Would you give up piano?

[l. ron hubbard]

Would you?

[perfect_pitch]

Give up Piano???

THAT'S CRAZY TALK... You crazy person...

[go12_3]

Yeah, that's crazy indeed!  How can I give up something that I love to
play each day and play such fine pieces?  Yes, How can I possibly give
that up?  NO WAY, or I'd go insane!!!!!   

best wishes,

go12_3

[thalbergmad]

I have given up several times, but eventually i come back.

Thal

[mrba1979]

Playing piano is both a blessing and a curse.  It reminds me of both my successes and failures. I often feel incompetent and I want stop.  I have taken time off from playing the piano only to find it is if I have lost a part of who I am.  I could not willingly give up the piano no more than I could give up my wife and children.  If I lost my current piano I would do whatever it takes to find a new one.     

[birba]

I gave up once a long time ago.  It was an obsession more than a passion.

[chopin1993]

I'd never give up piano! If I'd do that, it wouldn't be a real passion I think. Playing piano is something I can't miss in my life!

[l. ron hubbard]

Doesn't suprise me. A year ago I would have given the same response. That is at that time I didn't really know what it was doing to my health.

[shortyshort]

I gave up about 3 or 4 months ago.

[weissenberg2]

Under what circumstances?

[antichrist]

weissenberg definitely wont give up

[iroveashe]

Doesn't suprise me. A year ago I would have given the same response. That is at that time I didn't really know what it was doing to my health.

A piano can do nothing to your health, unless someone drops it on top of you, but that wouldn't be the piano's fault. Using the wrong movements for playing it however is another story, but still not the piano's fault.

[l. ron hubbard]

A piano can do nothing to your health, unless someone drops it on top of you, but that wouldn't be the piano's fault. Using the wrong movements for playing it however is another story, but still not the piano's fault.

I wasn't really talking about the physical aspects of playing. I meant that piano is emotionally exhaustive. What good is it for anyone to spend 5 hours a day performing the same tasks that only deteriorate one's emotional and even physical state. Heck, I became quite fat because of my lifestyle. Now, I lost more than 26 ponds, am physically active, and feel free.
If I continued on that past road, I would be going from doctor to doctor in an attempt to save my life.

[iroveashe]

I wasn't really talking about the physical aspects of playing. I meant that piano is emotionally exhaustive. What good is it for anyone to spend 5 hours a day performing the same tasks that only deteriorate one's emotional and even physical state. Heck, I became quite fat because of my lifestyle. Now, I lost more than 26 ponds, am physically active, and feel free.
If I continued on that past road, I would be going from doctor to doctor in an attempt to save my life.

That still has nothing to do with the piano per se, but with yourself. Like anything else, it's good or bad depending how you use it. Though I'm not sure what you mean by emotionally exhaustive? Do you mean it's so emotional it gets you tired? Or that it makes your feelings tired?

[go12_3]

I think whenever something makes someone unhappy be it playing the piano, then
it's time to quit and pursue something else.  The reasons can be several on giving up
the piano.  But, the main topic is *would you give up piano*  not why and the wherefores.
So a simple answer is for me:  I would not give up piano.  Final answer.

I mean, whether we love to play piano or not that is another topic to discuss entirely.  It has nothing to do with health reasons or whatever to give up piano.  I think this topic heading should be *Would you give up playing the piano*, how wouldn't that make more sense to answer that?   To give up piano is admitting defeat or that a pianist just give it up because there is no valid reason to? 

best wishes,

go12_3

[l. ron hubbard]

That still has nothing to do with the piano per se, but with yourself. Like anything else, it's good or bad depending how you use it. Though I'm not sure what you mean by emotionally exhaustive? Do you mean it's so emotional it gets you tired? Or that it makes your feelings tired?

