What is the best 'superlative' someone has uttered about your playing?

[imbetter]

i rarely play for other people so it makes me feel really good when i get a good compliment. I remember a year ago i played chopin 9/2 at my school talent show and everybody was amazed lol

[elevateme]

yeah i know how you feel. there was this time in 1st grade i played la campanella with my feet but no one was watching

[imbetter]

yeah i know how you feel. there was this time in 1st grade i played la campanella with my feet but no one was watching

whats the  point in making stupid sarcasm like that?

[beethoven2]

I guess my 'superlative' comment would be either:

"I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE YOUR AGE IN ALL MY YEARS OF TEACHING PLAY SO WELL!!!!" 

or

"Are you Beethoven?"

[Mozartian]

i rarely play for other people so it makes me feel really good when i get a good compliment. I remember a year ago i played chopin 9/2 at my school talent show and everybody was amazed lol

What- the 11 yo genius of such unestimatable high virtuosity, who plays Chopin's 1st and 3rd Ballades and HR2 among other works of the highest technical and musical demands (although he does admit that he copies the interpretations of Jeno Jando), rarely plays for anyone? And then when he does, he goes and performs the 9/2 nocturne for his school talent show?

...

PWNED.

[richard l.]

"Scary..."

I was playing something of high dissonance and malevolent character (Improv.), it was a great compliment for me. Since at the time I could only play some things I'd made up. There were Tremolos and things everywhere.

[imbetter]

What- the 11 yo genius of such unestimatable high virtuosity, who plays Chopin's 1st and 3rd Ballades and HR2 among other works of the highest technical and musical demands (although he does admit that he copies the interpretations of Jeno Jando), rarely plays for anyone? And then when he does, he goes and performs the 9/2 nocturne for his school talent show?

...

PWNED.

I rarely perform, and whats wrong with Chopin 9/2? It's one of my favorite nocturnes. My favorite is John Field's 5th

[vovo]

I TEND TO AMAZE PEOPLE BCOZ OF MY FINGER MOVEMENT.
THEY SAY IT LOOKS LIKE IM NOT EVEN PRESSING, BUT ONCE IM DONE WITH THAT MY FOREARMS JUS WANNA BURST.

YOU SHOULD TRY PLATING THE 3RD MOVEMENT OF BEETHOVENS MOONLIGHT SONATA, IF YOU COME OUT OF THAT FRESH..UR THE BEST.

[beethoven2]

'I better to see your name on the list to play at the Van Cliburn Competition in a few years...'

[dnephi]

You're like a professional- and you're going into medicine?  You can't just waste your talent like that.

[rach n bach]

I have only had two people cry after a playing something for them, one good, one with laughter...

"Wow, that was really beautiful, particualrly considering that you are a guy!"   
Needless to say, I've had something of an on and off relationship with this girl for some time...

RnB

[tds]

the other day in the chat room, a "superlative someone" remarked: "tds, u got a well-toned ass!"

tho, am not sure if its about my playing (anything)...

anyway, what does a well-toned ass look like? like bulky, roundy, firm, or what?

[pianowelsh]

'that was almost acceptible!' - from my college prof... actually once he was slightly more complimentary (by accident) I recieved a bad comment from an examiner once and he said that it was a bit harsh and that he thought the piece suited me and i was playing it ok - I was on a happy cloud all week because of this!

pre college...I had a teacher who said my passagework in a beethoven sonata sounded like Brendel...I took that as a profound compliment...probably nicest thing anyone has ever said to me about my playing.  I did have one teacher who after 3 months of instruction still asked weekly...is piano your main instrument!!!... i stopped replying to that one ...shortly before I stopped studying with that particular teacher.

[rach n bach]

Not sure if this really counts, but I'll tell my little story here...

I was at a late night party a few years ago, and most everybody was playing sardines with the lights out inside the house.  I wasn't really interested in that, but I figured that I could play a little on thier piano.  Since it was like 1 AM, I wanted something minor... and the first piece that came to mind was Rach's C sharp minor prelude.  So I began, but I only played the first octaves mp so as no to really freak anybody out.    It was a lot of fun to play it without the lights on.  Well, by the time I got to the agitato section, I was really getting into playing the piano in the dark with just the moonlight streaming through the window, when all of a sudden, I hear this scream... I mean a loud, terrified, blood-curdling, scream... from behind me, and then a soft thud.    It turns out that one of the girls was hiding in the shoe closet not that far behid the piano, and when I had stated to play, she was petrified, and thought a ghost was playing.  She didn't want to look out, and by the time I got the the agitato, she just screamed, and passed out...  I didn't have the heart to open the door and growl "MWHAHAHA..."  At the same time, I did find it hysterical.   

