What kind of pianist are you???

[PaulNaud]

What kind of pianist do you consider yourself to be?

-a CONCERT PIANIST
-a PROFESSIONAL PIANIST
-a PIANO TEACHER
-an AMATEUR PIANIST

[dnephi]

An Amateur, in the highest sense .

[nicco]

I'm a professional concert teacher.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

An amateur pianist. Occasionally, I get to play in public

[leucippus]

I'm a raw beginner, far below even a rank armature. 

My repertoire right now consists of zip, zilch, nil, nothing, zero.

In that order.

I do confess that I can play some simple etudes, but I don’t consider them to be 'repertoire'.

I am currently learning:

Debussy ~ Clair de Lune
Debussy  ~ La fille aux cheveux de lin
Mendelssohn ~ Op 30 No. 6 "Venetian Gondola"
Brahms ~ Op 39 No. 7 "Lullaby"
Beethoven ~ Für Elise
Schumann ~ Träumerei
Mozart ~ K. 331 Alla Turca
Mozart ~ K. 545
Satie ~ Trois Gymnopedies
Chopin ~ Preludes # 6 & 7
Chopin ~ Etudes # 9 & 12

And several other pieces I'd rather not mention at this time.  I haven't really started in on Chopin etudes # 9 & 12 yet though.  They might become pipe dreams.

If I can learn these pieces to an armature level by next year at this time I'll be quite pleased with my progress.  I have no expectations to become anything more than an armature pianist.  That doesn't mean that I don't hope to be good.  I just have no plans whatsoever to become a professional pianist.

In the meantime I'm progressing with these pieces in a way that feels good to me.  It's slow going, but certainly not frustrating.  I'm making considerable progress that's definitely suggestive that I will easily make my one-year target to learn this pieces with time to spare.

[pianistimo]

i'd say a professional pianist that wants to be a concert pianist.  i enjoy teaching as well - but, performance is my favorite 'sport.'  i call it a sport because i sometimes don't know who is going to win - the piano or me.  when i am practiced - i don't have any doubts that i will win.  but, finding time to practice with three children is hard right now.  as they get older - i want to play a few piano concertos somewhere.  that is my goal.  leroy anderson's to start. 

[shortyshort]

Definately an AMATEUR. I gave up for about 25 years, and got back into it about a year ago. Best thing I ever did. I also have so much more enthusiasm than when I was a kid. I just want to get better. Not bothered what other people think anymore.

Shorty

[ramseytheii]

What kind of pianist do you consider yourself to be?

-a CONCERT PIANIST
-a PROFESSIONAL PIANIST
-a PIANO TEACHER
-an AMATEUR PIANIST

There are only three kinds of pianists:  Jewish pianists, Homosexual pianists, and Bad pianists.

Walter Ramsey
by way of Horowitz.

[pianistimo]

that's not true.  i'm irish and i'm not bad and not homosexual. 

[PaulNaud]

There are only three kinds of pianists:  Jewish pianists, Homosexual pianists, and Bad pianists.

The Art of Piano Playing has nothing to do with race or religion. You could be a FREAK and still play the piano with artistry and genius.

[pianistimo]

freak out.  88  freak out. 

[zheer]

There are only three kinds of pianists:  Jewish pianists, Homosexual pianists, and Bad pianists.

Walter Ramsey
by way of Horowitz.

   On youtube Horowitz plays a recital at Japan, he is all three, Jewish,bad and Homosexual.

[ihatepop]

   On youtube Horowitz plays a recital at Japan, he is all three, Jewish,bad and Homosexual.

Whats the url for that video?

ihatepop

[ramseytheii]

   On youtube Horowitz plays a recital at Japan, he is all three, Jewish,bad and Homosexual.

Haha!

Walter Ramsey

[thalbergmad]

I would classify myself as a Romantic amatuer pianist.

The score is a suggestion and nothing more. Do with as you will.

Thal

[xamy]

An amateur during the day, a concert pianist at night (i.e. when I'm dreaming)!

[counterpoint]

You could be a FREAK and still play the piano with artistry and genius.

Freakness is not the obstacle - freakness is the requirement 

[letters]

amateur. Although this notice at the top sounds like a patronising remark along the lines of "go and play with those people we dont want to play with you you're not cool enough".

Please note: This board is primarily intended for professional pianists and piano teachers as well as piano students and amateures at an advanced level. If you are not part of this group, consider posting in the Student's Corner instead.

[beethoven2]

I'm not really sure about that.  I suppose amature considering that I'm 12, have taken for 4 years (not in the summer) and play stuff like Pathetique Sonata and Polonaise Militair.

[mycrabface]

Amateur

[allthumbs]

I would say that I am an advanced amateur. I also would like to teach once I retire (I presently work rotating shifts).


Cheer

allthumbs

[leuthold]

I would say that I am an advanced amateur

you described me .. i am an advanced amateur too

[akaitori]

i dunt play da classic.
they r just to hard for me.

i just cover music bands.
what i am?

[klick]

Noob!!! (aka amateur)

[kony]

&mode=related&search=

for that Horowitz in Japan thing.

it's almost funny... ah well.

[pianowolfi]

I have two piano teaching and two piano performing diplomas. What I do is mainly teaching. I give concerts when I have time to practise (Though at the moment I give no concerts due to focal dystonia) At the moment i would consider my level between amateur and professional level. More or less.

