Ever Try to Impress?

[slyfox2625]

lets say someone walks in on you while your playing your piano, and you notice them? do you  change your piece that you were currently playing? or continue doing what you were doing? or get nervous?

[sucom]

If someone walks in on you while playing the piano, I think it would be an excellent opportunity to take advantage of practising the art of performing in front of others.  If this means changing to a piece you feel more confident with, then I would say, yes, go for it!  What a great opportunity to gain confidence in playing in front of others!

[lloyd_cdb]

It depends on whether they walk in on me playing or practicing.  Practicing, I usually stop and say hi or just keep doing all my repetitions until they get annoyed and walk away.  If I'm playing, generally I get nervous and start fumbling, but I suck at performing.  Strangely, if I'm playing only a section of a piece I'm learning I usually do fine (I mean more of a page or two, compared to repeating a few bars). I fumble if I'm playing a piece I know in entirety.  Kind of odd.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I keep practicing what I'm working on.

If they have anything to say about how much it sucks, I rage at them.  

Kid:  wow...  You're not as good as I thought you were...

Me:  hey, why don't you play something for-  oh wait...  You don't play the piano.  Leave me alone loser.  I'm trying to work here.  

But if they ask me to play something for them, then I bring out the big guns.

Kid:  hey, why don't you play something for me?

*I play John cage 4'33*

Kid:  oh my freakng god you're sooooooooooo good! 

Me:  yeah well...   

[ted]

I did when I was young, but I am naturally a very poor performer by temperament. I found the mental state destructive of my music, especially improvisation, and have not sought it for decades. Live performance in general throws me right out of mental kilter, impressive or not. Do I consciously try to impress in my recordings (I enjoy recording my improvisation very much) ? Certainly not.

However, I recognise and concede that performing and impressing appear to be intrinsic parts of both professional and amateur music of all genres, and that I am definitely the odd man out.

[slyfox2625]

lol, all of these responses, i agree with all of you on some of these points, so i figure all of you guys get some type of feeling when someones watching and listening

[hfmadopter]

lol, all of these responses, i agree with all of you on some of these points, so i figure all of you guys get some type of feeling when someones watching and listening

Definately some sort of feeling yes. Sometimes I'm inspired to do my best with a surprise visit by someone, other times it tends to make me back right off. If the piece isn't ready for some sort of performance I will make mistakes and they might derail me. If it is ready I can play through a mistake but hopefully there won't be one. I don't play to specifically impress but if I get a compliment I'll be very happy about that. As I ready a new piece for people to hear it I get nervouse playing it in front of people. If it's fully ready I play not so much nervously as just holding back a touch. If I play up to max potential I have no fudge factor room !

[49410enrique]

if someone walks in on me when i am playing/practicing, i usually stop and ask them to leave because i am playing/practicing.

[costicina]

if someone walks in on me when i am playing/practicing, i usually stop and ask them to leave because i am playing/practicing.

..the same reaction I use to have....

[lloyd_cdb]

if someone walks in on me when i am playing/practicing, i usually stop and ask them to leave because i am playing/practicing.

I didn't use to be able to do that.  My "practice room" was our living room, between the kitchen and a bathroom and the stairs to the bedrooms...  It definitely helped me not care too much about practicing, but I still tend to only actually play when people are gone.

[thesuineg]

i pretend to not notice them and play with more noticable musicality(often killing the composition). Its normal I'm sure thats how horowitz got some weird habits...showing off is good lol

[slyfox2625]

lmao^ weird habits... i bet... u guys are funny

[danny372393673]

Hello Everyone,
I know it's not the good place to make this post and i only supposed to reply of that thread which going on here I mean the discussion.
But actually I'm a student of Piano and a beginner so I'm having a lots of problem i mean I'm not interested in piano enough but the thing is my parents want me to learn and play so that's why I'm trying but that's not easy enough for me, and that is the reason my teacher always scold me. is there any perfect solution of this problem?
anyone can suggest me something helpful I'll appreciate that.

[shazeelawan]

Haha,sometimes I practise on the displayed pianos outside the classroom,and random strangers in the shop just stop and stare,or start pointing me out to their little kids and saying random stuff...usually I just carry on playing (but change to 'professional'pianist mode from 'simply having fun banging on the keys' mode)....but if I'm trying to practise and feel nervous,I purposely play horribly and they go away....but how about impressing other pianists? Like when someone is playing a piece and you start playing it on another display piano, showing off how yours is better and that other pianist just stops and goes all O_O? But that's wasn't very nice,though....

