A Pet-Peeve of Mine

[smithreeseii]

I can't stand it when I talk to another person of my age (teens) who plays the piano as well, and they tell me that they don't appreciate the music they are playing.  They practice only because they don't want to make themselves look like a fool when the recital comes around.

Is this like nails on a chalkboard for anyone else here?:

"Oh really, what are you playing?"

"A Handel Sonata...I think."

"And how is it going?"

"Oh, its so boring, its the same thing over and over again.  But I'm also playing some Beethoven 'Twilight' sonata thing or something. Its a little better though, not as boring."

[nanabush]

Heehee I know what you mean

I found this a lot in high school.  There was this kid when I was in grade 9 (15 years old) who was EXTREMELY advanced, he was playing Chopin Etudes, had learned the Mendelssohn and Grieg piano concertos (and I'm sure a Mozart or two), and was preparing loads of more stuff for competitions; I remember he played the Ravel Toccata and Ondine, the set of Barber Excursions, and was doing a late Beethoven, just for a random recital.  He did play very well too, I'm saying he would polish the stuff and play nearly flawlessly note-wise, and had damn good attention to details in the stuff he played. 

He said he only played because his parents made him.  I just couldn't understand why he had to have such crazy natural talent!  He just didn't give a crap either; he hadn't heard about Prokofiev and had 'heard of' Rachmaninoff but never listened to any of his music.  He just said "iunno, my parents just kind of make me play, and I just kind of do it"... he stopped abruptly when we finished high school.  He just stopped playing piano entirely, with all the stuff he had accomplished, he literally quit the instrument.

[smithreeseii]

That is an absolute shame. 'Heard of' Rachmaninoff, wow.  For such talent to be wasted on a person who has no passion or enthusiasm is really just obscene.

I have the passion and the enthusiasm, but lack the raw talent I think.  It certainly doesn't some easily.

[nmitchell076]

Occasionally, I am assigned a piece that I just don't enjoy, I appreciate the composer and the piece for what it is, but if it doesn't appeal to me, it doesn't appeal to me.

That being said, cases of that are few and far between (at least cases where I COMPELTELY don't identify with a piece, there are various levels that one can have that feeling).

As far as for the kid mentioned, some people just don't identify with music, they don't love it.  You can't really blame them, in my opinion, just as you can't blame someone who doesn't identify with philosophy, or sports, or sculpture, etc. Some people simply don't enjoy music, no matter how naturally suited they are to play.  And in my opinion, that's just how those people are, they are in no way better for it, but they are certainly not worse because of it, either.

The thing that REALLY gets me is someone who claims to love music for its own sake, and is a teacher, professional musician, or other, and at the same time completely disregards entire composers and even entire periods as rubbish (hell, even Glen Gould hated practically all the romantics)

[stevebob]

Thomas Paine:  "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly."

Still ... are such people being real about their knowledge or feelings?  One would think that they could be serious and honest with peers with whom they share interests and activities, but it's easy to understand the hazards of broadcasting a taste in anything unusual (i.e., classical music) more widely.

Keeping quiet about certain things in certain situations can be a survival skill.  I wonder if conformity to peer pressure or social/cultural expectations explains at least some of the nonchalance that's described here.

[smithreeseii]

That is definitely a good point, but I, one who loves classical music, am delighted to find someone of my age who feels the same way about it.  Peers have different impacts on different people though, I suppose.

[peterjmathis]

Unfortunately, many teens don't even have a say in whether or not they learn piano, let alone what they play on it. If piano is just a chore they've been assigned by someone else, they're probably not going to be that excited about it.

[smithreeseii]

Yes, definitely.  You really have to be exposed to the music at an early age to truly appreciate it.  Especially with teens today, with all the filth that's being pumped out of recording studios:  its too easy to get caught up in it.

[eminemvsrach]

Yes, definitely.  You really have to be exposed to the music at an early age to truly appreciate it.  Especially with teens today, with all the filth that's being pumped out of recording studios:  its too easy to get caught up in it.

That's so true!! I play in between breaks in my school orchestra, usually Chopin ballades or Tchaikovsky No. 1 (lol so overrated  ), then the fellow violinists come and I know trouble is arriving. Most common ones: "Play the Mario bros. theme/Play Zelda Song of Storms." (I actually went through the trouble of learning the 2nd one) Jeez those video game stuff never grow old for them.....



One of my strangest requests was Bad Romance by Lady Gaga O_O

[nanabush]

Yep I've been asked to play Bad Romance, the 'Drink Milk Love Life' song...

From "today's" music, the first thing I listen for are textures.  I like a lot of 90's alternative, indie/experimental music because those people usually have the ability to combine instruments in a really creative way (even if they don't have a PhD in music theory).  Something I find really cool is 'pomplamoose' on youtube.  For what these people have (pretty good musical talent imo) they combine so many awesome instruments, and are actually playing everything you hear.  Youtube people get way more respect from me than the chart topping 'popstars'.