[ihatepop]

&mode=related&search=

for that Horowitz in Japan thing.

Oh, my that is soooo sad!!!

ihatepop

[imbetter]

Um I'm 11 years old wich explains the grammar error in my user name. I'm an amateur pianist. But I can play some really hard pieces like Chopin's 1st and 3rd ballade.

[nanabush]

haha I dont believe you 

[ihatepop]

Me neither.

ihatepop

P.S.You're joking, right?!

[glk]

I'm curious... what criteria would you suggest for distinguishing between students and amateurs" at "an Advanced level," and other levels?   

Best,

Gary K.

Note:  I tend to think of myself as a student/amateur nearing, but not quite at, "an advanced level."

[pianistimo]

perhaps the only distiguishing thing would be age.  it tends to work in your favor sometimes.  if you are 25- 30 and call yourself an amateur- it is probable that you've had extensive work with various teachers and are ready and able to take on more difficult works.  whereas - a student even of first or second year college might still consider themselves a student. 

this is only my way of seeing things.  as i see it - when you are able to take more matters into your own hands and perform things to a juries acceptance after practicing without a lot of help - you are ready to jump a hurdle into 'performance.'

usually students start out with the idea of simply 'playing the piano.'  then, you take a few classes and say 'hey, this is really fun - i want to perform at recital.'  when you overcome nerves and get into performance - then you say 'i want to perform more' - but as an amateur you can't get any further without more education.

i'd say education helps you cross the hurdles unless you are really gifted and talented and take yourself to new levels.  perhaps professional would indicate having worked toward a master's or doctorate degree in piano performance.  although, having done this myself - i feel outdone by many bachelor degreed students at west chester.  i think the teacher's take into account the other things going on in your life.  for me, i had a family to also care for.  if you do your personal best - imo - you can call yourself whatever you want.  that is why i have the username 'pianist imo.'

one thing i can't help noticing - is that concert artists just go from student to concert artist around age 9 or 10.  this is simply disgusting.  but, that's usually the way it goes!  and, that a piano teacher can be one, two, or three of the above.

[mirmidon28]

I´m a concert pianist.

[guttenberg]

i am a pianist.

[ihatepop]

I still don't believe imbetterthanyou can play Chopin Ballade No4

ihatepop

[jozart]

I'm a professional musician. When I was younger, I played mostly jazz standards as soloist and in small groups for restaurants, lounges, dances, etc. My favorite classical is Chopin and I actually played a one hour concert for a musical group and got payed the grand sum of $25.00. All the practicing brought the per/hour rate way down so I knew right away that I couldn't pay the rent playing classical. Teaching was enjoyable and a way to stay alive. I got started writing seriously in early 90s and presented workshops to WSMTA chapters for a couple years. Now that retirement is here, I have lots of time to play and write.

I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoy Pianostreet and appreciate the enthusiasm apparent in all your posts.
Thanks,
jozart

[janka]

HI I will be a professional pianist because I study piano at conservatory... and what about is this page?

[molto-marcato]

I'm an amateur pianist currently very eager to improve my skill and give a lot of private concerts with my family. Besides my job and my girlfriend there is not much but music in my life and i'm really happy with it  .

[brahmsian]

I still don't believe imbetterthanyou can play Chopin Ballade No4

ihatepop

He can't. He said he could play 1 & 3, which is still outrageous IMO. Either he's the next Kissin, is outright lying, or can maybe play the first page or so and considers this "playing the piece".

EDIT:

I suppose I should participate in the thread. I would consider myself an amateur pianist.

[lauramars]

Advanced amateur.  I don't perform, I just play.  I had lessons when I was younger.  Now I teach myself, with mixed results.  Learning Beethoven's Sonata No. 17 now!

[penguinlover]

I was always taught that the difference between being a professional and an amatuer was that the pros got paid for what they did.  With that in mind, I am an advanced amatuer because all of what I do is on a volunteer basis, expcept teaching.  I charge for that usually.  I would give that away too if a student couldn't afford to pay.

[rob47]

hoepfully we are all either amateurs or professionals or just pianist-appreciaters.  but never forget we are always students foremost!

pianists i know 'concert' or otherwise regard themselves as  "pianists". 'concert' is a term i think for other people to use to refer to them i'd think.  No one actually refers to themselves as concert pianists except perhaps unsuccesful ones

/last post ever possibly

47 out

[opus10no2]

Rob, I think you shall post 8 more posts, in order to read 666 then join eachother in heaven dining on the divine phallus of our lord.

[penguinlover]

Why will it be your last?  Are you leaving us?

[lisztisforkids]

I play the piano, make that of what you will.

[thorn]

I play the piano, make that of what you will.

what an amazing way of putting it

same goes for me

[emmaj]

advancing amateur - I hope.

As an aside I do think people can be guilty of attempting pieces that are much too difficult for them - what is the rush? It is better to play something at your level musically that struggle with something impressive - it is music not competitive gymnastics.  We are lucky with the piano because there is such a vast range of music to choose from.

[lichristine]

i am an emotional pianist...

[jakev2.0]

I play the piano, make that of what you will.

How poetic. 

[pianowolfi]

i am an emotional pianist...

right you are!