[dcstudio]

Haha,sometimes I practise on the displayed pianos outside the classroom,and random strangers in the shop just stop and stare,or start pointing me out to their little kids and saying random stuff...usually I just carry on playing (but change to 'professional'pianist mode from 'simply having fun banging on the keys' mode)....but if I'm trying to practise and feel nervous,I purposely play horribly and they go away....but how about impressing other pianists? Like when someone is playing a piece and you start playing it on another display piano, showing off how yours is better and that other pianist just stops and goes all O_O? But that's wasn't very nice,though....

I love to go into a piano store and do nothing other than show off...   I'm older though and really I just can't pass by a beautiful new grand without trying it out.  I usually gage reactions to different styles I play to determine what will please the crowd--years of playing in restaurants and just trying to keep my job did that for me.   Nothing wrong with struttin your stuff if ya got it flaunt it--I paid my dues in music school.  If you can survive the humiliation most suffer as performance majors--then you deserve to show off... yeah it sounds shallow--but music school was a pregnant dog for me. ha ha ha 

[Derek]

I feel like when I was younger people were way too impressed by far too little from me! So for a long time, despite having various talents, I don't think I ever really applied myself. So now---feeling so far behind pretty much all of my peers---the only person I really care about impressing is myself!

In terms of music, I guess I used to care about impressing people, but not while actually making the music. I definitely liked how it felt when people seemed impressed. But it doesn't last. When you impress the right person, and you receive the right type of response, it can be a source of extremely positive growth. But just to impress people for its own sake to get "wows" etc. is pretty useless and I've lost all taste for it.

[zezhyrule]

if someone walks in on me when i am playing/practicing, i usually stop and ask them to leave because i am playing/practicing.

Hahaha

this.

[outin]

Hello Everyone,
I know it's not the good place to make this post and i only supposed to reply of that thread which going on here I mean the discussion.
But actually I'm a student of Piano and a beginner so I'm having a lots of problem i mean I'm not interested in piano enough but the thing is my parents want me to learn and play so that's why I'm trying but that's not easy enough for me, and that is the reason my teacher always scold me. is there any perfect solution of this problem?
anyone can suggest me something helpful I'll appreciate that.

I am sorry that you have to take lessons even if you are not interested in the piano. But if it's any consolidation, learning is just as difficult for me even though I really want to and I love the piano. It takes some time before one learns to play something to enjoy. I think you should listen to some piano music and try to find something that you really like (don't have to be classical). The, you can have a goal to learn that piece, if not now, one day. It is maybe boring to learn the basics, but they will be good for you in the future when you really want to learn to play something.

[teran]

No, because I hate performing. I generally stop playing if someone walks up and starts hovering over me. I also refuse to perform when asked unless I really like the person.

Quite frankly if I want to impress a layman with my playing I wouldn't even have to play anything difficult. "Fast stuff" is all that impresses them, a highly expressive and challenging piece will get zero points because "slow stuff is easy and boring". At most it would be called beautiful or something or whatever.

If I have a pianist or someone far more educated, I don't play to impress, I play to express, and they can make of it what they will.

[dcstudio]

No, because I hate performing. I generally stop playing if someone walks up and starts hovering over me. I also refuse to perform when asked unless I really like the person.

Quite frankly if I want to impress a layman with my playing I wouldn't even have to play anything difficult. "Fast stuff" is all that impresses them, a highly expressive and challenging piece will get zero points because "slow stuff is easy and boring". At most it would be called beautiful or something or whatever.

If I have a pianist or someone far more educated, I don't play to impress, I play to express, and they can make of it what they will.

hate performing...  why?  sounds like you had some exp performing "fast stuff" and "slow stuff" what happened?  was it called "beautiful"  and that wasn't enough?  did you doubt the sincerity of the comment?  at times performing can be quite painful to the ego--was it called "easy and boring" ?  give it another try... you may find that seeing someone truly enjoy your music --can be "spiritually uplifting.." lol

I know I am prying but..I sense issues ... 

[outin]

hate performing...  why? 

I hate performing too, when I have to perform something "ready made" where I cannot improvise (and I can't with the piano).

It must be my personality. I am too impulsive. I cannot be constant with what I do. If I feel like playing a piece it's fine, but if I don't it will become impossible. When forced to do something I cannot produce.

