zimerman or Ashkenazy- i think he wouldn't stay unknown for long.

[b.piano]

Hi Boran,

Welcome to the Forum and I - along with many others on this interactive network - admire your enthusiasm, especially at your age and coming from that part of the world. It is indeed rare.

The Yamaha Clavinova CLP 230 is quite good and I also recommend this to many of my students who cannot afford an Acoustic/Grand Piano.

The Steinway or Bosendorfer will come to you in the course of time!

Your English is very good!

I endorse pianowolfi's advice - 14 hours daily is too long. You have to think of the strain on your fingers. So please don't overdo it.

Then, what is that you understand by "world class"? Virtuosity, headlines, photographs, interviews and constant tours? These may have just the opposite effect and take away the tranquility you get from and in  the music. Has happened to many great performers - you must be able to cope with Fame and Music at the same time! That can be tough.

As far as "your world" is concerned, you already have "class" and that is what matters. You play music firstly for yourself - and incidentally if in the process others like it, well and good. Otherwise it doesn't matter.

As per the Indian philosophy, through Music your soul is  communicating with God. Hence revere Music and put yourself always below it, always looking up to it. Never get the thought that you are going to master it.  It is not possible.

Listen to CDs and watch DVDs of the Bach, Tchaikovsky and Chopin pieces you are practicing. Hear and see how others interpret the same compositions. I can help you with free download sites for Sheet music and MP3s of classical pieces.

Chopin is difficult - but you can master it. Look under another part of this Forum "I have a 10 year old son...". The kid plays Chopin so effortlessly - you can watch it on YOUTUBE under "Enzo".

So much for today. If you want me to e-mail you Sheet music downlaods, I would not like to overload the Forum's bandwidth and will have to use my personal e-mail -
ksnmohan@yahoo.com.

Zheer IS in London.

Regards

Prof K S (Mohan) Narayanan
Musicologist, Composer, Teacher
Chennai, India

Thank you so much Professor.

yeah I think that it is harder.. in this part of world.. where people don't care about the classical music. to become good pianist!! but I believe. that if I wanted to do it.. I'll be able to do it & reach what I want to be!!

well don't get me wrong.. I didn't say that I practice for 14 huors a day.. I said that I'm ready to it if I had to.. but rihgt now I practice for .. hmm 3 or 4 hours a day.. which is not enough!! but sometimes I feel afraid of not learning things in a correct way coz I don't have a Piano teacher.. well I'll have one tomorrow coz the music school is gonna start tomorrow!! but I'm not sure if the teacher is gonna be a good one!!

world class doesn't mean to be famous.. I mean being able to play every thing well.. not being afraid of any piece..

may be I have ((class)).. but it is not enough for me.. I want to get better as much as I can!!! I may record what I play & send it so you can tell me if I have a class!!

I have a lot of music sheet.. the problem is: I don't know what to play .. coz I never had a piano teacher as I said before.. & I'm afraid of not finding a good one here!!.. I listen to music every day!! the classical music.. coz it makes feel .. well I can't explaine it!!! makes me feel so small & that this music is so great.. greater then anything in the world!!

Thanks again.

[b.piano]

   Hi b.piano, yes am Kurdish, i live in london and was born in the Uk. You know i lived for five years in Arbil the oldest city on planet earth, but after the golf war i was put on a banana boat and sent to England.
    Nice to know that there is a music school in Kurdistan,anyway welcome to this forum .

Hey Zheer.. nice to hear from you   

are studying music now in London??

yeah this music school was built in 1992!! but I don't think that there is professional teachers there.. 

Guys.. Arbil IS the oldest city in the world.. not Damascus.. & people still live in that castle which is now in the center of Arbil city..

nice to know you Zheer. Zheer means (Smart) in Kurdish right???

can you speack Kurdish or Arabic??

sorry if I ask a lot  but I did'nt expect to find anybody from Arbil or Kurdistan here 

[zheer]

yeah this music school was built in 1992!! but I don't think that there is professional teachers there.. 
nice to know you Zheer. Zheer means (Smart) in Kurdish right???
can you speack Kurdish or Arabic??
sorry if I ask a lot  but I did'nt expect to find anybody from Arbil or Kurdistan here 

  I know the Kurdish culture,and classical music is'nt very important amongst people, though having a music school is a good start, am sure good teachers will eventually appear. However i doubt kuristan is going to be the new China as far as piano playing is conserned.
   My name means smart good person, ironic really since i can also be a monster. Yes i speak fluent kurdish and some Arabic though i went to an Arabic school in Kurdistan for five years.
  Am glad you also play the piano, i have a cusin who also plays the piano but she lives in europe, anyway you found a good forum so much info on this forum,good luck with piano playing, if you need any help with piano send me a PM.
   

[ksnmohan]

Hi Boran!

For studying Classical Music, the best places are still in Europe. I lived and worked in Germany for several years. Please send me as MP3 files - or even as MIDI Files - your music.  Not as CDs or cassettes by post viz "snail mail" - they will not just reach me. And DHL/FedEX is too expensive for me to even suggest.

After my listening, I will forward them - if I notice the "class" - to my contacts in Germany. With luck and God willing, something can turn out - especially a good teacher.

