The World's Best Pianist - Improvisation No. 1 [relaxing piano]

[pianoman1233]

Hi everyone! Enjoy. If you like subscribe and follow me, I'm gonna do a lot of new songs in the future!

[pencilart3]

Very nice, but unfortunately Rafal Blechacz has you beat. Badly.

[pianoman1233]

Very nice, but unfortunately Rafal Blechacz has you beat. Badly.

Thanks for your comment! By the quick search I couldn't find Blechacz's improvisations anywhere. Where could they can be found? Now I can see he playing just some 200 (!) years old songs... What kind of pianist is that...

[pencilart3]

What kind of pianist is that...

A really, really good one.

[pianoman1233]

A really, really good one.

C'mon... Ok, maybe a pianist but I wouldn't consider myself as a real musician if I couldn't create something totally new! He's a wannabe. He'd want to be Chopin. Yes, he plays very well but the difference between he and the 100 others isn't that huge.

I haven't listened much about classical or the piano music but my favourite piano player is (was) probably Claudio Arrau. Blechacz is far away from his performance and touch... Listen and compare. Also there are dozens that can do the same than Blechacz...

When I've got 10.000 subscribers I promise to learn some Chopin and do it better than Blechacz

[pencilart3]

Listen and compare.

If you know me at all, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have "listened and compared" all too much.

I promise learn some Chopin and do it better than Blechacz

[pianoman1233]

Ok.. I stop when you seemingly not.

[ajlongspiano]

I'm sorry to say, but you're not really doing anything new either.

[pianoman1233]

I'm sorry to say, but you're not really doing anything new either.

I'd like to hear if someone can find anything that is even close to the style I play with. I couldn't have found anything. But maybe you need to wait a moment and a couple of new songs for getting deeper into it.

[pencilart3]

Piano Man, the one thing I really admire about you is your humility.

[chopinlover01]

Mate, you've already gotten yourself ready to be lynched by titling your topic "The World's Best Pianist", which you definitely are not.
As far as improvising being necessary to be a musician (which I disagree with anyways), go into the world of jazz and you'll have your arse handed to you on a silver platter by people like Art Tatum.
Also, hate to be that guy, but Rafal Blechacz isn't playing 200 year old songs, not to my knowledge at least. I don't believe Chopin ever wrote any aside from the Polish folk songs, but even those don't have a vocal part, to my knowledge
That said, you don't have to create new music to be a musician.
Here's the definition of "musician" from Google-
"a person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented.
" 'your father was a fine musician' "
If you want to make your own personal definition of musician include being able to write and improvise new music, then by all means do so, but don't act like that is suddenly the gold standard for musicians around the globe, many of whom are far better than you, my friend.
Cheers!

[pianoman1233]

Piano Man, the one thing I really admire about you is your humility.

If you know me at all, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that actually I am pretty humble man. Or maybe not, it depends on how you want to see.

Sometimes you just need to provoke slightly to get an attention. Also certain words guarantee better search results on Youtube.

[pencilart3]

If you know me at all, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that actually I am pretty humble

...coming from his own mouth.

[chopinlover01]

If you know me at all, you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that actually I am pretty humble man. Or maybe not, it depends on how you want to see.

Protip: If you say you're humble, you're no longer humble because boasting about your strengths is the exact opposite of humility.

Sometimes you just need to provoke slightly to get an attention. Also certain words guarantee better search results on Youtube.

Yes, and you certainly got attention here; but what kind of attention do you really want?
Besides, by putting yourself up to the "World's Best Pianist", you've set up your audience to expect something magical.

[pianoman1233]

Mate, you've already gotten yourself ready to be lynched by titling your topic "The World's Best Pianist", which you definitely are not.

Maybe not yet. Maybe never if I don't believe so. I'd say it doesn't matter at all if the music is good enough, most of the people do understand that maybe he'd want to be or maybe he's just provoking for getting attension.

If you want to make your own personal definition of musician include being able to write and improvise new music, then by all means do so, but don't act like that is suddenly the gold standard for musicians around the globe, many of whom are far better than you, my friend.
Cheers!

Yea, I was talking about the real musicians. Everything really depends on the definition.

[pianoman1233]

...coming from his own mouth.

Haha. I copy pasted it deliberately for you. I thought you'd have got it.

[pianoman1233]

Protip: If you say you're humble, you're no longer humble because boasting about your strengths is the exact opposite of humility.
 Yes, and you certainly got attention here; but what kind of attention do you really want?
Besides, by putting yourself up to the "World's Best Pianist", you've set up your audience to expect something magical.

Answer: Yes, I know what you mean. You mean that the message does not seem as a humble text. But necessarily it doesn't mean that I wouldn't be a humble man in the reality.

