Why Do You Play?

[electrodoc]

I was thinking about the life of a concert pianist : the glamour, the travel, public recognition and adulation (?), respect of other musicians, the pay if one gets to the top, and so on. Then the reality struck me. A life of loneliness because of constant travel, living out of a suitcase, dingy dressing rooms often with no hot water, questionable instruments on which to play. Marriage could also be a difficulty because of being away from home so much. A spouse is likely to become less understating if left at home while you are away, especially if there are children. Many hours of isolation in endless practice.

Add on to this a childhood spent practising the piano instead of being out with friends enjoying yourself. Possible lack of social skills because of this. So why do you chase after a goal that is only available to very few? Why not settle for being a good musician enjoying it as a hobby or perhaps teaching music?

I would really like to know your thoughts. Many contributors to this forum are quite young and it worries me that you might get through to middle age and find yourself alone, without a companion, without children, constantly fearing the up and coming competition, and perhaps now wishing that you had chosen a different direction in life. So, why do you do it?

[pianistimo]

just like it was in the late 18 and early 19th century.  a way of declaring freedom from tyranny.

that we can decide for ourselves what we will be.  that noone (whether a jury in a competition) can override the internet where we will post multiple u-tube performances until we get gigs.  we might not have to travel very far if we dont' want to.  after all - we can do it from home and post it on the internet.  of course, getting paid once it is posted is fairly useless unless someone wants a private concert with specific music chosen.

[amelialw]

because I love the piano, music is my life,passion and I would'nt be able to live without it. I know that this is what I want to do although many hours have to be put into hard work and practise and I have to give up an certain amount of my social life.

you don't neccessarily need to travel all the time, you can stay in one place but you just will need to teach piano too and that's my choice for now. Besides that 4-5 hrs a day really is'nt that much once you get used to it.

[electrodoc]

Ladies, thank you for your reply. When posing the question I had inmind a person, probably in their teenage years, who deprately want to make an international career.

Pianisstimo appears to be happy teaching, living at home with husband and children. She gives the impression of being a person in love with both music and her family. I wonder would she wish to be away on the concert circuit for weeks and perhaps months on end?

Amelia, you have stated that you are happy to teach, at least for the time being. Would you really like the life of the international artist?

There are further questions. Why do we so much enjoy playing music of the past. Music that belongs to a different age and certainly to a different culture. Bach was extremely religious. He had nodoubt that God exists in heaven and the God will care for us. Today even the churches cannt agree with each other. Most of the public are disinterested in religion.

Mozart and Beethoven lived in an age of patronage. The aristocracy could afford to pay their own composers and often could afford to employ their own orchestra. Today we have the super-rich but would they conder having their own Haydn or their own symphony orchestra?. I doubt it.

And then there is the question of the audience today. At most classical concerts and recitals the audience is largely the elderly with a sprinkling of younger people. Contrast a concert by your local symphony orchestra with a pop festival. No contest!

Are we trying to escape into the past when life was more simple? Perhaps we are searching for something spritual that only music can supply. I think of Beethoven's last sonatas and his 9th symphony where he travels to a sublime spiritual level where life transcends death. Chopin also does the same with his second and third sonatas.

Me, I am simply an amateur who plays for his own enjoyment. No audience, no recitals. Yet, I strive to improve and reach a good level or performance. It keeps my mind active, and exercises my reflexes. But that is not sufficient. I often wonder why I do it - because I enkoy it and the music moves me (when I get it right on rare occasions).

[amelialw]

haha...you're welcome

i've just reached adulthood, i'm only 20. I want to have a performance and teacher's career, half and half. The reason why I may not want to become a performer that travels is because my teacher said that this kind of life tends to be stressful.

I have no idea why, I just love classical music.

[pianistimo]

electrodoc, you must read people's minds? i love music, too - but i value family over piano.  not everyone wants to sacrifice their piano career for having a family - although somehow clara schumann was one of the few (and mozart and bach) that had a family, too.  didn't liszt marry several tmes as well?  and chopin married.  so, we have these musicians in whom music did not fulfill every spiritual desire - but found that a relationship also did.  it sort of teaches you to relax when everything is not going entirely your way (*music 24/7) and also to give of yourself your time no matter if it is paid time or not.  bach was totally amazing to professionally play, teach, and also teach his own children so well.  esp. in the times that he lived.  i feel he had divine help.  he asked for it and he got it.  same with mozart probably.  hard times make people realize the need for divine intervention in their lives, imo.  after all - who but, God, is going to truly inspire a performer or composer with that 'divineness' people recognize.  wasn't salieri aware of the 'divine' spark in mozart?  as are most listeners down thru the ages.

haydn was amazing, too - but i really don't know much about haydn's married life.  surprisingly, i sort of remember a professor saying that he was very easy going but his wife wasn't much help.  or something to that effect.  she wasn't as musical and didn't appreciate what he was doing.  perhaps this is the lot of some musicians.  i'm happy because my husband doesn't play piano, but does sing.  we can share some musical things in common when we perform together (or make music together - as he calls it).

the jealousy between time spent on the piano/music and the person might be an issue at times - but i suppose it is something to balance carefully.  i think it can be done (career/family) but it must be very hard for the pros.  perhaps that is why some wait until the family is grown.  but, for other talented people - that would be a waste of talent.  some just turn their entire family into a musical group.

[pianochick93]

I play because I love the piano, the music it makes, and it both calms me down and is an outlet for my anger when I am stressed.

I am only in my early teens, and while I intend to teach piano as I get older, I don't want to be a concert pianist. I don't think I would be good enough, and I couldn't live the life.

I basically play for my own enjoyment, and others, if they bother to listen to me when I'm practicing/doing end of year school concerts.