Regards
Prof Narayanan

[zheer]

the music school is gonna start tomorrow!! but I'm not sure if the teacher is gonna be a good one!!

  Well how was it...........?

[b.piano]

  Well how was it...........?

well.. we had one lesson.. hmmm what is its name?? you know when you read notes & write them!! I was shaked!! coz we were 11 studints in the room.. only tow or three of them can read notes!!!!!!!!!!!

the Piano lesoson is tomorrow.. I am not optimistic about it!!

well nice ti know you!! but do you play Piano???

[b.piano]

Hi Boran!

For studying Classical Music, the best places are still in Europe. I lived and worked in Germany for several years. Please send me as MP3 files - or even as MIDI Files - your music.  Not as CDs or cassettes by post viz "snail mail" - they will not just reach me. And DHL/FedEX is too expensive for me to even suggest.

After my listening, I will forward them - if I notice the "class" - to my contacts in Germany. With luck and God willing, something can turn out - especially a good teacher.

Regards
Prof Narayanan

Hi again Professor!!

yeah U know Europe is the best place coz my dad studyed there!!

I guess I'll send you wave by the internet.. but please give me a few day till I practice well!!

Thank you so much.. one good teacher in Kurdistan can make a lot of good pianists come out!!

hope you find a class!!! 

Greetings ..

[zheer]

you know when you read notes & write them!! the Piano lesoson is tomorrow.. I am not optimistic about it!!

well nice ti know you!! but do you play Piano???

  Do you mean composition or theory, well am glad that you will have some piano lessons,some piano lesson is better than non.

  Yes i also play piano, i cant imagin that there are many kurdish classical pianists in kurdistan. Anyway good luck.
  

[b.piano]

  Do you mean composition or theory, well am glad that you will have some piano lessons,some piano lesson is better than non.

  Yes i also play piano, i cant imagin that there are many kurdish classical pianists in kurdistan. Anyway good luck.
 

I mean Theory.. but they've just started to learn how to read notes.. most of them can't even play anything!!!!

there are classical Pianists.. but they are not that good!! the best one can play Level 5 or 6 (& also not that good)  !! I'm dying here!!!! no good pianists!!!!!!!!!!!   

[zheer]

I mean Theory.. but they've just started to learn how to read notes.. most of them can't even play anything!!!!

there are classical Pianists.. but they are not that good!! the best one can play Level 5 or 6 (& also not that good)  !! I'm dying here!!!! no good pianists!!!!!!!!!!!   

  Ok here is what you could do, learn as much as you can from these teachers,theory and practical.
  Turkey is the only neighbouring country that can provide you with excellent piano tuition, so when it is summer holiday you can arrange some piano lessons in turky,but obviously thats very expensive.
   The problem is to study music abroad in a university you need to pass piano exams,level 8 is minimim. Therefore learning piano with a good teacher is essential over a long period of time, basically if you have family in Europe the only option is that when you are an adult you live with relatives abroad for a number of years to gain the skills and qualification to get you into a music school.
   What normaly happens is that a person from the country of their origin show great talent and the are givin scholarship to study abroad, now sadly for people in kurdistan its very difficult ,as you know few teachers.
  So you would think that many kurdish people living in europe bother with classical music, sadly thats not the case. Anyway if there is a will there is a way am sure you will find the way.

[b.piano]

  Ok here is what you could do, learn as much as you can from these teachers,theory and practical.
  Turkey is the only neighbouring country that can provide you with excellent piano tuition, so when it is summer holiday you can arrange some piano lessons in turky,but obviously thats very expensive.
   The problem is to study music abroad in a university you need to pass piano exams,level 8 is minimim. Therefore learning piano with a good teacher is essential over a long period of time, basically if you have family in Europe the only option is that when you are an adult you live with relatives abroad for a number of years to gain the skills and qualification to get you into a music school.
   What normaly happens is that a person from the country of their origin show great talent and the are givin scholarship to study abroad, now sadly for people in kurdistan its very difficult ,as you know few teachers.
  So you would think that many kurdish people living in europe bother with classical music, sadly thats not the case. Anyway if there is a will there is a way am sure you will find the way.

I live in the worst place in the world for becoming a pianist.. we have a faine arts college here but it's not that good.. sure I'll go to euorope but not now.. I think when I'm 20 or 22.. I'll study & learn as much as I can .. but what is gonna happen next when I go to europe?? I'm I onna be good enough??? I don't know.. my future is not clear at all!!

thanks for advice!

[zheer]

I live in the worst place in the world for becoming a pianist.. we have a faine arts college

    Yup, i guess finding a piano teacher in Kurdistan is like trying to find a fish in a desert .

 BTW i really dont like Kurdish music,it all sounds the same, i have some kurdish sheet music,but its not something i can relate to, it's too old fashioned.

  You know there is a famous Kurdish violin player that studied at the Royal Accademy of music in London. Anyway am sorry i cant help, piano playing is'nt my proffession.

  The thing you said about your future being not clear, well you have a great opportunity to study music abroad as an adult,then return to Kurdistan and open your own school of piano playing,that would be a great thing to do,and since you are young it is very possible,infact your future is very clear.

[prometheus]

Isn't Chopin also a little old fasioned?

I like Persian and Indian classical music. I don't know that much about Iraq or Kurdish music. But I would probably like it when the quality is really high.