A forum for pro's?

[grisell]

Because of the massive criticism I got on my Youtube clips, I'd like to post this.

I watched my own clips on Youtube right now. Sure, all of you are right. I even saw a small boy who played Chopin op. 66 much better than me. Please remember that I didn't post the material as finished pieces, but as something to react on (as sure you did).

"Common people" actually like to listen to my music. For whom do we play? I would like you to think about that.

However, watching my own clips, I have to disagree as to the performance of Liszt: etude no.2, which I actually think is quite ok. LaC, Chopin op. 66 and 64:2 are below level, that´s right. LaC has haunted me for 20 years. I wonder if I'll ever get it right! The two Chopin nocturnes are ok though.

I'm glad I didn't post my version of etude 12 "Chasse-neige". You wouldn't have liked it...

A Finnish poet once wrote that the forest would be a very quite place if no birds sang than they who sing the best.

[Petter]

Except the outbursts of selfindulgence in the replies to your videos I think those who repsonded actually gave you some advices that would help you. Unfortunately it´s apparently difficult for some to leave out the mocking parts instead of just focus on constructive criticism.

[grisell]

I agree.

Good performers come from bad performers. How do you make a good pianist from a bad one? Certainly not by telling him/her that 'this sucks', even if it does.

My only teacher, 20 years ago, said that it was a good thing that I had the musicality but not the technicality. If it were the other way around, all hope would be gone. A professional pianist heard me playing La Campanella a few years ago. He said that this is the way it sounds when one does everything right but hasn't the technical ability. He also told me to get a teacher.

I'm sorry to say that I took some of the criticism quite hard. Obviously I'm not used to hearing it. Haven't touched the piano this week.

[db05]

My only teacher, 20 years ago, said that it was a good thing that I had the musicality but not the technicality. If it were the other way around, all hope would be gone. A professional pianist heard me playing La Campanella a few years ago. He said that this is the way it sounds when one does everything right but hasn't the technical ability. He also told me to get a teacher.

If I had all the technicality but no musicality, at least I would have a fighting chance. Your teacher was too idealistic. And you're banking too much on what he said. It doesn't mean you can play anything you want. I'm not even sure you want to play this. In my school everyone is playing or learning a Chopin Waltz. They are awed by the technicality. I prefer much slower, lyrical pieces. But nobody likes to listen to this kind of music, so I just play whatever is required. I don't understand why you'd jump in and play La Campanella when you know your strength is in your musicality, and not the technique.

I'm sorry to say that I took some of the criticism quite hard. Obviously I'm not used to hearing it. Haven't touched the piano this week.

Apart from the piano lesson where I mostly cried, I haven't touched the piano this week either. I am starting to hate school and piano. This sucks. 

[m19834]

This sucks. 

No, it's a wonderful opportunity  .

[db05]

No, it's a wonderful opportunity  .

You lost me, ma'am. I don't know how it would help him or me.

[gyzzzmo]

I gave you the best advice somebody could probably give, and you're not taking it seriously, nor replying on that advice?

If you really want to become a good amateur, you have to be able to take critisism and use it to become better. You were probably pretty proud you could play la campanella this well (to your opinion), and thats why you posted it. But you never received objective critics from somebody who actually knows how this should be played. And thats why i adviced you to take a teacher, because there is just too much you're doing wrong and since la campanella IS a pretty hard piece, some small advice here and there wont do the job.

Realise this is a forum with quite some good pianists. If you play something good, we say its good. If thats not the case..... Dont blame us for not shouting 'Bravo'.

gyzzzmo

[lostinidlewonder]

Getting good comments does not help you become better.

[pianisten1989]

I gave you the best advice somebody could probably give, and you're not taking it seriously, nor replying on that advice?

If you really want to become a good amateur, you have to be able to take critisism and use it to become better. You were probably pretty proud you could play la campanella this well (to your opinion), and thats why you posted it. But you never received objective critics from somebody who actually knows how this should be played. And thats why i adviced you to take a teacher, because there is just too much you're doing wrong and since la campanella IS a pretty hard piece, some small advice here and there wont do the job.

Realise this is a forum with quite some good pianists. If you play something good, we say its good. If thats not the case..... Dont blame us for not shouting 'Bravo'.

gyzzzmo

I agree with everything*

[pianisten1989]

And I listen to some of your recordings (again) And yes, the second etude isn't well played. And as you said, we play for "normal people" but seriously.. Do you rather listen to someone who plays the piece with several misstakes, not express anything, and just get through the piece OR Someone who plays without misstakes and expression?

