Career as a pianist

[joaosousa]

Hey,

I'm considering a career as a pianist, but i'm not sure and i have to decide this year. Can you give me some advice based on your own experience? Are you employed? Are you a concert pianist?  A teacher?

Pros:

-I think I have a great sight-reading and I can interpret well;
-I love classical music;
-Work ''well'' (I get the job done) under pressure.

Cons:

-I live in Portugal;
-I get really nervous before a concert.

Thank you.

[j_menz]

Pros:
-I think I have a great sight-reading and I can interpret well;

Concert pianists rarely sightread and they all think they have great interpretive abilities. Do you have a second opinion?

Pros:
-I love classical music;

Excellent qualification. Concert Pianist, teacher, casual player, audience member, Good for all of them.

Pros:
-Work ''well'' (I get the job done) under pressure.

Are the quote marks telling?

Cons:
-I live in Portugal;

The economy aside, is that really a "con"?

Cons:
-I get really nervous before a concert.

So did Horowitz, Godowsky......

but i'm not sure

Then the answer is probably no.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, by any means.

[joaosousa]

Concert pianists rarely sightread and they all think they have great interpretive abilities. Do you have a second opinion?

My teacher's.

[j_menz]

My teacher's.

Someone your not paying?

[fifthelegy]

Why do you have to decide this year? What type of pianist do you want to become? Are you aware of the hard work it takes to become one? Are you disciplined and motivated? Have you had much experience with competitions or performances? Do you have a plan for your education? Do you have a plan B?

[joaosousa]

Then the answer is probably no.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, by any means.

So you are saying I shouldn't become a pianist ?

[joaosousa]

Why do you have to decide this year? What type of pianist do you want to become? Are you aware of the hard work it takes to become one? Are you disciplined and motivated? Have you had much experience with competitions or performances? Do you have a plan for your education? Do you have a plan B?
[/

I have to decide this year because in my school system I have to decide between 5 areas:

-Science
-Humanities
-Economies
-Arts
-Music

I know.  I am. I have experience with performing. My plan B is to choose science and become a surgeon.

[j_menz]

So you are saying I shouldn't become a pianist ?

By no means.

But being a pianist does not necessarily mean being one of the concert variety or having it as your career.

[joaosousa]

By no means.

But being a pianist does not necessarily mean being one of the concert variety or having it as your career.

You're right… I'll think about that..

[bronnestam]

I have to decide this year because in my school system I have to decide between 5 areas:

-Science
-Humanities
-Economies
-Arts
-Music

I know.  I am. I have experience with performing. My plan B is to choose science and become a surgeon.

Never mind the areas in your school system. There are plenty of people who studied this and became that. Your decisions are, as we say in my country, not engraved in stone. Just follow your heart, that is, study what you think is fun to study right now, and go with the flow. Perhaps you will change your mind later on, perhaps not, but just let things unfold while you follow your current passion.
If you want to become a good pianist that is the way you have to go anyway, because learning the art of music without having a true passion for it, is simply no use. And when you have a passion for something, you don't ask other people what to do and what to think. You just do it.

[joaosousa]

Never mind the areas in your school system. There are plenty of people who studied this and became that. Your decisions are, as we say in my country, not engraved in stone. Just follow your heart, that is, study what you think is fun to study right now, and go with the flow. Perhaps you will change your mind later on, perhaps not, but just let things unfold while you follow your current passion.
If you want to become a good pianist that is the way you have to go anyway, because learning the art of music without having a true passion for it, is simply no use. And when you have a passion for something, you don't ask other people what to do and what to think. You just do it.

Thank you! really appreciate your help

[timothy42b]

Study music if you wish, but do not skip ANY math courses.

You may change your mind later, but if you didn't have the math courses when young you've blocked yourself from many, many career choices.

[joaosousa]

Study music if you wish, but do not skip ANY math courses.

You may change your mind later, but if you didn't have the math courses when young you've blocked yourself from many, many career choices.

But I have to choose one

[chopinlover01]

Study music if that's your desire, however; don't take someone saying that "the answer is probably no" as, "you shouldn't be a pianist" 

[michael_c]

I don't know the school system in Portugal and I don't know how old you are, but my first advice is this: try to find a way to keep both options open as long as possible. I was in a similar situation in England in the 70s, with a choice between maths and music. I chose to do maths and science A-levels but continue studying piano and cello at the Junior Royal College of Music. Do you have a similar possibility in Portugal?

To help you with your reflections, here are my views on the two possible choices you mention.

1. It is insanely difficult to become a concert pianist. You need to basically dedicate your life to practising, and that is no guarantee of success. There's only a handful of pianists in the world making a good living out of solo concerts. Here's a documentary you should watch:

However, there are many other possible paths in music: teaching, or becoming a répétiteur for opera, for example. You wan't become rich like this, but it can lead to a rewarding and varied life for somebody who is so passionate about music that they want to spend most of their time doing it.

