How do you define that someone is good at piano?

[achanont]

  I want to know how do you define that someone is good at piano?  I've been playing piano for like 2 years now, and i think that knowing what a skilled pianist is like will help me to focus on what i should learn to be better.
      thanks a lot , and sorry for my bad grammar

[ethure]

I tried to help but I felt like I can't really explain it well as I'm not very..experienced or 'professional' on this either.

but based on what I've learned so far, I'd suggest you:
1) discuss this with your piano teacher(if you have one) first;
2) train yourself to get a good ear so that you can find out 'what's excellence' on your own.

 

[mcdiddy1]

What level do you define as good. There are young performers that are "good" at the piano but not excellent in terms of skills. If you are talking about excellence at the highest level I think skills pianist tend to display.

piano technique and understanding of how the body, hands, wrist, arms, fingers, and shoulder work together and what musical situation to apply it to

finger dexterity to perform articulation, various tempos, dynamic levels, and styles
understanding of good pedaling

ability to create tone appropriate to the music, and ability to create a variety of different tone colors

musician ship skills: rhythmic accuracy, note accuracy, variety of dynamics, understand musical style periods and practices and good taste level to apply when necessary

imagination to develop an interpration and a will to emote with artistry

Most pianist tend to be stronger in certain areas but at the highest level , pianist should have some understanding of this at the highest level. I also think it can be difficult to pin point when someone is displaying these qualities or not unless you have experience doing it yourself.

[danhuyle]

Any pianist who is a competition winner or a competition finalist. That's THE easiest way to determine a good pianist.

[flyinfingers]

Come on, seriously?  Who cares if someone wins a competion?  Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.  My husband thinks I play beautifully (I disagree at this point.) 
To make such a blanket statement that anyone who wins a competition is good is absurd.  What if one never enters such a competition?  A lot of pianists don't play piano to compete but play for themselves.
Why would you take the wind out of one's sail?
We're all good just because of the mere fact that we're interested in playing a musical instrument....period!

[fleetfingers]

Any pianist who is a competition winner or a competition finalist. That's THE easiest way to determine a good pianist.

How do the competition judges determine who is a good pianist???

[pianoplayjl]

How do the competition judges determine who is a good pianist???

By hwo well they play their music and how they play it.

[m1469]

There are standards, and in competitions, I think there is an aim to make certain standards more concrete, though there is of course still subjectivity in that our spirits (which we hope to express through music) are not containable in set standards alone.  So, some form of standards must be present (clarity of line, ability to articulate musical phrases and forms in a clear way, etc.) as well as the presence of the spirit which exists beyond standards.

To me, you could break a lot of it down to there being an expression of defined skills which demonstrate diligent, intelligent, and focused work.  And, as icing, a certain glow straight from the soul.

[nystul]

When someone who is not family or friend will listen to your music and enjoy it, to me that is good.  I suppose that someone could be a competition judge, but kids down the street will do.  Gosh if enough strangers enjoy your music you could make a living off it, without ever even learning the Chopin etudes or nothing.

[werq34ac]

I suppose it dependson whether you want to be good in the eyes of the average joe or good in the eyes of pianists or good in the eyes of serious pianists.

I disagree with the competition part. I don't think Horowitz has won a major competition and yet his legendary skill is most certainly good. A lot better than just about all competition winners if you ask me.

Though to win a competition, yes you have to be very good.


There's really two parts to piano that you have to be good at in order to be good.
1. What you are playing
2. How you are going to play it.

What you are playing is the musical aspect, or the interpretation. You have to intelligently determine what senses you are trying to evoke with the music. It's the telling a story part of playing the piano.

How you are going to play it is the technical aspect, which includes everything from playing the notes to controlling color. In order to portray our interpretation to the audience, we need the tools in order to do so. Interpretation means nothing if it is not communicated. At the same time, technique is nothing if there is no greater purpose to it.


And so a good pianist is good at both of these.

[keyboardclass]

Plays leik [sic] water.

[gsmile]

This depends on your definition of "good": in terms of technique, expression, or even stage presence?

[opium_64]

 I want to know how do you define that someone is good at piano?  I've been playing piano for like 2 years now, and i think that knowing what a skilled pianist is like will help me to focus on what i should learn to be better.
      thanks a lot , and sorry for my bad grammar

Perfect technique and high intellect.

[werq34ac]

Perfect technique and high intellect.

First of all, no one has perfect technique. And second perfect technique isn't necessary to be a good pianist. Take a look at Horowitz, lots of wrong notes, but a much better pianist than "cleaner" pianists.

Intellect I agree with. In general, piano is an art and we should treat it as such.

[williampiano]

 I want to know how do you define that someone is good at piano?  I've been playing piano for like 2 years now, and i think that knowing what a skilled pianist is like will help me to focus on what i should learn to be better.
      thanks a lot , and sorry for my bad grammar

Look for someone who plays challenging music and that plays it well.
Watch out for people with poor technique. If they have hunched shoulders and flat wrists, chances are they aren't very good. There are some very skilled pianists that have\had horrible technique in that sense (for example, Glenn Gould), but generally, they aren't very good.

Listen to how well they interpret their music. Are their dynamics noticeable? Do they show a clear differentiation from piano to forte? Do they articulate each note? Listen for how noticeable they make accents, staccatos, sforzandos etc.
Listen for their use of pedal. Do they drown the piece in it, or are they precise with how they use it? (unless of course their piece uses no pedal)

Some, piano players play one hand MUCH louder than the other. If that is the case with them, you don't want to use them as your piano role model. Also, listen for if they sustain a consistent tempo. If they speed up and slow down randomly, or they change tempo and the piece does not call for it, then they probably aren't very good.

Also, if they have not won a competition, that does not automatically deem that they are bad. Some great pianists choose not to enter any. But, if they have won a competition that is somewhat impressive, then they are most likely good (as they would not win if they weren't the best there).

[megadodd]

For me it's hard to determine the good pianists. Those that just seek impressive technique and if they are to play a solo conscert they chose all the Transcendal Etudes, are dull, impressive in one way, but I wouldn't even consider showing for their conscert if there was another one next door playing somewhat (for me atleast) pieces of more musical value.

I think, everyone can aquire great technique, not with ease, but it's possible for the most of us.
Though making someone feel great joy, sadness, hope or comfort. That means alot, you can't move everyone obviously- but if there are some people you reach out too, you are a great pianist in my eyes.