About the thing you said about having the musicality but no technique:
Yes, you are right. We should rather go with expressing something, that just playing the right notes. But (!!!!!) if we doesn't have the technique (at all) it's impossible to exprss anything. But don't quit playing because we say what we think about your playing, just quit playing chopin and liszt. It's obviously to difficult for you.
It's like immigrant: When they learn the new language (english for example), they don't start with Shakespeare and such, but with really easy stuff. So start with small Bach-preludes (not from wtc!) and menuetts, not Liszt and Chopin. Play that well before you play anything more difficult (Like Mozart or early small Beethoven pieces)

[thierry13]

Look, you liszt etude 2 is worse than bad. I can't believe a single person enjoys to listen to that. It's not only below level. If you actually think it's quite okay, you got a very, very bad attitude wich adds to your very, very bad playing, and that's a killer duo. You kill the music, you don't get half the notes right, and on top of that you PUBLISH it on the internet! It's immoral. Totaly. Some of your videos can actually be listened to, but most, not. Please practice and come back with barely decent stuff at least please. Trust me you've got years before you can play what you posted at a decent level!

[pianisten1989]

I agree.

Good performers come from bad performers. How do you make a good pianist from a bad one? Certainly not by telling him/her that 'this sucks', even if it does.

My only teacher, 20 years ago, said that it was a good thing that I had the musicality but not the technicality. If it were the other way around, all hope would be gone. A professional pianist heard me playing La Campanella a few years ago. He said that this is the way it sounds when one does everything right but hasn't the technical ability. He also told me to get a teacher.

I'm sorry to say that I took some of the criticism quite hard. Obviously I'm not used to hearing it. Haven't touched the piano this week.

I got quite upset after listening to your pieces, again...
Good preformances come from bad preformances? I am not really sure what you mean, but since you have a bad preformance on every piece you play, I don't think you get it either.
And your teacher, 20 YEARS AGO, maybe was right bach then, but I don't think you show us your musicality.. And who is this professional pianist? =/

[gyzzzmo]

I agree.

Good performers come from bad performers. How do you make a good pianist from a bad one? Certainly not by telling him/her that 'this sucks', even if it does.

My only teacher, 20 years ago, said that it was a good thing that I had the musicality but not the technicality. If it were the other way around, all hope would be gone. A professional pianist heard me playing La Campanella a few years ago. He said that this is the way it sounds when one does everything right but hasn't the technical ability. He also told me to get a teacher.

I'm sorry to say that I took some of the criticism quite hard. Obviously I'm not used to hearing it. Haven't touched the piano this week.

Good performers dont come from bad performers, good performers know themselves and know their limitations and therefor know when something is ready to perform, or not.
And that professional pianist who told you to get a teacher.... Smart fellow. I heard that advice more often lately, i only wish you actually could take that advice.
Btw, read my former post, if you havent already.

[nanabush]

Remember the kid who had the video of the revolutionary etude, but he was doing like glissandos in the left hand?  Lol... kinda random but these vids reminded me of that kid

[communist]

Because of the massive criticism I got on my Youtube clips, I'd like to post this.

I watched my own clips on Youtube right now. Sure, all of you are right. I even saw a small boy who played Chopin op. 66 much better than me. Please remember that I didn't post the material as finished pieces, but as something to react on (as sure you did).

"Common people" actually like to listen to my music. For whom do we play? I would like you to think about that.

However, watching my own clips, I have to disagree as to the performance of Liszt: etude no.2, which I actually think is quite ok. LaC, Chopin op. 66 and 64:2 are below level, that´s right. LaC has haunted me for 20 years. I wonder if I'll ever get it right! The two Chopin nocturnes are ok though.

I'm glad I didn't post my version of etude 12 "Chasse-neige". You wouldn't have liked it...

A Finnish poet once wrote that the forest would be a very quite place if no birds sang than they who sing the best.

sorry

[grisell]

I tried to sit 20 cm lower yesterday. That did a lot! I felt that I could play more relaxed and above all that I was able to control the dynamics much better.

The drawbacks are that it feels more difficult to find the right keys in long leaps and that I soon got tired in my wrists, but that's probably because I'm not used to the position.

Anyway, thanks for that advice! I will consider getting a teacher.

[javacisnotrecognized]

Are you planning on re-recording these pieces at this new bench height?

[grisell]

Thanks for asking. Not at the moment. IF I'll ever post anything on Youtube again, it will be something better.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I would very strongly advice you to get a teacher. I've got a fair bit of sympathy for the position you're in, because I'm largely self-taught. I went to a professional teacher a few years ago, and found to my horror that my playing was much worse than I thought (there's still plenty wrong with it, but with occasional lessons over a period of years, it's an awful lot better, and more disciplined, than it used to be).

There are two great things, in my experience, about a good teacher: firstly, they don't just help you with the things YOU know to be wrong, they help you with the things you DON'T NOTICE but which are wrong. Secondly, a good teacher will develop your ability to self-criticise, so you become much more capable of assessing what is wrong with your playing.

Good luck; I hope you find a teacher who can tidy up your playing and channel your obvious enthusiasm into something more constructive.

[drod400]

Remember the kid who had the video of the revolutionary etude, but he was doing like glissandos in the left hand?  Lol... kinda random but these vids reminded me of that kid

Please link me to this video