any serious adult hobbyists?

[kayleez]

Hello All,

I assume most of people here are probably middle school or high school students who are considering a music major, or music-majored college students in music schools, then I am just curious how many are like me, an adult who has a non-music related career and day job, but practice piano almost everyday as a serious hobby?

[dogperson]

Hi
Really I believe your assumption is not correct-- the teen-age crowd is more visible on this forum, but they are the minority of forum members.  The majority is composed of  teachers, professional pianists and a very large number of us that have other jobs, or are retired from day jobs,  but pursue piano as a serious hobby. I would leave it to someone else to estimate the percent of 'have other jobs' group, but it is not a small percentage.

[visitor]

i am a closet concert artist, and quite the serious living room artist.  i act my shoe size and am as old as i feel.

[rubinsteinmad]

i am a closet concert artist, and quite the serious living room artist.  i act my shoe size and am as old as i feel.

Glenn Ross rejected me, will you marry me?

[Bob]

I'm only in elementary school, but I'm pretty serious about it.

[dogperson]

I'm only in elementary school, but I'm pretty serious about it.

It's quite impressive you have been posting here for 11 years but you are still in elementary school 

[minor9th]

It's quite impressive you have been posting here for 11 years but you are still in elementary school 

If he's been in elementary school for 11 years, that's anything but impressive!

Anyway, I'm a 59 year old serious hobbyist/beginner.

[outin]

Hello All,

I assume most of people here are probably middle school or high school students who are considering a music major, or music-majored college students in music schools, then I am just curious how many are like me, an adult who has a non-music related career and day job, but practice piano almost everyday as a serious hobby?

Lately most posts are by teenagers, but many of the long time forum members are serious adult hobbyist I think. They may just have less time to post...

I am middle aged and have a job that sometimes requires me to put up much more than the normal office hours. Yet I have practiced piano practically every day for the past 4 years. I was never a morning person but started getting up an hour earlier just to make time for a proper practice session before work, because I would be too tired in the evening. I also take lessons every week and try to study as much music theory, music history and musicology as I can, so I guess I am pretty serious.

[ted]

I suppose I fall into that category, but "hobbyist" seems a bit tame to describe someone with my intensity of lifelong musical obsession. I realised when young that my personality and musical drive were not conducive to earning a living through music. Luckily for me I had a flair for maths and programming, which enabled me to catch the computer revolution in industry, but I always viewed it as a means to an end, the end being my family and my music. Now that I am retired, these latter benefit from my total concentration.

[kevonthegreatpianist]

It's quite impressive you have been posting here for 11 years but you are still in elementary school 

i think he said once he was 68....

wait no that was ted

i get these 2 mixed up

[Bob]

It's quite impressive you have been posting here for 11 years but you are still in elementary school 

I must have started practicing and post here while still in the womb, at a negative age.  (Don't ask how.)  Some people start when they're 2-3 years old.  If you want to be competitive nowadays, you have to start earlier, like pre-birth (or earlier).

[outin]

... like pre-birth (or earlier).

Piano school for embryos?

[kevonthegreatpianist]

I must have started practicing and post here while still in the womb, at a negative age.  (Don't ask how.)  Some people start when they're 2-3 years old.  If you want to be competitive nowadays, you have to start earlier, like pre-birth (or earlier).

did your mom swallow a computer?

[Bob]

Not to mention the piano.


I'm kind of picturing a set up like this.  



Except babies are upside down I think... So it would be something like this.



If you can do that... It's going to be so much easier right side up in the real world.  *Bob subtly insults embryos.*

[kevonthegreatpianist]

Not to mention the piano.


I'm kind of picturing a set up like this.  



Except babies are upside down I think... So it would be something like this.


If you can do that... It's going to be so much easier right side up in the real world.  *Bob subtly insults embryos.*

when i think of overgrown babies,i think of this

[ffchopinist]

Hello, and it's nice to meet you!  I consider myself a "serious" hobbyist, as well.  I am in my early 30s and have a demanding / time-intensive day job as a marketing executive, but I love playing.  By "serious" I mean I still practice an hour or more a day (sometimes several hours on days when work and social schedules permit - ie: when I'm not pulling all nighters for work, which sadly does happen), and I recently started taking weekly lessons again with my former teacher.  I played competitively and pretty seriously from ages 5 through just before college, took a break from lessons from age 18-30 but continued playing on and off recreationally, then decided to start lessons again as a birthday gift to myself this year.   My teacher had somewhat encouraged me to try and get on the music major / music conservatory path once upon a time, but I ended up studying economics / business instead for better or for worse.  I'm still trying to get my former technique back, as all of those years without formal lessons and strict practice have somewhat taken a toll, but it's been fun thus far.  We are never too old to enjoy playing, though, and playing the piano only gets better with age! It's also great stress relief.
 

Hello All,

I assume most of people here are probably middle school or high school students who are considering a music major, or music-majored college students in music schools, then I am just curious how many are like me, an adult who has a non-music related career and day job, but practice piano almost everyday as a serious hobby?

[jknott]

Yeah I'm in that bracket too. Didn't do much piano from age 18-52, but have been playing seriously again for the last 3 years, with regular lessons from a good teacher. Just did my ATCL after a gap of 38 years since grade 8. And I've got a more than full-time job/commute on the side.

Playing piano is generally a good way to relax from work, though it wasn't in the couple of months before the diploma ...

[ffchopinist]

Congrats on finishing your ATCL after your long break, jknott. That's awesome!  What did you play for your exam, and do you have a new goal now that you're done with the ATCL? 

Yeah I'm in that bracket too. Didn't do much piano from age 18-52, but have been playing seriously again for the last 3 years, with regular lessons from a good teacher. Just did my ATCL after a gap of 38 years since grade 8. And I've got a more than full-time job/commute on the side.

Playing piano is generally a good way to relax from work, though it wasn't in the couple of months before the diploma ...

[ffchopinist]

Congrats on finishing your ATCL after your long break, jknott. That's awesome!  What did you play for your exam, and do you have a new goal now that you're done with the ATCL? 

Yeah I'm in that bracket too. Didn't do much piano from age 18-52, but have been playing seriously again for the last 3 years, with regular lessons from a good teacher. Just did my ATCL after a gap of 38 years since grade 8. And I've got a more than full-time job/commute on the side.

Playing piano is generally a good way to relax from work, though it wasn't in the couple of months before the diploma ...

[jknott]

Sorry for long delay in replying - had a tough week at work.

So for ATCL I played:

Scarlatti Sonata K466 in F minor
Beethoven Sonata Op14 No2 in G major [very sick of this by the exam!]
Janacek In the mists 3 Andantino and 4 Presto [my favourite]
Liszt Liebestraume 3 [yeah I know it's hackneyed but great piece and a real challenge for me]
Poulenc Improvisations 7 in C major and 8 in A minor

All but the Beethoven and Liszt were own choice.

I got 85/100 - a distinction - which amazed me as I was v nervous and fluffed some bits of passage work in the Beethoven.

[jknott]

Obvious next step would be LTCL but I'm going to leave it a fair while (not 38 years!) as it was pretty stressful and piano is supposed to be for relaxation. Main problem was keeping all the repertoire up to scratch at once.