2. If you succeed in studying as a surgeon your are assured of a life in a high-income bracket. Even if you don't finish surgical studies, you will be well-prepared for many other jobs that require maths/science knowledge. Bear in mind however, that surgery is extremely stressful and surgeons are highly prone to depression and suicide.

Hope this helps. Don't let yourself be pushed into a decision too early!

[rmbarbosa]

João, Concertista em Portugal? Talvez, se concorrer ao Concurso Viana da mota e vencer... mas duvido que dê para viver... no nosso querido Portugal, parece que a única "música" que dá dinheiro e´a das bandas...
Se o João optar pela Cirurgia, uma coisa posso dizer: pouco tempo terá, durante o Internato, para a Música. Por outro lado, o João não tem a certeza de conseguir ir para Cirurgia. As coisas funcionam segundo a nota final do Internato Geral (pelo menos no meu tempo era assim) e os hospitais estão cheios de médicos cujas Especialidades não são as que eles queriam. Às vezes por umá décima de valor na classificação.
Uma coisa poderei dizer-lhe, mas e´subjectiva: com muitos anos de médico e de músico, se soubesse o que sei hoje, teria arriscado a Música, partido para o estrangeiro, sei lá...
As maiores felicidades para si.
rui

[joaosousa]

Study music if that's your desire, however; don't take someone saying that "the answer is probably no" as, "you shouldn't be a pianist" 

Yeah, I know. My first intention was to know more about your personal experience, maybe I wasn't clear when I wrote the topic.

[joaosousa]

I don't know the school system in Portugal and I don't know how old you are, but my first advice is this: try to find a way to keep both options open as long as possible. I was in a similar situation in England in the 70s, with a choice between maths and music. I chose to do maths and science A-levels but continue studying piano and cello at the Junior Royal College of Music. Do you have a similar possibility in Portugal?

To help you with your reflections, here are my views on the two possible choices you mention.

1. It is insanely difficult to become a concert pianist. You need to basically dedicate your life to practising, and that is no guarantee of success. There's only a handful of pianists in the world making a good living out of solo concerts. Here's a documentary you should watch:

However, there are many other possible paths in music: teaching, or becoming a répétiteur for opera, for example. You wan't become rich like this, but it can lead to a rewarding and varied life for somebody who is so passionate about music that they want to spend most of their time doing it.

2. If you succeed in studying as a surgeon your are assured of a life in a high-income bracket. Even if you don't finish surgical studies, you will be well-prepared for many other jobs that require maths/science knowledge. Bear in mind however, that surgery is extremely stressful and surgeons are highly prone to depression and suicide.

Hope this helps. Don't let yourself be pushed into a decision too early!

I have the option of studying both but I have to pay almost 200€ month and it's extremely hard to be a surgeon in Portugal (we need to have grades superior to 18 out of twenty to enter college) and as you said even more difficult to be a pianist, so I would like to focus in one area...

[joaosousa]

João, Concertista em Portugal? Talvez, se concorrer ao Concurso Viana da mota e vencer... mas duvido que dê para viver... no nosso querido Portugal, parece que a única "música" que dá dinheiro e´a das bandas...
Se o João optar pela Cirurgia, uma coisa posso dizer: pouco tempo terá, durante o Internato, para a Música. Por outro lado, o João não tem a certeza de conseguir ir para Cirurgia. As coisas funcionam segundo a nota final do Internato Geral (pelo menos no meu tempo era assim) e os hospitais estão cheios de médicos cujas Especialidades não são as que eles queriam. Às vezes por umá décima de valor na classificação.
Uma coisa poderei dizer-lhe, mas e´subjectiva: com muitos anos de médico e de músico, se soubesse o que sei hoje, teria arriscado a Música, partido para o estrangeiro, sei lá...
As maiores felicidades para si.
rui

Muito obrigado pela sua resposta, vou ter isso em mente

[lostinidlewonder]

Hey,

I'm considering a career as a pianist, but i'm not sure and i have to decide this year. Can you give me some advice based on your own experience? Are you employed? Are you a concert pianist?  A teacher?

Pros:

-I think I have a great sight-reading and I can interpret well;
-I love classical music;
-Work ''well'' (I get the job done) under pressure.

Cons:

-I live in Portugal;
-I get really nervous before a concert.

Thank you.

If your want to become a performer there's nothing stopping you from doing it now. Most performing careers are built from early stages up they are not just handed over or attained after study. Performing for a living is a very tough life and means travelling and being away from your loved ones a lot. I think it would be wise to have interest in other piano professions especially education.

[joaosousa]

If your want to become a performer there's nothing stopping you from doing it now. Most performing careers are built from early stages up they are not just handed over or attained after study. Performing for a living is a very tough life and means travelling and being away from your loved ones a lot. I think it would be wise to have interest in other piano professions especially education.

I know, but I would love to play with orchestras and make people discover music, not teaching... But maybe with time I'll start thinking other way.