It's good if the audience is even waiting for something. Normally the audience is waiting nothing for a decent piano song on Youtube... I think I'd barely have got an attension with the video with my own name... See this thread? Everything went as designed.

[hardy_practice]

See this thread? Everything went as designed.

So, loads of subscribers then?

[pianoman1233]

So, loads of subscribers then?

Lol. No one wants to be the first one. Do it and subscribe, maybe then someone else will dare do the same.

Btw, is it enough humble now when I added "Ok, maybe I'm not the best yet, but I'll never be if I don't believe so! If I don't believe, no one believes I could be..." in the description? I think so.

There are youtubers with hundreds of thousands of subscribers only with bad piano covers so...

Thanks for the support.

[hardy_practice]

You never will be the best or anything approaching that - why don't you start from that premise?   Surely more realistic?

[pianoman1233]

You never will be the best or anything approaching that - why don't you start from that premise?   Surely more realistic?

Why couldn't one be the best? What about if I knew I will be it one day?

Of course I know it sounds pretty unrealistic. What about if it isn't my ego that requires me to be the best, but I'd just know I'll be.

Can you see the future? Can anyone see the future if you can't? How can you know about that? Would anyone tell you about he can, if he'd know what's the reaction of others?

Is there even the future?

Do I sound insane? Am I insane?

Whose perspective is the right one?

Btw, I'm not any more "The World's Best Pianist". Now I can be found as the Blue Note Pianist on Youtube.

It was bad, but it was what I wanted.

[hardy_practice]

Are you even aware of the importance of Blue Note?  What it means?

[pianoman1233]

Are you even aware of the importance of Blue Note?  What it means?

Why are you challenging me? Why couldn't my artist name be the Blue Note Pianist, if I mostly play on the hexatonic blues scale, where the blue note is very essential issue. Then I think it is very apposite artist name for me.

Since I'm creating something new, I don't care much about the theory or how things should be. If you listen, the chord pattern is going my own way and I like it. I'm not trying to be a blues artist, although I'm playing on the blues scale.

I don't know anything about the blues/jazz -theory. I'm gonna do the things on my own way and what sounds good for me. Maybe I'll look some issues from there at some point, but I don't want to be considered as a blues or jazz player.

The music theory has nothing to do with the music from my perspective. Anything can be music, even the noice of the city. Even though, the other people think so, that's why I can choose a name which is related to the theory.

[chopinlover01]

Theory doesn't set limits, nor tell you what you can or can't do, with the exception of some styles of counterpoint (which I doubt you'd ever use anyways).
Theory is there to help guide and help you decide what harmonies you want.
Does proper grammar prevent you from making your own words up? No, quite the contrary; it teaches you the basic building blocks all the other words are made up of so you can take your own creative approach to it and make your new words well thought out and well articulated.
Same thing with theory, really.

[pianoman1233]

Theory doesn't set limits, nor tell you what you can or can't do, with the exception of some styles of counterpoint (which I doubt you'd ever use anyways).
Theory is there to help guide and help you decide what harmonies you want.
Does proper grammar prevent you from making your own words up? No, quite the contrary; it teaches you the basic building blocks all the other words are made up of so you can take your own creative approach to it and make your new words well thought out and well articulated.
Same thing with theory, really.

Yeap, that's all true. And that's why I said I'll be maybe looking some things from there. Or maybe not.

But there is also the subconsciously layer on this issue. If you've learned and listened the blues for your whole life time, it very often set the limits for creating something totally new.

The more you can get your mind off from anything you've ever learned, the better. I mean, the consciously mind. Normally it may be hard.

I already know how the blues and the jazz harmonies sound, and I like more this plain hexatonic. It sounds for me like it'd be a solo the whole song. I can't find this from the blues.

I still think no one has done anything like that.

[pianoman1233]

"You want to free your mind about a concept of harmony and of music being correct,
You can do whatever you want.
So nobody told me what to do, and there was no preconception of what to do."

Lyrics of Daft Punk - Giorgio By Moroder

[visitor]

Still waiting for the relaxing part

[schumaniac]

It's a nice improvisation. I can tell just from the beginning notes.

However, it is important to be humble, even when you have new ideas. You can certainly say "I sincerely think no one has ever done this before," and if you're trying to sell some product, you can say that strongly and emphasize it all you want. But to call yourself "the best pianist?" It doesn't work like that in music; Apple can call themselves "the best," but everyone knows that music is subjective... so if you call yourself the "best," most people will question it and 2) it's probably not true and it doesn't mean that you can't continue improving

So nice job on your improvising/musical philosophy/etc. you just have to work with the way you "market" and deal with people

[pianoman1233]

It's a nice improvisation. I can tell just from the beginning notes.

