The "Scholar" we know and love is in financial trouble!

[schubert960]

I'm new here. I came across this forum while searching for opinions on the infamous Cory Hall, a.k.a Bachscholar. Evidently this forum doesn't think particularly highly of him, so I wanted to bring this up:

Obviously he thinks cyber-begging is somehow the solution to his legal problems. He also still has a pretty high opinion of himself, as evidenced by the fact that he refers to himself as the "finest teacher in the world," "one of the world's leading pianists" and "one of the most influential pianists in the world." I'd say this makes him a crank, and even more so for suggesting complete strangers pay his legal fees for him.

[chopinlover01]

As much as I dislike him, I can't help but feel for him a bit.
He's a musician, albeit a terrible one. I wouldn't want any musician to go out of business.. just turn down your ego and make better music, dammit!
Also, thank you for using the title I used XD (if that was intentional)

[schubert960]

Yeah, that was a reference to your title, I hope you don't mind 

Sadly it does appear that he isn't handling it well. There was another video about his issue that he took down (he says for legal reasons, which doesn't surprise me) featured photographs of the man that he's involved in legal proceedings with, accusations that he's a drug addict, a child abuser and a pornography addict. If nothing else that makes him look like a petulant child, to me it makes him look like he has a personal vendetta against this guy and the story about custody for the children is either fabricated or highly exaggerated. It seems to me that in all this the other guy would have a pretty good chance at suing him for slander. When told about this Cory mentioned that because he was telling the "truth" it made no difference what he said about this man.

Very interesting situation indeed. I do feel for the guy but at the same time, his arrogance would suggest to me that he's getting his comeuppance.

[chopinlover01]

Yeah, that was a reference to your title, I hope you don't mind 

Sadly it does appear that he isn't handling it well. There was another video about his issue that he took down (he says for legal reasons, which doesn't surprise me) featured photographs of the man that he's involved in legal proceedings with, accusations that he's a drug addict, a child abuser and a pornography addict. If nothing else that makes him look like a petulant child, to me it makes him look like he has a personal vendetta against this guy and the story about custody for the children is either fabricated or highly exaggerated. It seems to me that in all this the other guy would have a pretty good chance at suing him for slander. When told about this Cory mentioned that because he was telling the "truth" it made no difference what he said about this man.

Very interesting situation indeed. I do feel for the guy but at the same time, his arrogance would suggest to me that he's getting his comeuppance.

I'm honored 
I haven't seen the other video, as I don't really follow BachScholar.
He said that he hasn't been able to upload in several months because of the stress of the situation, when he's actually had steady uploads of all kinds of repertoire, including Scriabin etudes and preludes.
I showed this to my older brother, who was once a pianist and is now a guitarist, and he replied with something like, "Join the (expletive)'ing club and light up a joint, man. Get over yourself".
While it's a little harsh, he's got such a high opinion of himself I feel much less sorry for him.
If he doesn't have a way of proving the truth about the person, he can and will probably be sued for defamation, yeah.
Probably the most annoying thing though, was how religious he was being about it. I'm biased, being an atheist, but it's annoying when he was basically saying "Please donate to me, I play so that the Grace of God may shine through to all of you, God will bless you," etc.
I commented on his Schumann Traumerei recording, and we got into an argument about why Schumann shouldn't be played metronomically. I later posted on his Chopin op 66 slow recording, saying that although I'm not usually a fan of his work, I enjoyed seeing the polyrhythm at a slow tempo. I had changed my username to include "atheist" in the title, and apparently when I changed it to atheist it offended him. He brought it up on the FI video, then when I argued against him with solidity he said something like "Don't lecture me on religion, I was an atheist for longer than you've been alive".
Well if you didn't want me to talk about it, why'd you bring it up?
Meh. Anyways.

[dcstudio]

Probably the most annoying thing though, was how religious he was being about it. I'm biased, being an atheist, but it's annoying when he was basically saying "Please donate to me, I play so that the Grace of God may shine through to all of you, God will bless you," etc.

well I'm not an atheist... but I was equally annoyed by that...lol.

[chopinlover01]

well I'm not an atheist... but I was equally annoyed by that...lol.

I don't think it takes an atheist for someone to be annoyed by someone else telling about how their religion is everything to them..

[cuberdrift]

Ahhhhh BachScholar.