I can totally forget what I am doing in the middle of a piece when something less relevant pops into my mind. The better I know the piece the more likely it is that this will happen. 

I also notice all mistakes immediately and cannot stop myself from analyzing what happened instead of going on. I am generally more inclined to solve problems and produce ideas than producing something constant.

[teran]

hate performing...  why?  sounds like you had some exp performing "fast stuff" and "slow stuff" what happened?  was it called "beautiful"  and that wasn't enough?  did you doubt the sincerity of the comment?  at times performing can be quite painful to the ego--was it called "easy and boring" ?  give it another try... you may find that seeing someone truly enjoy your music --can be "spiritually uplifting.." lol

I know I am prying but..I sense issues ... 

It's mostly that I don't like sharing my emotions with people, hence why I don't mind with people I like. The easy and boring/fast stuff/slow stuff nonsense isn't necessarily from first hand experience, but it's stuff I've encountered in my life when I've heard people commenting on pieces/performances.

It's not that I lack confidence or anything per se, it's that I flat out dislike doing it for the most part. Also I truly detest the idea that just because I can play I should be on call to play whenever somebody requests it. People generally get offended when you turn down a performance request, and if you have parents and live with them well... you're going to be performing a lot no matter how many times you tell them "seriously I hate performing never ask me to do so".

I'm not a circus monkey.

[slyfox2625]

exactly! when someone hovers over me, and ask me 2 play im probably like nope, especially family members, i hate getting compliments... its not that im modest either

[dcstudio]

Also I truly detest the idea that just because I can play I should be on call to play whenever somebody requests it.
if you have parents and live with them well... you're going to be performing a lot no matter how many times you tell them "seriously I hate performing never ask me to do so".

I'm not a circus monkey.

My sister is a trombone player and my mom is a voice teacher...  I was always the accompanist -- and it used to upset me when i was "on call' to play...lol...I got over it though.   a teacher told me once that if you can play it is your responsibility to share your music with anyone who'll listen--he said I didn't "own" my music...

you sound a little angry -- not gonna go into the reasons why...  but it's there in your words nonetheless.. 

[outin]

 a teacher told me once that if you can play it is your responsibility to share your music with anyone who'll listen--he said I didn't "own" my music...

In a way I can understand that idea. Especially when others have gone through a lot of trouble to teach you. But since I cannot really  play it does not apply to me

[dcstudio]

In a way I can understand that idea. Especially when others have gone through a lot of trouble to teach you. But since I cannot really  play it does not apply to me

If you have enough interest in the piano to be here reading this--I would say that "you can't play"--as well as you'd like too--YET    That doesn't mean that other's won't enjoy hearing you play...just because you are not yet playing the Rach 2nd.. doesn't mean you can't let others enjoy hearing what you CAN do.   Yes, my friend it does apply...

[teran]

you sound a little angry -- not gonna go into the reasons why...  but it's there in your words nonetheless.. 

That's right Herr Freud I'm truly furious at all times.

[dcstudio]

That's right Herr Freud I'm truly furious at all times.

doesn't take a psychiatrist to figure that out---lol--you said it my friend, not me.. 

it's either anger or fear with fear being the more likely of the two--been teaching 20 years--you really don't honestly believe that I have never heard that excuse from a student...do you?

there must be someone in your life who you feel is FAR better at playing music than you--that's one of the people you "don't like" or feel uncomfortable "sharing your emotions with." 
Every time you are called on to play--it is a painful reminder that you do not yet posess the skills that this other person seems to take for granted. 

 it is painful and downright scary to perform at times....but you sound far too young to really understand the "sharing of emotion" that comes with performance--so I am not buying that one for a second.  You must've heard that line from someone else.

any more psycho-analysis and I will have to bill you...lol

[outin]

If you have enough interest in the piano to be here reading this--I would say that "you can't play"--as well as you'd like too--YET    That doesn't mean that other's won't enjoy hearing you play...just because you are not yet playing the Rach 2nd.. doesn't mean you can't let others enjoy hearing what you CAN do.   Yes, my friend it does apply...

I never wanted to play Rach 2 actually. But honestly I cannot really play anything...I always mess up at some point even with the easiest things...

