playing piano non-professionally as an adult

[chopincat]

From what I understand, the title of this thread describes most of the people on this site. It will probably describe me at some point to, because I don't see myself ever stopping piano and I don't really see myself doing it professionally either. But I still don't quite understand how it works. Assuming you have to time and money for lessons, what kind of role does it occupy in your life? Is it a very personal thing, or do you often practice or play in front of other people? Do you get chances to perform? Do you get to collaborate with other amateur musicians? How does it affect your work and family life? Enlighten me.

[outin]

From what I understand, the title of this thread describes most of the people on this site. It will probably describe me at some point to, because I don't see myself ever stopping piano and I don't really see myself doing it professionally either. But I still don't quite understand how it works. Assuming you have to time and money for lessons, what kind of role does it occupy in your life? Is it a very personal thing, or do you often practice or play in front of other people? Do you get chances to perform? Do you get to collaborate with other amateur musicians? How does it affect your work and family life? Enlighten me.

For me it's a very personal thing. I don't perform, I only have a couple of friends that also play and we sometimes meet and play together. Otherwise for me it's about having lessons and learning to play better and I enjoy very much all the solitary work involved. No family to think about fortunately

My work does affect my piano practice a lot, but I still devote quite a lot of time to it and music study in general. I guess my goal is to get to play well enough to continue and enjoy music making in some form after I retire and have a lot of time in my hands (I hope). But even that's not my real motivation. I guess I just like to be challenged and I love the instrument and the music. Lessons are a must at this point and also I do like to have access to my teacher's skill and knowledge. I can discuss things with her in a different level than my friends who are not at the same level as I am when it comes to music knowledge or playing. Don't know if some day I feel I don't "need" lessons anymore... Probably not if I can have access to a really good teacher.

[ted]

Assuming you have to time and money for lessons, what kind of role does it occupy in your life?

A colossal role, but nothing whatever to do with either money or lessons. I haven't had any lessons of substance for almost fifty years.

Is it a very personal thing, or do you often practice or play in front of other people?

Mostly very personal. I rarely perform, and never formally. My wife is usually the only audience to my playing and practising (not sure if I really "practise" at all), which often go on for hours at a time. However, I dish out my scores and recordings to anybody who wants them. I don't want to be in the music business.

Do you get chances to perform?

Yes, but I turn them down.

Do you get to collaborate with other amateur musicians?

No, at least not so far. I don't usually get on with musicians anyway, professional or amateur.

How does it affect your work and family life?

I have been retired for seven years now. My music has never affected my family life. When I was working, it was more a case of not letting work interfere with my music !

Enlighten me.

I am a hopeless idealist.

[indianajo]

Piano is a form of art.  
I hear music in my head, sometimes I can play it.  Or I can make the attempt.  I hear a piece on the radio, and I think "I can play that".  So I do, or try. A couple of pieces, I bought the folio in 1983 right after the new piano and I'm just beginning to "finish" one of them. Playing the other remains a lofty goal, one I hope to accomplish in the next ten years.  Lang Lang at the 4th of July concert on TV has been a great challenge- He plays easy stuff on there and I think "why is he playing that instead of me?"  Then I go to the music room and play my version.  
Like most artists I like to be appreciated.  I've started looking for audiences. I wash dishes for a charity dinner once a quarter, I've started playing my best pieces on the Baldwin piano there.  Mostly the audience and cooks ignore me, but sometimes an old client will recognize something - Jingle Bells and Maple Leaf Rag have been my two audience pleasers.  Other pieces, I get a token thank you from a coordinator or co-worker, probably not very serious since they don't ask me back particularly.  
I have started playing hymns for a tiny country church with average attendance ten.  I played before Sunday School one morning, and they have now replaced the computer generated music with - me.  I have at least four real fans of that music, which is not my favorite, but is comforting as my Mother used to play and sing these hymns. Hymns sung and played together in a church service of the God that taught fair treatment of one's neighbor, are one of the best features of western civilization, IMHO.    I have to tune the piano myself, ride 27 miles out there on a bicycle to be there every week, and 3 miles with two steep hills from my summer property to church, but sharing one's art is a form of connection.  I have no illusions about the popularity of piano even in church - At that church, last week one attender brought his guitar and another friend with an electric guitar to sing some specials, and attendence was triple normal last Sunday - 28 instead of 7 the week before.  So what people want to hear is George Jones or Elvis with a guitar, but what they get is me on piano.  Oh, well.  I can't grow calluses on the fingers, so my art will be piano or organ or singing; practicing guitar for a junior choir was a three year side trip with no destination.  The kids grew up, no friendships or sessions resulted, they forgot the whole singing experience as soon as they got involved in real life.  
I don't take lessons.  I learned enough in 6 years as an adolescent to give me hours of profitable practice goals.  I will probably have my 28 page piece checked out by a pro before I record it (another probably useless exercise, but why not? it is cheap these days).  I don't look to a teacher for expression suggestions particularly, I feel this music emotionally and am doing it the way I like, which is not necessarily the conventional or proper way.  But then that is what art is about, expressing yourself.  
As far as friends, there has been nobody around here that wants to learn the other part to Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn, or the two piano original version of Rhapsody in Blue.  I have two matching pianos, but everybody I mention this goal to thinks the idea is daft.  There are pros that would do it for pay, but that is not the point, is it.  Piano to me is an art, involving money in my performances is stupid, especially paying for "friends". As bad as buying a $$$$$ new organ and going to the "free" classes, where "students" learn to buy a more expensive organ with more features.   I listen to the pro teachers free performances, the pros don't listen to mine, is the routine these days.  Nobody bought Winston Churchhill paintings for any museum either, but he kept painting them because he enjoyed it.  I enjoy playing piano. If I leave off a while the tunes run through my head after dinner and my fingers start to curl up. So much so, I bought a $50 spinette piano to install in my trashed out country trailer, so I don't have to stop playing in the summer "ozone in the city" season.