I have been trying to wonder what this forum thinks of him. Usually I come across him when I search for performances of Joplin rags...eventually I avoided his videos of the rags. I'm not sure...there seems to be a lack of "life" in his interpretations of the Joplin rags. Maybe he chooses to play them in an "instructional" manner, i.e., little musicality, with primary focus on the score...

I also, for the record, regularly practice his "Tausig exercises"...said by him as "the best exercise" there is.

What do you think of him?

[chopinlover01]

The Tausig exercises are fine. They also aren't his, they're Carl Tausig's, so you need not give him credit XD
I agree that he plays lifelessly- not just in the rags, but also in most everything he plays.
Like I said, I wouldn't wish these kinds of legal issues on anybody- but he needs to turn his ego WAY down (he also said in his sight reading video he considers himself better at sight reading than 99% of the people on the planet) and make better music.

[perfect_pitch]

I'll post this again, as I think it needs to be said.

I got into an argument with him years ago about one of the pieces he was playing. He was emphasising the wrong grouping of notes (I think he was playing semiquavers as if they were 12/16, instead of semiquavers of a 3/4 time sign. and mentioned this to him. After apparently telling me this was the way the composer intended, and I corrected him (as I looked up the sheet music), he verbally abused me, and then started restricting the comments on his videos (after a number of people backed up my statement.

That pissed me off, but I got over it. What pisses me off now, is that he's taken sheet music from other sites (most likely IMSLP) and is CHARGING people for music that can rightfully be gotten for free from IMSLP. He slaps on a couple of extra fingering numbers and expects people to pay full price for works that are now out of copyright??? What a rip-off artist. Proof???

His web-site: https://www.bachscholar.com/chopin-etudes/complete
IMSLP: https://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/7/70/IMSLP60297-PMLP01970-Chopin_Etudes_Schirmer_Mikuli_Op_25_scan.pdf

No offense... he seems like a rip-off artist charging for stuff that isn't his. I would probably join the bandwagon and say that his playing lacks finesse and substance, and emotion for that matter, which is a small matter compared to trying to rip off people for editions that aren't his.

[ted]

I am afraid my sympathy must remain a trifle reserved until I know more. He has two beautiful pianos worth at least four times the value of mine, which I worked on the waterfront for three years when young to buy. He may well be in some sort of financial trouble, but if I have money to spare to help people, not much now, as I am a pensioner, I feel a stronger duty toward helping alleviate some of the really horrible things going on in the world.

Musically, I cannot comment, as I haven't heard much of his playing. I had a look at his website and he does seem to blow his own trumpet to the point of acute embarrassment, but then so does just about everybody these days, famous or not.

[schubert960]

I'll post this again, as I think it needs to be said.

I got into an argument with him years ago about one of the pieces he was playing. He was emphasising the wrong grouping of notes (I think he was playing semiquavers as if they were 12/16, instead of semiquavers of a 3/4 time sign. and mentioned this to him. After apparently telling me this was the way the composer intended, and I corrected him (as I looked up the sheet music), he verbally abused me, and then started restricting the comments on his videos (after a number of people backed up my statement.

That pissed me off, but I got over it. What pisses me off now, is that he's taken sheet music from other sites (most likely IMSLP) and is CHARGING people for music that can rightfully be gotten for free from IMSLP. He slaps on a couple of extra fingering numbers and expects people to pay full price for works that are now out of copyright??? What a rip-off artist. Proof???

His web-site: https://www.bachscholar.com/chopin-etudes/complete
IMSLP: https://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/7/70/IMSLP60297-PMLP01970-Chopin_Etudes_Schirmer_Mikuli_Op_25_scan.pdf

No offense... he seems like a rip-off artist charging for stuff that isn't his. I would probably join the bandwagon and say that his playing lacks finesse and substance, and emotion for that matter, which is a small matter compared to trying to rip off people for editions that aren't his.

You might be interested in having a little read of an article he published a few years ago.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Developing-a-Classical-Piano-Repertoire-and-Building-a-Music-Library&id=5762267

See what he has to say about PDF printouts and IMSLP in the last few paragraphs, and then consider that this happens to be his entire business model.