However, it is important to be humble, even when you have new ideas. You can certainly say "I sincerely think no one has ever done this before," and if you're trying to sell some product, you can say that strongly and emphasize it all you want. But to call yourself "the best pianist?" It doesn't work like that in music; Apple can call themselves "the best," but everyone knows that music is subjective... so if you call yourself the "best," most people will question it and 2) it's probably not true and it doesn't mean that you can't continue improving

So nice job on your improvising/musical philosophy/etc. you just have to work with the way you "market" and deal with people

Thanks for the best comment so far. As said I was consciously provoking a bit to get what I wanted and probably needed...

I will definitely continue my path but maybe a little more humble way... Now it's said I'm the best by myself. This was needed to do right at the beginning, so these comments can be read after 10-20 years.

I'm learning to deal with the people and the world, every day. Too often people don't get me. Obviously they can't get inside my head, which I have noticed only now after almost 30 years. I think my brain works very different way than others.

I'll continue and one day people will see who I am. I know how this sound but I can't say anything else. Unfortunately no one can get me at this time.

I'm very aware there are probably thousands of people who think the same about them self and will never become anything. I'm totally aware how the others react to that kind of people. But still every one would say the same than me in the same situation than me. Of course this isn't possible, because there isn't anything else than that is experienced at the moment.

If I haven't ever said I'm the best, after 20 years people would think that somehow he just became what he is. If I say that I'm the best at the beginning, after 20 years people will know that I was born to be the best and I knew it at this point.

Big words I know, but this is me

[rubinsteinmad]

OMG that was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The world needs more famous pianists like you.

It sucks that clowns like Lang Lang and Hamelin have become so famous, but barely anyone has heard of pianists such as the great Pierre Buzon.

Have you heard of Pierre Buzon? He is a jazz improvising pianist, but he does a different subgenre of jazz.

[pencilart3]

Please don't encourage him... he doesn't need it.

[rubinsteinmad]

Please don't encourage him... he doesn't need it.

Please don't encourage him... he doesn't need it.

I wasn't encouraging him, I was just advertising to him about Pierre Buzon.

Besides, I think the music he plays is far better than the Chopinzee junk you play 

[pianoman1233]

OMG that was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The world needs more famous pianists like you.

It sucks that clowns like Lang Lang and Hamelin have become so famous, but barely anyone has heard of pianists such as the great Pierre Buzon.

Have you heard of Pierre Buzon? He is a jazz improvising pianist, but he does a different subgenre of jazz.

Thank you!

No, I haven't. I listened a few his songs from Youtube and liked more than most of the classical. Though the classical is pretty wide range of music. Buzon do well and maybe he would be more popular if he had more soul in his playing. Of course many other factors affect.

So far only Claudio Arraus's interpretations has managed to satisfy properly my ears... There are also some other good players. For me it's pretty hard to listen to the piano music if the player has a moderate touch, regardless of the genre. But I haven't explored this issue too much, maybe there can be found also some other players even with a better expression and touch. Unfortunately the earliest piano recordings with a good sound quality are somewhere from 70s or 80s?

It would be nice to hear how the best players did in 1800s. The modern culture has destroyed the people's souls. Or the connection to it. No matter how you consider a term soul.

[rubinsteinmad]

Thank you!

No, I haven't. I listened a few his songs from Youtube and liked more than most of the classical. Though the classical is pretty wide range of music. Buzon do well and maybe he would be more popular if he had more soul in his playing. Of course many other factors affect.

So far only Claudio Arraus's interpretations has managed to satisfy properly my ears... There are also some other good players. For me it's pretty hard to listen to the piano music if the player has a moderate touch, regardless of the genre. But I haven't explored this issue too much, maybe there can be found also some other players even with a better expression and touch. Unfortunately the earliest piano recordings with a good sound quality are somewhere from 70s or 80s?

It would be nice to hear how the best players did in 1800s. The modern culture has destroyed the people's souls. Or the connection to it. No matter how you consider a term soul.

Arrau is AWESOME.

I would also recommend Grigory Sokolov. He has an amazing touch, and most of his playing has great expression.

[pianoman1233]

I would also recommend Grigory Sokolov. He has an amazing touch, and most of his playing has great expression.

Thanks, he is very impressive. I have been listening music on Spotify and he's not as popular as some others there. Maybe that's why I haven't heard.

I also love the last song you posted, ever heard about Jean-Philippe Rameau. I'm totally newbie on what comes to the classical music or other piano music. At the moment I haven't been listening much about those but when I do again, definitely I need to listen more about that pianist and find out more about this composer.

I can hear some similar harmonies in that song than in Rachmaninoff's piano concertos, which I love.

The first song, Chopin's prelude sucks. I promise my next improvisation will be better... The Rachmaninoff's prelude isn't much better either. Can't get why people are listening those... Just because they are composed by a well-known composer?

