Classical only?

[brianlucas]

Hello. I'm new to this forum and after looking around, this seems to be a classical only piano site. Is that true or are there folks on here interested in other aspects of piano music, pop, jazz, etc.?

[nataliethepianist]

I've seen some kids who need help with pop pieces, and the senior members on this forum have been reluctant to help them. I'd say this for is pretty much classical music, though I have seen some jazz questions answers.  I wanted to make a connection between Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and Bohemian Rhapsody, but opted not too because I thought I would get a cyber beating!

[nystul]

The site should really be renamed Chopinstreet to clear things up.  But as long as you avoid using the word "song" you will probably be alright.

[jimbo320]

Art is art so why do we make it so constrictive?

[brianlucas]

Yes Natalie, I can see how senior members wouldn't deal with such primitive and unpopular musical styles.  I don't know where everyone is, this site seems to be very European in thought. I'm in America and I teach both voice and piano and if you stuck to classical only for your method, you would be very hungary and not own anything of value. I try to find ways to engage the students to love music, and try to sneak in a little theory.  I've yet to have any of my students dream of being a concert pianist.  I do teach classical theory with classical pieces to some students, but very few.

Jimbo, my thoughts exactly.  Unfortunately music is like religion to some, if you don't agree on my brand, you are stupid and a heretic.  Art is art.

Nystul, I like the word song. Songs make a lot of money in the US.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.
-Brian Lucas
www.brianlucas.com
www.pianoin8weeks.com

[pbryld]

Yes Natalie, I can see how senior members wouldn't deal with such primitive and unpopular musical styles.  I don't know where everyone is, this site seems to be very European in thought.

Um, okay... ... .... ...


..... cough.

[brianlucas]

Sorry pbryid. I come across tons of music teachers who have the "classical is the only REAL music" thought and it makes me mad, both as a teacher and an artist.  So when I hear that members of this site are treating anyone who wants to learn non-classical music like crap, I want to defend them.  The European comment was suggesting that pop piano music doesn't appear to be heavily taught in Europe.  I hope I'm wrong in that observation.

By the way, I love listening to and playing classical music, even if it isn't my main focus.

Sorry if you took offense to that comment. Maybe it was a little harsh.

[xerula]

I genuinely enjoy a big variety of music, but in a world where most people really do choose Bieber over Bach, I'm relieved to find a forum that actually prefers classical music, and recognizes the sublime rewards of its performance at the highest level - and the huge, unique challenges of getting to that level.  You say that teachers in America have to teach pop piano just to put food on the table. That sounds like a scary state of affairs to me, and one that makes this forum's focus on classical repertoire seem all the more important. (I do question how representative your experience is - it was definitely not what I saw, when I had lessons in America, not so long ago - there were lots of amazing institutions and individuals entirely devoted to serious classical training).

Of course classical music is not the only "real" music. But the idea that all art is equally valuable, and there are no criteria by which someone can make valid comparisons between the intellectual and emotional substance of, say, a late Beethoven string quartet, and a pop song by Lady Gaga, or even Brian Lucas, strikes me as a naive form of cultural relativism. I know this is a deeply unpopular viewpoint these days, judging by how increasingly frequently "art is art" platitudes are wielded as kind of substitute for actual critical analysis. But whatever you think about this, appraising pop against the aesthetic ideals of classical music, with all their weight of tradition and erudition, is surely no more inappropriate than measuring artistry by how much money a song makes.

Anyway, I've learned a few pop songs myself, to appease my young cousins. Maybe there should even be a sub-forum for this stuff. It's probably more a forgivable lack of interest than open hostility that you face from the senior members. (I don't really know how things work in this place; I'm new too.)

[brianlucas]

You compare Bieber to Bach, which I think is a little like comparing the Ford Model A to the 2011 Ford Escape. I'd rather compare Bieber to Lady Gaga, the latter having far more musical skills.  So no, popularity usually doesn't have much to do with ability.  However, there are plenty of highly skilled piano players that may have never studied classical music.  Jazz musicians, or great rock keyboard players for instance.

Besides, weren't many of the classical players playing pop music of their time?  Chopin sounds nothing like Bach and I don't think the 2 can be fairly compared.  I'm sure at least some of the famous players over time have been looked down upon for not wanting to play Bach as well.

I think desire to master any style of music on the piano is honorable. And while you do still find conservatories in America, you also find many great music schools that cater to learning other forms. My alma mater, The Berklee College of Music being one of them. If a classical player can't play jazz, do we consider them less able?  Maybe, art is subjective is a better statement, and skill level is relative to the style of music.

[outin]

For me it was great to find this website that is mostly about classical piano music. It seems most adult students in my area are interested in other kind of music. Since I like to listen to and I am interested in learning to play classical pieces (in the broad sence, not classical era), I am happy to have a place where there are other people with similar interests.

I have started lessons and I think my teacher is not so used to adults being so "purist" and he has given me material that I don't find that interesting (popular walzes and spirituals for example). But I will learn them, because my natural laziness would otherwise keep me selecting only pieces that I like and maybe I would miss learning something

This does not mean that I don't value other kinds of music. Actually I have been listening very different kind of music most of my life. I like jazz fusion, funk, soul and even house and dance music. But for me piano is a classical instrument or at least it's properties are best used in classical repertoire. Exceptions exist of course...

[jimbo320]

If it's fame you're looking for it seems that all these "Famous" people out there seem to find a trait all their own whether it be talent or a gimmick...

[arctic_mama]

This site definitely has a bent toward Classical, which is great for those of us who love it.  Fortunately there are LOTS of piano forums around that have members who enjoy jazz, pop, new age improv, and any number of other styles. 

While this place is a huge wealth of knowledge, as a lurker I admit I found some of the (over the top?) pedantry a little off-putting, but it's just the local flavor around here.  There are lots of helpful musicians who don't besmirch more modern styles, too, they sometimes just get hidden below the louder voices of purists

And I say this as someone who is only interested in Classical and hymns