I feel for the guy because he's in legal trouble, but he's an arrogant know-it-all.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Having read the recent comments on his video, I find this extraordinary remark:

"Anyone who criticizes me in a rude fashion (under the false banner of "constructive criticism") must realize that: 1) I can most likely play the piano much better than you can; 2) I most likely have more degrees than you have; 3) My website is most likely better than yours if you have one; 4) I am most likely simply smarter than you are and can debate and write you under the table even when I am sleeping."

I would like to have some sympathy but I'm afraid the possibility completely evaporates with that sort of attitude.

I then had the misfortune to click on his Standchen. That is possibly the most boring piano playing I have ever heard. Pedestrian beyond belief.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

And "my business, which has benefited millions of pianists around the world over the last seven years." 

[dcstudio]

[/quote]

Having read the recent comments on his video, I find this extraordinary remark:

"Anyone who criticizes me in a rude fashion (under the false banner of "constructive criticism") must realize that: 1) I can most likely play the piano much better than you can; 2) I most likely have more degrees than you have; 3) My website is most likely better than yours if you have one; 4) I am most likely simply smarter than you are and can debate and write you under the table even when I am sleeping."

I would like to have some sympathy but I'm afraid the possibility completely evaporates with that sort of attitude.

 


 You know, my YT has 1.6 million hits and almost no really negative comments...  not because I am immensely talented but rather...inoffensive... so people don't feel the need to say horrible things to me....or trash my playing....lol



  I remember him from the really early days of Youtube...  his videos were featured---as were mine...  he did a very good job of capitalizing on that I must say.    Back then the piano community was relatively small on YT--and if you made a decent looking vid with decent audio--and your song choice was popular--you could be featured pretty easily and get that amazing rush of views  which I will say is pretty exciting to experience,..    guess he let that go to his head just a little bit though...wow.

He is right though sort of--really the vast majority of comments are made by people who have no idea what they are listening to---or worse--they know enough to make them feel like an expert...

however--posting remarks like that is like inviting them to cyberbully you... it's not the wisest move one can make online.. even if you believe it to be the truth..lol..  c''mon..what does he expect.

[chopinlover01]

"Anyone who criticizes me in a rude fashion (under the false banner of "constructive criticism") must realize that: 1) I can most likely play the piano much better than you can; 2) I most likely have more degrees than you have; 3) My website is most likely better than yours if you have one; 4) I am most likely simply smarter than you are and can debate and write you under the table even when I am sleeping."

I shall leave here the quote of, "The one who is truly wise does not flaunt his knowledge, but rather, he realizes how much there is to know".
I don't remember who said that, but it's been in my family for a long time.

I then had the misfortune to click on his Standchen. That is possibly the most boring piano playing I have ever heard. Pedestrian beyond belief.

My thoughts exactly, applied to everything he's recorded.

[perfect_pitch]

You might be interested in having a little read of an article he published a few years ago.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Developing-a-Classical-Piano-Repertoire-and-Building-a-Music-Library&id=5762267

See what he has to say about PDF printouts and IMSLP in the last few paragraphs, and then consider that this happens to be his entire business model.

What a bloody HYPOCRITE!!! Posted that on his YouTube video and he banned me and made the video private. I think I accidentally exposed his scam.

[chopinlover01]

Can confirm, the video is indeed private. My god XD

[schubert960]

What a bloody HYPOCRITE!!! Posted that on his YouTube video and he banned me and made the video private. I think I accidentally exposed his scam.

If you're Peter Johnson I replied to that comment and ended up having a huge argument with him and his wife spanning several hours. The only reason it stopped is because he no longer had anything relevant to say and "did not have the time to waste talking to me because of his busy teaching schedule."

I then had the misfortune to click on his Standchen. That is possibly the most boring piano playing I have ever heard. Pedestrian beyond belief.

The arrogance contained within the description of that particular video is something to behold. He's talking about a small error in the transcription, whereby Liszt writes a dotted rhythm that isn't in the Schubert original. Cory states:

"Liszt indicated a dotted quarter followed by an eighth note. This is a mistake on Liszt's part, since Schubert clearly wrote a quarter followed by an eighth with eighth rest. In other words, LISZT MADE A MISTAKE which I have corrected here."

This guy is so far up his own ass it's beyond belief.

[perfect_pitch]

If you're Peter Johnson I replied to that comment and ended up having a huge argument with him and his wife spanning several hours. The only reason it stopped is because he no longer had anything relevant to say and "did not have the time to waste talking to me because of his busy teaching schedule."

