21 y.o crisis

[pianisten1989]

This might sound silly and stupid, but I'll write it anyway.

I am 21 years old, so not very young anymore. Since musicians in general gets both better and somehow younger (Yundi Li was like 19 when he won the Chopin, and the van Cliburn wasn't too old either), I start to get quite worried if this is the thing to do.

Either you have to be like Lang Lang, and tour the world every other week, or be a poor and lonely freelancer (or teacher, but I really don't want to become a teacher), and that doesn't really seem worth it right now.

I practise at least 8 hours a day, and yet, somehow, some stupid 10 y.o. learns everything both better and faster, and if I'd practise any less, I would suck even more!

Sorry for whining, but I'm just sick of it right now.

Anyone else with the same experience? I would like to hear how you solved it.

Best

[pianist1976]

Hi, pianisten! Your "problem" is quite normal. Even the greatest and most famous artists had it in some moments of their lifes, I think it's inherent to artistry There can be crisis at 15, at 21, at 30 or even at 50 or 70.

One advice I think could help you is avoiding every comparison. Comparison with other artists, no matter they are older or younger, famous or not, only leads (in my opinion) to insecurity and dissatisfaction. Every person has his/her vital rhythm and his/her unique personality. Don't be impatient. Yundi, Maurizio and Krystian won the Chopin at 18. So? You mustn't care about this. Will thinking on this help me in some way other than frustrating me? They won at 18, good for them but it does not affect to me, I continue my path, at my rhythm. And sometimes I think it's good to rethink everything to look for what failed in the past. As Einstein said, "Don't do the Same Thing Expecting A Different Result".
 
Another very important key, in my opinion, is been honest and been always oneself, bringing out one's personality on the instrument, never trying to imitate, nor comparing.

[omar_roy]

I'll be honest, because that's something all of us need, especially as pianists.

How many skilled pianists are in the world?  Likely millions.  How many of these people are instantly recognizable names in the piano world?  A very, very, very, small handful.  These guys have something wired differently in their brains, a simple neurological difference, that is inborn and developed through intense musical training, otherwise there would be a lot more famous pianists.  These people also come from, and play in, countries/cultures that have a higher appreciation for classical music than Americans.

They also have agents and are endlessly promoted and the right personality to be in the limelight.  Not everyone has that.

Instead of trying to get to "their level," concern yourself only with being the best possible pianist you can be.  With that in mind, I make it a habit to set myself insane goals.  Everyone says that I could never be as good as Horowitz or Richter (with good reason, and even I say that), but that doesn't mean I can't damn well try to be better!

The only thing we can do is strive for perfection, and keep working hard.  What will come will come, but don't forget that you also need to take the initiative.  Promote yourself, create your own performance opportunities, etc etc.  Do as much as you can!  Get your name in the heads of important people at keyboard festivals, master classes, universities, and so on and so forth.

And regarding teaching, have you ever taught any advanced students?  I have a passion for performing, but it was quickly overshadowed when I realized how much I loved teaching piano to the more advanced spectrum of students.  Just a thought.

[lostinidlewonder]

What it means to be a musician in the 21st century has certainly changed a lot. We live in the information age which makes teaching much higher in demand. Society also enjoys to learn something new, when performing concerts nowadays the more successful concerts tend to mix not only art and entertainment, but also includes education to the package. People feel empowered with knowledge.

People have more money these days to spend on music, musicians can make more money from teaching these days than they can from concerting. Don't limit yourself to being a teacher for your whole life if you choose education as a path, you can develop other opportunities such as own studio, then perhaps have teachers work under you, then you end up managing the venue and teach only who you want to. But you need to be confident in what you do musically.

What we contribute to the music world needs to be clearly understood if you choose to be a professional musician. Some simply love music too much not to do it for a living and may not really understand what new/improved content they could contribute to the music world. You may never really make a difference to society but if the music is just for you and the select few and that makes you happy there is nothing wrong with this.

Those who make a difference to the musical world have a desperate need to share their unique understanding to the world. They push through criticism that would crush most peoples dreams because they believe in themselves so strongly. They do not need to win famous competitions for the confidence to pursue their musical dreams.

I met the wife of one of the violinists in the West Australian Symphony Orchestra who plays piano and teaches a few students every week. She plays absolutely amazing, I shouldn't say it but it is like a man with the power and vitality something I have only seen in the very best of women concert pianists. But she is not world famous, she never has performed on large stages. She has no aspiration no need to do so. There is nothing compelling her to become a performer, she simply loves music and loves to accompany her husband who joked with me he had to marry a pianist so he could practice at home

So being able to play amazingly will not make you famous on its own. You can be the best pianist in the world but if you do not make the effort to be noticed then you will simply never be! What do you do to be noticed? Competitions are really a wrong way in my mind to become noticed, you are putting your future in the hands of strangers and the politics behind famous competitions can be very "cloak and dagger". Make a change in your own community first, maybe your community will never appreciate what you do but if you can make it there you really can make it anywhere. If you go somewhere and it doesn't work, reassess what you did and try again. The world is a large place. Most musicians are not business minded however and that is where we suffer the most. You need someone to guide you if you haven't the know how of business and how to invest your money.

[caioramos]

In my opinion, I think it is important to never let the dream fade away.. but not get too obsessed with it, just let things flow and if your meant to it, your gonna get there.

[faulty_damper]

What are your goals?  It sounds as if you want to have a career as a concert artist.  However, considering that you are comparing yourself to 10-year-olds, you're knowledge of learning may be at a disadvantage.

I would recommend that you reflect about what you want to accomplish and make a very specific list of items.  I would also recommend that you consider what it is generally that you want out of the piano and ultimately, how it will fulfill your life.