[teran]

doesn't take a psychiatrist to figure that out---lol--you said it my friend, not me.. 

it's either anger or fear with fear being the more likely of the two--been teaching 20 years--you really don't honestly believe that I have never heard that excuse from a student...do you?

there must be someone in your life who you feel is FAR better at playing music than you--that's one of the people you "don't like" or feel uncomfortable "sharing your emotions with." 
Every time you are called on to play--it is a painful reminder that you do not yet posess the skills that this other person seems to take for granted. 

 it is painful and downright scary to perform at times....but you sound far too young to really understand the "sharing of emotion" that comes with performance--so I am not buying that one for a second.  You must've heard that line from someone else.

any more psycho-analysis and I will have to bill you...lol

And your points are far too filled with absurd conjecture and leaps of logic for it to be by someone of a certain age, but there we go. If you were to bill me I'd call you a charlatan.

First of all, the only person I know who plays piano is my teacher. He is a concert professional so obviously he's better than I am, you know, sort of why I take lessons from him. Also since nobody I know outside of myself gets the pleasure of hearing him play, it's not like they'd have comparison material.

Then if you're saying I'm constantly comparing myself with him, well, okay I wonder how I can ever play at all.

Also just so you know I like my teacher very much thank you and I have zero issue performing for him since it's sort of the point of me going to lessons.

Also I like the typical blanket statement of "far too young" as if that's actually relevant. Age is not a factor in one's emotional complexity, it's generally just the fact that age correlates with greater experience (emotional included), but that doesn't mean a person of a young age cannot grasp the gravity of their emotions and their expression. People are emotionally complex and insightful from an early age, some flat out never reach any sort of so called maturity, so really your point here, like every single other one, is tenuous, stupid, and entirely baseless. You say stuff like "oh it's all there", no it isn't there, the leaps of logic got you from A to B.

Really your psycho-analysis should be kept to yourself, you mention you're a teacher. That's great and since you've been doing it for 20 years I'm sure you're very good. How about sticking with that? Especially don't give impressionable young students bullshit psych talks because it could be somewhat detrimental to their lives.

You may take your ellipses and lols with you on the way out, Doctor.

[dcstudio]

And your points are far too filled with absurd conjecture and leaps of logic for it to be by someone of a certain age, but there we go. If you were to bill me I'd call you a charlatan.

First of all, the only person I know who plays piano is my teacher. He is a concert professional so obviously he's better than I am, you know, sort of why I take lessons from him. Also since nobody I know outside of myself gets the pleasure of hearing him play, it's not like they'd have comparison material.

Then if you're saying I'm constantly comparing myself with him, well, okay I wonder how I can ever play at all.

Also just so you know I like my teacher very much thank you and I have zero issue performing for him since it's sort of the point of me going to lessons.

Also I like the typical blanket statement of "far too young" as if that's actually relevant. Age is not a factor in one's emotional complexity, it's generally just the fact that age correlates with greater experience (emotional included), but that doesn't mean a person of a young age cannot grasp the gravity of their emotions and their expression. People are emotionally complex and insightful from an early age, some flat out never reach any sort of so called maturity, so really your point here, like every single other one, is tenuous, stupid, and entirely baseless. You say stuff like "oh it's all there", no it isn't there, the leaps of logic got you from A to B.

Really your psycho-analysis should be kept to yourself, you mention you're a teacher. That's great and since you've been doing it for 20 years I'm sure you're very good. How about sticking with that? Especially don't give impressionable young students bullshit psych talks because it could be somewhat detrimental to their lives.

You may take your ellipses and lols with you on the way out, Doctor.

lol...yeah!  you sound good and mad at me now...  SO  go and play your piano!!! see what happens...  "share that emotion!"   for someone who hates to perform you sure did a fine job of defending your music against my ridiculous comments.... GOTCHA!!!!   

[teran]

Of course you'd say that.

If I brush the comment off "oh you're just sweeping it aside because you know I'm right and you're really mad."

Break it all down and pick it apart in a firm tone and "lol u mad".

Ultimately in both cases I am mad so I took the latter to at least deconstruct whatever misconceptions there were.

Also disliking giving personal musical performances is not comparable to what I just did, but I mean okay at least we can see the irrationality of the thought process.

Anyway I'm done with this but please instead of reading between the lines completely incorrectly and then stating it as fact to myself, you could just, you know, ask the right questions and satisfy your curiosity in a far more polite, far less presumptuous manner.

Good day.

[keypeg]

DCStudio, I usually enjoy your posts and we've had some wonderful exchanges in the past.  But I have strong feelings about people, whether teachers or other, writing that they know what another person is thinking, how they are feeling, what their true motivations are, and similar.  I will explain why.