Ok.. the second to last minute of the Rachmaninoff's prelude was good.

[rubinsteinmad]

Thanks, he is very impressive. I have been listening music on Spotify and he's not as popular as some others there. Maybe that's why I haven't heard.

I also love the last song you posted, ever heard about Jean-Philippe Rameau. I'm totally newbie on what comes to the classical music or other piano music. At the moment I haven't been listening much about those but when I do again, definitely I need to listen more about that pianist and find out more about this composer.

I can hear some similar harmonies in that song than in Rachmaninoff's piano concertos, which I love.

The first song, Chopin's prelude sucks. I promise my next improvisation will be better... The Rachmaninoff's prelude isn't much better either. Can't get why people are listening those... Just because they are composed by a well-known composer?

Ok.. the second to last minute of the Rachmaninoff's prelude was good.

Yes, I understand. I didn't like the Rachmaninoff nor the Chopin Preludes either when I was not as experienced in the classical genre of music. 

It just is so much worse than jazz!

But once I got used to classical music, I couldn't take those pieces off my mind

Whenever I do jazz, I feel weird doing classical afterwords because jazz is so much more natural (usually). I don't like Art Tatum's improvs though.

Yeah Rachmaninoff is beast.

[pianoman1233]

The next one is ready https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=59767.0

[tenk]

I'll bite.

You basically sit in the same harmonic framework for the entire duration. Where is this improvisation going? What are you trying to say with it? It's actually tiring to the ears. Considering your statements on not needing to know music theory and blah blah, I'm not surprised to find this to be the case.

Overall it sounds like something I might hear in a doctor's office waiting room, or elevator, or watching the Weather Channel.

Also apropos, given your attitude:

[swagmaster420x]

I think you have a really "real" and positive outlook, which other people are misinterpreting as being delusional/arrogant. People seem to think famous pianists are godlike and exist on a whole different plane just because they're good enough to be well known. I guess the fact that you don't is aggravating.

The things you have posted may be opinionated/provocative, but I don't think they're dishonest about your ability (being one of those all talk sc*mbags). There are people who mislead themselves and others about their skills, but I don't think you're one of them.

[rubinsteinmad]

I think you have a really "real" and positive outlook, which other people are misinterpreting as being delusional/arrogant. People seem to think famous pianists are godlike and exist on a whole different plane just because they're good enough to be well known. I guess the fact that you don't is aggravating.

OMG IKR

[themeandvariation]

Tenk has been the only one to highlight the 'structure' of the piece presented..
With the first link provided, the LH is on a 2 bar loop.. using Fminor7 (iv) Gminor7 (v) and Cminor7 (i)…Takes about  8 seconds.  repeats (pretty much exactly) for 24 times to so.. To compound this, the rh is pretty constrained in what it does as well...
Though being unaware of this, doesn't mean it is not (doggedly) there.
P-man… you may benefit from someone bothering to mention this.. You might look into some basic theory, if for nothing else, but to be aware from a 'literary' sense of what you are doing.
good luck..

[rubinsteinmad]

Tenk has been the only one to highlight the 'structure' of the piece presented..
With the first link provided, the LH is on a 2 bar loop.. using Fminor7 (iv) Gminor7 (v) and Cminor7 (i)…Takes about  8 seconds.  repeats (pretty much exactly) for 24 times to so..
Though being unaware of this, doesn't mean it is not (doggedly) there.
P-man… you may benefit from someone bothering to mention this.. You might look into some basic theory, if for nothing else, but to be aware from a 'literary' sense of what you are doing.
good luck..

You're back!

[pencilart3]

HI THEME!!

[themeandvariation]

Hey, HI !
justa momentary pop in…  

(things seem to have 'quieted down' a bit..   

[rubinsteinmad]

Hey, HI !
justa momentary pop in… 

Don't leave us! PS' environment is once more civilized again (except in the topic "The Chinese Czerny Scam", where a PS member decided to insult Asians and Australians and blacks.)

[themeandvariation]

thank you Rubinsteinmad… I will drop in from time to time.. I know you and Noah are keeping the fire going  

[ajlongspiano]

Hey theme!

[themeandvariation]

Hi AJ!
  Big Brass fanfare to you for 2nd place in that Chopin competition! Fantastic! 

[pencilart3]

Hi AJ!
  Big Brass fanfare to you for 2nd place in that Chopin competition! Fantastic! 

Theme stop. You're just making it even worse when you leave again. Don't leave this time!! Things have really changed. Ky piano and kevon have mostly left, Emily is quite tame, and I have cut back on unrelated posts...

[ajlongspiano]

Thanks so much theme! I appreciate it. Hope you've been doing well