No I am just saying that I don't see how anyone could keep on practicing for untold hours for years and years and not get exhausted. I am mainly talking about aspiring professional pianists who devote practically the entire day to practicing. There is a fine line between doing something for enjoyment, and overdoing it because of obligation. Because practicing piano creates bondage, sooner or later, the student will crash. Sure, some do become great pianists, but the majority don't, and have to pursue something else. I was there. I used to practice many hours daily for years. Now don't get me wrong, I love music, and I love piano. However, I do not like incessant practicing. I take it most people don't either.

[perfect_pitch]

I used to practice many hours daily for years. Now don't get me wrong, I love music, and I love piano. However, I do not like incessant practicing. I take it most people don't either.

I guess some people are more dedicated to it than others... Take me for example. I practice 3 - 4 hours a day and it seems to have had no effect on me so far... I did the same amount when I was at University and I'm still perfectly fine.

I believe that those who have the WILL to become a pianist will make it, and those who don't dwindle and wonder about what could be. Also, hate to say it, but I doubt that practicing copious hours at the piano can be detrimental to your health... Look at Maurizio (spelling???) Pollini? Olga Kern, Stephen Hough - all fairly fit and seem to have very few health problems.

I do not believe that Piano robs you of the ability to keep fit or have a social life... I seriously do not believe it.

[richard black]

I meant that piano is emotionally exhaustive. What good is it for anyone to spend 5 hours a day performing the same tasks that only deteriorate one's emotional and even physical state. Heck, I became quite fat because of my lifestyle. Now, I lost more than 26 ponds, am physically active, and feel free.

I think you meant 'exhausting' rather than exhaustive and 'degrades' or 'worsens' rather than deteriorates.

But anyway I play up to 10 hours a day, I'm not aware that I'm in particularly bad emotional health and I haven't had even a slight cold for at least a year - my last proper illness was probably mumps about 30 years ago. I'm very slim and very fit. Possibly neither of us is entirely typical and we're certainly not a statistically-significant sample, but I feel I prove that you don't have to be fat, unfit and unwell just because you play piano a lot!

[weissenberg2]

weissenberg definitely wont give up

I was just asking under what conditions. You seem are being childish for you are just being nasty out of no where, you could at least explain.

[rc]

I doubt anyone could spend endless years at it, or an entire lifetime as many musician have, without having a good balance between wanting to improve and enjoying the music as it is.

Also, to be content with whatever level of dedication one has for it. 

I talk to friends from time to time.  After talking about their job, their mortgage, their fiance, snowboarding, playing soccer, etc...  They say how they'd like to take up music, but are discouraged about being bad or not having good instruction.  I think one can have the best advice from the best teacher, but it wouldn't mean anything unless they're able to put it into practice.  So better to be honest, and if music is far down the priority list to accept it even if it means just crunching a few simple chords - one can still get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

[thalbergmad]

I recently took a sledgehammer to my old piano and today i bought a Yamaha clp330r, which i hope will rekindle my interest.

If it does not, i will sledgehammer that as well. Then, i might treat myself to a new sledgehammer.

Thal

[antichrist]

I was just asking under what conditions. You seem are being childish for you are just being nasty out of no where, you could at least explain.

I thought Alexis weissenberg?

[weissenberg2]

I thought Alexis weissenberg?

He is what my username is reference to. Did I misunderstand your original comment?

[antichrist]

He is what my username is reference to. Did I misunderstand your original comment?

I think that weissenberg didnt give up his career so we should'nt give up too

[weissenberg2]

I think that weissenberg didnt give up his career so we should'nt give up too

True. I was just saying, if my life or a life of another person depended on it I would be willing to give up the piano. Otherwise I would probably not.

[mrba1979]

I recently took a sledgehammer to my old piano and today i bought a Yamaha clp330r, which i hope will rekindle my interest.

If it does not, i will sledgehammer that as well. Then, i might treat myself to a new sledgehammer.

Thal

   Hearty filled laugh:  HA! HA! HA! Funny! 

[pianochick93]

If I had to, I could. I don't think I could give up playing for enjoyment once in a while, but I could give up lessons and studying the instrument at school. I have other passions that would get me through - dancing, reading, etc.

