How to play the piano on a shoestring.

[electricsheep]

As we all know, being a pianist can sometimes be pretty expensive! If it's not piano repairs or tuning, it's lessons, books, recordings, concert tickets etc etc

So, does anyone have any money-saving tips for any of the above? For example websites with free (and legal!) sheet music and/or recordings?

I know it's pretty well known but the petrucci library must have saved me hundreds!

https://imslp.org/wiki/Main_Page

I look forward to reading your suggestions!

Regards
A Broke Pianist

[Bob]

Libraries, friends, share music, share recordings (legally, of course).  Borrow, don't buy.  Share notes on masterclasses. 

[theholygideons]

Maybe one could make a list of all the masterclasses on youtube, or make a thread about it so people can keep linking masterclasses..

[Bob]

This forum of course.

Trading lessons with someone, if that's an option.  Someone who isn't a perfect pianist can still give you good advice (post rec's here?).  I'm thinking swapping lessons with someone though.  For music ed students, two students on different instruments could trade lessons with each other.  A win win.  Something like that might work out.  If it's a non-pianist critiquing your playing, they're going to know the sound at least.  They wouldn't know advanced piano technique, details of the piece, the 'definitive' shape of the piece, etc.  But they wouldn't be weighed down by knowing what's hard/easy, etc. with piano either. 

[indianajo]

Buy an old lightly used console from craiglist/kiji , move it in a U-haul trailer, or the trunk of your car, tune it yourself.  My 1941 Steinway 40 cost $1000 because of the cracked veneer, lead car wheel tracks on the kickboard, and mold on the ivory. I use a tuning fork, a long arm allen wrench, a 5/16" x 1/4 drive socket to tune it. Hold the socket straight, don't wiggle or booger the heads on the pins. I was lusting after a $300 Baldwin Acrosonic 40 from the sixties last month, that is louder than my Steinway and will fit in the trunk of the car if the lid is off, but didn't buy it.
Buy old piano benches full of music.  One came up on organforum, the pro musician didn't read music, played by ear,  I paid $20 shipping.  I bought a broken Wurlitzer organ for $25 plus $20 to haul it home, the bench was full of music including hand written arrangements of 20's pop hits by a church dance accordian player, including everything Irving Berlin had written up to that time.  
Cruise Goodwill, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, resale, look for old music salvaged from benches.  Usually $1 each.  Ride the bus there, or your bicycle, gas is expensive these days.  I have welded up a nice rack for my bicycle, have brought home things as big as a toaster oven or PC by using string.  Fakebooks are $10, rare but worth it.
There is no substitute for 2 to 6 years worth of private lessons.  Fortunately, I had mine 1958-1966 when the price was $15 a half hour weekly.  To cut the cost now, live in a low cost area.  If I didn't live here, I am thinking of Oxford MS, where the education is eminent and the costs are low.  Or another MS town near there where the real estate is cheaper.    Look for some little one horse college with a highly trained teacher.  Notable ones near here are in Henderson and Owensboro KY, Hanover and Franklin, IN.  
The free download music doesn't help me, these **** ****ese made printer cartridges dry up in 6 weeks if you don't print with them every day.  Refilling doesn't help, it is the solenoid controlled nozzle that dries up.  You're supposed to buy a new printer cartridge every 6 weeks I suppose, or run an office and print a trees worth of paper a week to keep the cartridge flowing, ***** globalization. I could print at the library, if it wasn't for the 2 hour wait to get on the PC there.  
The PC display I got at New to You resale won't fit on the piano rack, either.  I suppose alternately you're supposed to buy a *****ese made flat display that will last two years like my rich retired Army physician friend uses.   I think the ****ese factory owners have enough money, excepting the guy that gave all the food to charity in NYC last week.  Better he treats his worker's families better though, IMHO.  Primary education fees.  Primary schools that fall down in an earthquake.  Fake infant formula.  Polluted tap water.  Life expectancy of 50 years in some areas.  Air full of coal soot. Scaffolds built out of bamboo and rope, no pesky OSHA inspectors.  24 hour work days in good economic times.  ***** the worker's paradise, buy everything musical from there.  No Thanks.  

[quantum]

IMO, many musicians would greatly benefit from taking a business management course.  Far too often musicians do not fully realize the extent of their skill set, and their ability to offer a service that others are willing to pay for. 

[electricsheep]

@Bob that's really true, I find musicians that are not pianists are great to ask for advice as they are focussed on the musicality and not the technique and difficulty! I often ask musician friends for this reason, instead of paying for the advice of another professional teacher. Also, I've now reduced the number of lessons I'm having by really focussing on what I want to achieve or learn from them. It also helps a lot with practise!

@gideons good idea, I'll have a look in my Youtube favourites and set up a thread. I had a look at the ABRSM forums which are pretty good but nothing on there about masterclasses either.

@quantum definitely! I started giving lessons quite early on and it really helped my playing as well. It makes you realise that the advice you give to students you rarely follow yourself!

With regard to performing, I think there is generally a hesitation amongst pianists to make any money from it, I know very few people who feel they are good enough despite having great skill. We tend to compare ourselves with other pianists, and worse than that recordings which is never a good idea. We should realise that most of the audience are not experts and will enjoy what we play regardless. I know one guy who started playing at local hotels and restaurants with very little experience. And he did pretty well!

[Bob]

Sit in on lessons for other people.  Just listen.  I don't know how you go about getting into a lesson like that but I've heard of it.  Or sneakier... Sit outside the door and listen.  (Or bug the room too I suppose.)