This could also go under "what's the funniest thing that came from your playing" but it can fit here to.   

RnB

[pianowelsh]

emmm! i must try that when I want to make a girl swoon!

[klick]

OH MY GOD is the response I usually get, and that is what I get for playing for relatives and non-musical friends.

Klick

[virtuosic1]

A few superlatives that stand out foremost, are because of the importance of their source.

ca. 1979: Following a concert at Hofstra University, where I played LaCampanella, The Bach-Brahms Chaconne for the Left Hand (greatly embellished-my own arrangement) and some variations of Lennie Tristano's piano solos, Michael Haberman approached me, told me that "he was in awe of my technique", and possibly "he and another pianist together might be able to duplicate some of the things he just heard me play".  Being a big fan of Sorabji's music and Mike's playing of Sorabji's music, I consider it a memorable compliment.

ca. 1977: While discussing Art Tatum, Lennie Tristano told two fellow students, who later became my students after his passing, that at 19, I already had the most formidable keyboard technique that he ever heard.

ca. 1979: After playing a number of what's generally considered the more difficult Chopin Etudes, Barbara Kupferberg, a noted Long Island and Manhattan college piano teacher told me that it was "frightening to think that anyone could play the Chopin Etudes at "those tempos". She said that she had no idea that they could be played that quickly.

[henrah]

ca. 1979: After playing a number of what's generally considered the more difficult Chopin Etudes, Barbara Kupferberg, a noted Long Island and Manhattan college piano teacher told me that it was "frightening to think that anyone could play the Chopin Etudes at "those tempos". She said that she had no idea that they could be played that quickly.

I want to hear these Chopin Etudes


After playing Chopin's Raindrop prelude to a girl, she remarked "That was so beautiful!" My legs were shaking throughout and I kept forgetting to breath lol

Another time, at school, I was just running up and down through some arpeggios going from major to sub-dominant minor, and some kids who were there were wondering how I could move my fingers so fast. That felt cool

My teacher once said, after I played the first movement of the Moonlight sonata, that I had a very even touch. That was very pleasing to hear because I often think that I don't!

The most pleasing comment came from my dad, who's also a pianist. After hearing me practicing Rachmaninov's 32/12 prelude, he said I played it really well and I surprised him how well I phrased it. I was on a high for a few days following that

[arbisley]

My mum told me yesterday that my playing, both piano and cello, had taken a huge bound ahead, that something had "clicked", since last time I was at home... which was only four weeks ago! I was practising a chopin etude, and then I listened to a recording of Martha Argerich, that brought me straight back down from my cloud... But it's still a wonderful comment to receive, especially as she is also a professional musician.

Same at school actually, even though the guy I spoke to was not musical, he siad that before my playing was just good, now it's something else, which he didn't express in words, more like "mhouah!"

TIme to go practise....

[loops]

My in-laws were listening to me and then said I sounded just like Clayderman. I was devastated
until I realised they thought it was compliment

AAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH

[henrah]

...which he didn't express in words, more like "mhouah!"

Is that the sound of a kiss?

[arbisley]

well, sort of, you know it's the thing where you put your thumb and index finger together to your mouth, not an actual kiss

[henrah]

A whistle? A whooping whistle?

[arbisley]

tsss... it's one of those actions which you can;t put into words, although I thought my last post explained it fairly well.....

[rach n bach]

I have had only one teacher for all 6 years of my playing.  She is about 89 and moving away to her family soon...

Just yesterday she told me, "You have gotten past the point of learning new music, you just absorb it now."  That had me speachless.  She also thinks I should go to Juliard... but I'm not so sure on that one...

RnB

[pianowolfi]

I have had only one teacher for all 6 years of my playing.  She is about 89 and moving away to her family soon...

Just yesterday she told me, "You have gotten past the point of learning new music, you just absorb it now."  That had me speachless.  She also thinks I should go to Juliard... but I'm not so sure on that one...

RnB

Oh that is moving. Perhaps you should actually consider to go to Julliard? Why not?

[rach n bach]

I dunno, I just don't think that I am that quaility...

[alwaystheangel]

ppsshh. don't know until you try!

My band teacher's wife went to juliard, she's now a professor at my univeristy, we go out for lunch sometimes.  sorry, a little bit of a random story, lol.

but really, try out and see, it doesnt really hurt and then you know whether you are or not!  You know how I tried out at my uni for music, RnB and I mean they were all very supposrtive and I would have kept on had it been my calling.  you never know and if you don't like it> what's a year in the grand scheme of things!  if you teacher thinks that you might have the qualities that would give you the opportunity to be accepted into julliard, just do it!