I played the Danzas Argentinas two years ago, and my sister kept calling the third part the 'Super Mario Song'... at least she'd ask me to play it though, she seemed to like it.    I appreciated that.

I don't mind playing video game music, because it's pretty damn creative and usually spot on for whatever is happening in the moment of the game.  Koji Kondo deserves credit IMO.

--

It is good to let teenage beginners play some stuff that they want to play.  It doesn't work forcing them through a method book.  Adults are easier going, but teenagers don't want to practice 'Lavender's Blue' or 'Hungarian Rhapsody Theme' to death in the Alfred book (sadly, they did take the Friska theme from HR2 and turn it into a little C major wimpy cancan sounding thing).  Most teenagers interested in piano that I've come across like Rock music that has keyboard.  Get them simplified Beatles music, teach them some scales/triads to warm up, and they will get really good at sight reading.  It's good to start with something they can relate to (well, the first few lessons are going to be very basic).  If one of my students brings in a Lady Gaga 'song' on piano, I'll tell her she can learn it on her own time.  There are certain things that I couldn't be bothered working on with my students, and Lady Gaga is one of those few things.  She just flat out annoys me with her attempt at being 'Marilyn Manson' unique, but with stupid dance beats that someone with basic rhythm could make in a freeware program. 

[mildred_rogers]

Exactly. What I don't like though is parents pressuring their children into playing the piano. It's just... I don't know. Just unreasonable, I guess. If your children don't want to play, don't make them.

[smithreeseii]

But at the same time, and I'm speaking from experience here, the child may not know what he or she likes yet.  I started piano and loathed it for several years before it really caught on with me, and now piano and classical music are some of the most important things in my life.

[mildred_rogers]

 I'm not talking about that in particular. I'm talking about the child that cries and begs not to go and the parent that wants to learn through their kid. That's silly and just not worth it. Also, it completely depends on the child. Just because they're young doesn't mean they don't know what they like.

[peterjmathis]

I'm not talking about that in particular. I'm talking about the child that cries and begs not to go and the parent that wants to learn through their kid. That's silly and just not worth it. Also, it completely depends on the child. Just because they're young doesn't mean they don't know what they like.

Exactly. If the kid is that against it, forcing lessons does far more harm than good.

[go12_3]

Exactly. What I don't like though is parents pressuring their children into playing the piano. It's just... I don't know. Just unreasonable, I guess. If your children don't want to play, don't make them.

I agree with you.  Children should never be forced to learn to play piano.  When I was a child, I
loved piano and played it all the time.  Each child is different.  When they should an interest
then have them play piano.  Usually a child shows interest when  a piano is around, but not
always. 

[pianist7]

Yeah, parents can try to bring new opportunities to their kids, like piano, but not force them.

[kelly_kelly]

It is DEFINITELY a pet peeve for me... I knew a violinist one year older than me (now graduated) who was very accomplished (Juilliard Precollege for many years). She played Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy with our school orchestra, but the fact that she didn't want to be playing was evident, though she clearly could have played very well if she had wanted to... at the end of the year, she said she was going to sell her violin so she could save money for a car. She had been playing for 13 years. What a waste of time and talent! I know several less extreme cases, but in general so many musicians my age more accomplished than I am have so much less appreciation for classical music. If I had their talent, I would certainly double major in piano and physics in college; as it is, I don't think I have enough ability... 

[peterjmathis]

Wow, I can't even imagine being stuck playing an instrument you hate for 13 years. She probably never wants to see a violin again.

[fifthelegy]

I'm a teen and I thoroughly enjoy my piano 
Though that was not the case a few years back when playing the piano seemed like something akin to torture and a form of punishment my parents gave me. I found it so horribly tedious to get through just an hour of it and all the pieces were boring me. I kept doing other stuff to pass the time... like wandering around the house in between songs.

But then I quit for two years, and only then did I realize how much I actually loved it. I started again earlier this year and now I can't get enough!

I'm still in school, and most people play an instrument of some sort but it's so rare to find someone who actually enjoys playing their instrument and appreciates the music they are playing. Often, they only play because their parents 'force' them to, or because they just want to pass their exam. I find that quite sad really.. and rather annoying.

[berniano]

I'm not talking about that in particular. I'm talking about the child that cries and begs not to go and the parent that wants to learn through their kid. That's silly and just not worth it. Also, it completely depends on the child. Just because they're young doesn't mean they don't know what they like.

Yeah, that was me 10 yrs ago on piano and then again when my mom told me I had to take harp lessons which I DID NOT WANT TO DO. I hated practicing and only did it bc I wasn't allowed to play outside until the dreaded 30 min was over.

However, something mysterious happened when I turned twelve that made me realize I didn't hate it anymore, and now this next year I'm going to major in piano performance at college and possibly minor in harp later. At this point I couldn't imagine my life w/out music.
So, just bc your parents force you to do something when you're young doesn't mean you're always going to hate it.

[m2r]

They should really learn to enjoy the music it is quite nice if not, they shouldn't play if they don't like it.