Perfectionism in pianists

[cziffra]

"Pianists are always perfectionists."   the only sentence i have always remembered from john marsden';s tomorrow series.

how true is it?

i know it's true for me, and i was thinking the other dya, why would all pianists be perfectionists?  then it hit me- we spend every day of our lives hearing (very loudly) our faults, and we must spend hours correcting them.  is it any wonder we feel the constant pressures of perfectionism?  and, psychologically, we have the largest instrument, which would have a subliminal effect of making us think it's the most difficult to overcome.  it's a beast!  It's unconquerable!  it needs constant attention!  

anyway...what do you think

[bernhard]

Are you implying that there is something wrong with perfectionism?

I think perfectionism is a highly desirable attitude in a world more and more dominated by mediocrity.

Perfection is the only worthwhile goal exactly because you can never attain it.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[mark1]

well said!

[chopiabin]

I stress over the littlest things, so yes, I would have to agree. I do think it's a good attitude, but at times it is pretty inconvenient.

[comme_le_vent]

pianists today are often perfectionists, but young ones especially are perfectionists in the wrong areas, they consider hitting all the right notes to be the most important thing, but they should rather be perfectionists in interpretation and tone , expression etc.

horowitz always valued expression above technical accuracy

[dj]

it's kinda funny....everyone has always called me a perfectionist but i never really thought 2 associate it with the ....i suppose it makes sense though...and i don't c anything wrong with being a perfectionist....im with horowitz though: more important 2 b a perfectionist in expression than in technical accuracy