First of all, it takes a long time to truly know somebody.  In a teaching situation you would imagine regular lessons and thus interactions of at least a year, because a lot of impressions can be gathered.  Even in this scenario there can be major misunderstandings and misinterpretations for quite a few reasons.  Contrast this to reading a few words from an anonymous person you don't know at all, whom you have never met, never worked with.

My strong feelings are due to a number of experiences.  I suggest that any teacher who wonders why their student does this or that, that this teacher ASK the student, and LISTEN, and that the student initiate communication as well - especially if you sense some kind of underlying concerns that the teacher is not articulating.  You may well be dealing with mutual assumptions about each other.  That's on the in-studio, with-own-teacher/student plane.

I will not let it all hang out in a public forum. Suffice it to say that on-line statements about what someone believes are a person's underlying thoughts can be destructive, misguided, and invasive.  Not only can it be incorrect, but it can affect a person negatively quite badly.  If you tell someone "Your timing is off." or "You are playing a C# when it should be D#." then the person has a concrete thing to look at.  Either the timing is off, or it isn't. Either it's a D# or it isn't.  But when you tell them what they are thinking, and they are induced to doubt their own thoughts and feelings, it makes a real mess.  Music has a personal element to it, so it makes a mess on a number of planes.  Please don't do it.

And TERAN --- since you have a teacher, trust your teacher who is working with you, especially if you are working together well.  When people make statements about you on the Internet, consider that they don't know you.  Do not get embroiled in explaining yourself and wanting others to get it right.  The more you explain, and the more you don't get understood, the more it turns into a negative circle.  I've been that route.  You know who you are. Your teacher knows who you are.  Your close friends and family probably know who you are.

[dcstudio]

not one of my more mature posts, for sure...   and I don't know him or what he's thinking...  just out to get a reaction....
I had a similar issue with performance when I was young.   I would say ANYTHING to get out of it.   Had many students over the years who claimed to "hate" performing too.
Now I live for it---hate to hear anyone say they feel like a "circus monkey" when asked to play. I understand that---I was "shown off" quite a bit as a child.   All I wanted to do was go outside and play with my friends.   

but you are right...who am I to tell anyone that--sorry Teran... no hard feelings huh?  "_"

[teran]

It's okay, as long you as you learn from it. :3

[keypeg]

I didn't answer this, because of the title "try to impress".  The word "impress" goes together with being admired for one's own skills - a kind of positive judgment, and maybe comparison with others.  Yes, it has happened that when I played (some instrument) and someone showed up that I'd change into something more like performance.  But it was not for "impressing".  Maybe somebody can find the words to describe that particular kind of energy.  You want the music to shine forth to the listener.  You want some kind of effect.  Whatever it is that you are seeing in the music, you want to bring this out of the music as a kind of sharing.  I haven't the words for it.  Can anyone relate?

It doesn't happen with family members.  They know what practising is.  It's "work" that has to be done, like the dishes.  But once in a while you do want to say, "Listen to this.  Isn't it awesome?  I can't quite bring it out, but can you hear where it's going?  Does this move you too?"

Do you want NOT to have others hear you when you are struggling with a problem in the music and have to do the gunge work?  Yes, probably. 

If I'm practicing and a musician is around, then I know that musicians are used to practicing in adjacent practice rooms and ignoring each other, or warming up in an orchestra while shutting out the other people.  I do have that situation with a visiting family member.  As the "junior" very occasionally I may get a comment such as when I was partly ignoring, partly chasing the metronome, instead of having developed an internal pulse.  I was glad this was heard, and it was a brand new concept that I began trying to get.  This may sound perverse, but if there is a teacher or good musician, I am interested above all in weaknesses they notice (opposite of impressing) because that's what can bring me to a new level.

[dcstudio]

once in a while you do want to say, "Listen to this.  Isn't it awesome?  I can't quite bring it out, but can you hear where it's going?  Does this move you too?"

family gets immune...  they are so used to "tuning out" during the hours of practice you subject them to day after day after day...  and the only thing that makes it worse is when you say "listen to this."  Funny how the visitor in your home will also become "immune" after "loving it OMG!!" for the first several days.
 In my home this is compounded by the fact that everyone is a musician!!  My daughter plays the french horn and sings soprano in the honor choir--my husband is a guitarist--then there is me...sometimes it sounds like a Charles Ives composition at my house....