I'll hunt you down to wherever you live and kill you if you dont!

have you posted any of your playing?

[rach n bach]

Just joplin's Solace in the audition hall:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,23533.0.html

I tend to do better with "slow" pieces and good interpertation then with the "fast" ones.  I will see.  Thank you for your encouragement!

RnB

[pianowolfi]

ppsshh. don't know until you try!

My band teacher's wife went to juliard, she's now a professor at my univeristy, we go out for lunch sometimes.  sorry, a little bit of a random story, lol.

but really, try out and see, it doesnt really hurt and then you know whether you are or not!  You know how I tried out at my uni for music, RnB and I mean they were all very supposrtive and I would have kept on had it been my calling.  you never know and if you don't like it> what's a year in the grand scheme of things!  if you teacher thinks that you might have the qualities that would give you the opportunity to be accepted into julliard, just do it!

I'll hunt you down to wherever you live and kill you if you dont!

have you posted any of your playing?

Wow what more does it need to convince you?
You are a lucky man after all. Everything she said I second. But she must not kill you. 

[alwaystheangel]

Wow what more does it need to convince you?
You are a lucky man after all. Everything she said I second. But she must not kill you. 

I suppose that would be a waste,  wouldn't it?

[rach n bach]

I suppose that would be a waste,  wouldn't it?

Particularly from my point of veiw...


Hey, maybe I could become the next Victor Borge?

[alwaystheangel]

I love victor borge, hilarious!

I have decided that if you don't apply that makes you an idiot and a good pianist cannot be an idiot (can be socially awkward, but not an idiot) therefore if you do not apply you are an idiot and therefore a bad pianist.

[pianowolfi]

I love victor borge, hilarious!

I have decided that if you don't apply that makes you an idiot and a good pianist cannot be an idiot (can be socially awkward, but not an idiot) therefore if you do not apply you are an idiot and a bad pianist.

Harzh

[alwaystheangel]

tought love, baby, tough love

[arbisley]

Just joplin's Solace in the audition hall:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,23533.0.html

I tend to do better with "slow" pieces and good interpertation then with the "fast" ones.  I will see.  Thank you for your encouragement!

RnB

All you need for the fast ones is a bit of technical practice put in, more than musical practice. It's easier learning technique than musicality in my view, even though it takes a lot more of a physical struggle!

It might sound like a bit of an assertive comment, sorry! 

[pianogeek_cz]

Back on topic.

Today, after playing the second three-part invention, my teacher told me:
"You've convinced me. I wouldn't play it that way, but yours is an independent and fully valid interpretation."

Whee! 

[ihatepop]

Ever since I entered the new school, every recess, I have been playing on the old piano in the canteen. Occasionally, some people whom I don't recognise at all just stop by to listen and make comments.

ihatepop

[nastysanta]

a couple of days ago my parents had some friends over for dinner so i decided to play a little tune on the keyboard. after i had finished "the entertainer" a woman came over to me and told me "you could make a living out of piano if you keep playing for a few more years". needless to say i was speechless

[pianowolfi]

Last sunday I have played my whole "Styx-Journey" piano program for a fellow pianist. She was very much in tears and said that the program is a whole organism, it is written in a style that is all in all my specific style which can't be compared to anyone else's style, and, she even said that music NEVER moved her like that before. This was very important for me, since she is a very advanced and experienced pianist. And then she said: "You can write what I said on pianostreet"

[mephisto]

Somone(I will of course not mention the person) started to cry after I played Liszt's Liebestraum. Could't ask for anything better.

Truth to be told, I had just learned the piece and faked my way through the 2nd cadenza

[franzliszt2]

Somone(I will of course not mention the person) started to cry after I played Liszt's Liebestraum. Could't ask for anything better.

Truth to be told, I had just learned the piece and faked my way through the 2nd cadenza

They cried? wow must have been terrible!! Crying is of course a bad thing? you do KNOW that don't you?

[valor]

I never get a "great" or "beautifull" from anyone besides my familly :\

[arbisley]

They cried? wow must have been terrible!! Crying is of course a bad thing? you do KNOW that don't you?

If crying is a response which occurs naturally and has meaning it is one of the most beautiful ways of expressing emotion!
And i'm not sure you might not have been sarcastic anyway 

[m1469]

I have been thinking about this a bit.  3 words that somebody wrote about me are something that was very meaningful to me.  This woman was on my pannel during my senior, end of the year assessment.  She wrote this :

"very serious musician"

[stagefright]

"this sounded professional"