[l. ron hubbard]

But anyway I play up to 10 hours a day, I'm not aware that I'm in particularly bad emotional health and I haven't had even a slight cold for at least a year - my last proper illness was probably mumps about 30 years ago. I'm very slim and very fit. Possibly neither of us is entirely typical and we're certainly not a statistically-significant sample, but I feel I prove that you don't have to be fat, unfit and unwell just because you play piano a lot!

You are very lucky in that you are healthy. I do feel that practicing around 10 hours a day cannot in any way be healthy. That would require you to place piano above pretty much anything. You wouldn't have the time to do anything else. Sooner or later you will discover how much your life is lacking. Sure, you might be good at piano, but you would suck at everything else, including social life. And if by any chance you should meet with professional disappointment and aim for a different career, you will know that you lost years and years of precious time. If this doesn't apply to you then you are very lucky and strong.

[antichrist]

Dont over practise

Scriabin damaged his hands Forever because of over practising

[pianist7]

When I started out, I wanted to quit for a while. But now that's highly unlikely.

[sr_ludwig]

Sure.
I always do this wuation when I'm playing harpsichord or fortepiano.
Piano is a new instrument and does not make sense play a lot of things in it when you have the opportunity to play in a harpsichord or in a fortepiano. 
But this is not the question on board here.

well. it is all relative to the values that you have in your life. I do not have a 24 hours day. I like to sleepy 12 hours, play piano for 10 hours and do a lot of other stuffs, including hanging with my friends and pass a time with my girlfriend.
is this mental health? probably no. hahahahhahaha
But I don't care cause it for me is not a lost of time.
Glenn Gould words about it is awesome. he says that you do not have to be a slave of your instrument.
Actually I hate that I have to spend a lot of time playing piano to get the level that I do not need play everyday and that I can do what I want with my music. to make the music that I play obsolete.
It is also similar with Sylvie Guillem. she says that she is so glad that she can anything with her dancing body.
I just want to get this level.

another point, I just think that I can have a social life cause I live in music city, I'm not a different one here, but study 10 hours is just "cultural" here, get it?

[redragon]

I could never give up piano! If I did, I'd go crazy! Music is therapeutic. If I gave up piano, i'd have to pay a hundred extra bucks a month!

[brianhoberg]

I went for 16 years between playing the piano as a younger adult and now and I can say that for myself, playing the piano is not only my most viable creative outlet but it's also a huge stress reducer for my daily routine. To remove that and not have the ability to play as freely as I have now, would really put a wrench in the gears of my stress levels and creativity.

[aslanov]

You are very lucky in that you are healthy. I do feel that practicing around 10 hours a day cannot in any way be healthy. That would require you to place piano above pretty much anything. You wouldn't have the time to do anything else. Sooner or later you will discover how much your life is lacking. Sure, you might be good at piano, but you would suck at everything else, including social life. And if by any chance you should meet with professional disappointment and aim for a different career, you will know that you lost years and years of precious time. If this doesn't apply to you then you are very lucky and strong.

holy judgement call, batman!

it would appear l. ron hubbard has been disappointed, and now must plague everyone with his short-comings.  I have only been playing for 2 years now, but i must say, even though i practice a few hours a day, i still have time for university, lessons, socialising, staying fit, and touching myself or others, on occassion.
If you feel that all that time you spent practicing was all for nothing just because you didnt get any recognition for it. Well then....maybe piano wasn't right for you.

[zheer]

I'll be honest, I think I should have a long time ago. It's now a health hazard.

[concerto_love]

YES!!!
 

such a simple answer, wohoo 

[accauditor]

i would,  in exchange of a pipe organ in my house or a stradavarious preferably the emiliani.

[Bob]

I'll be honest, I think I should have a long time ago. It's now a health hazard.

I was thinking yesterday that working all the time does seem to erase your personality.  Maybe it's just me though.