I actually had a read of what was said after I made that comment - Google was nice enough to display the comments, even though the video had been made private.

And it's actually Peter Johnston... gotta remember the T.     

I take it you were Rex?

[stoat_king]

There are clearly two schools of thought about "BachScholar"

The people on his testimonials page seem to think he is fantastic!

https://www.bachscholar.com/testimonials/

I'm sure noone is horrid enough to question the objectivity of these nice (and rather wordy) folk!

[dcstudio]

actually, more power to him... if he makes money at it who am I to judge...

   I would go at it mano a mano with him any day at the piano... he may have a better website...and more paper hanging on his wall...lol...but I wouldn't be afraid of him at all.. bring it on.

 He believed the hype... all those comments telling you how amazing you are made by people all over the world... problem is...if you believe the good ones... well then you have to believe the bad ones too...It's an all or nothing thing really...  that's why he's so defensive I think...

that's why it's not too healthy to let others define your level of talent or ability...  He's angrily defending his "false self" as they say in psychology...   you learn quickly in this business that your reputation precedes you and if you are spoken highly of as a pianist....well all you have to do is not screw that image up--and people will continue to see you that way.  Sometimes you KNOW they think you can do way more than you actually can but what are you going to do argue with them??? They hired you..lol ...like I said...as long as you don't screw that up--people will believe it....  If that idealized image is in jeopardy--so is your entire career..AND the way YOU see YOURSELF as a pianist...and a person..

.  unless,  of course... you define yourself as a person and a musician and you do not allow others to tell you who you are.  You may find you are a little happier too.

[cuberdrift]

Hmmmm...maybe someone here should post a rant video on YouTube about him or something. 

[schubert960]

And it's actually Peter Johnston... gotta remember the T.     

I take it you were Rex?

Yep, I was Rex. As it turns out his "Help Save BachScholar" video is back up.

There might end up being more arguments on that video - depends whether I can prevent myself from commenting

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Hmmmm...maybe someone here should post a rant video on YouTube about him or something. 

'Help Shave BachScholar'?

[chopinlover01]

There might end up being more arguments on that video - depends whether I can prevent myself from commenting

Aww, did he delete your comments? 

[perfect_pitch]

Actually, surprisingly enough - my comments are still there. I thought he would have deleted them like he usually does.

[outin]

He's either
1) Grazy. In that case it's useless to try to analyze his behavior further.
2) Stupid and really believes in what he says. Stupid people are commonly unable to see their own shortcomings. Add some false ideas of self worth and you get that level of arrogance.
3) Clever enought to know how he can exploit uninformed and stupid people for financial benefits and get PR for his teaching. And/or enjoys provoking the better informed ones. If he does it just for the internet fame, then he probably isn't in this category, since being considered beautiful by masses of blind people isn't much of an achievement...
As for doing it for the God...go back to 1

[schubert960]

Actually, surprisingly enough - my comments are still there. I thought he would have deleted them like he usually does.

My comments aren't there. I suspect I've been blocked. 

I do intend to invite him to this thread and the other one about him in the Performance forum and see if he's capable of defending himself.

[perfect_pitch]

What??? I can still see them... every single one. My initial thread and all your posts are still there...

It's a good read. Also, apparently someone else has pointed out his scanning of PDF's as being fraudulent, and he's not very happy.

This is getting interesting.   

[chopinlover01]

Also, apparently someone else has pointed out his scanning of PDF's as being fraudulent, and he's not very happy.

That would be me, friend
(although my YT name is ridiculous, need to change that ASAP, but google only lets you change your name so much)

[schubert960]

Yeah, all my comments have disappeared. Anything new I post appears to be deleted presumably as soon as he sees it.

I'd like for him to explain himself properly, and answer the allegations that many believe him to have very limited pianistic abilities and that his business is based around a fraudulent operating model. It would be nice if he were to do this with the absence of ridiculous analogies that are totally irrelevant.

Seeing as this man almost certainly has some form of autism or personality disorder, or is just plain stupid, I doubt this will happen and he shall continue to go round in circles insulting those who dare criticise him.

[blackonwhite]

I wonder when he will respond to this thread

[schubert960]

He won't. He won't come and discuss his failings in a public environment where he doesn't have total control on what's said and what isn't. This is the only reason he allows comments on his videos - he can lap up the positive attention but whenever someone says something negative he's able to remove it as if it never happened.