100000 ways to recognize a person who IS a very serious pianist...

[Bacfokievrahms]

Assuming winterwind's post is #64,

65. Serious pianists can take out the garbage while not taking out the topsoil with them.

66. Serious pianists glue footpedals to their face.

67. Serious pianists play the flute like they're playing a dog.

68. Serious orange juice unleashes the power of the sun.

[Etude]

Assuming Bacfokievrahms' post begins at #65,

65 .  Serious pianists know when a work is beyond their reach.
66.  Serious pianists strive to overcome this with practice.
67.  Serious pianists don't look for free sheetmusic on the internet unless it isn't   
       available to them anywhere else.

[anda]

67.  Serious pianists don't look for free sheetmusic on the internet unless it isn't   
       available to them anywhere else.

are you serious?

[Etude]

are you serious?

Not particularly, I just prefer sheet music to be in books.  It's easier to read for me.

[Etude]

68.  Doesn't try to copy other pianists style and finds their own interpretation

(had to find another to cover up the double-post)

[cziffra]

69.  Is impudent.  (even neuhaus recommends this)

[chopinisque]

70.  When he/she won't stop to pick up the phone or get the door halfway through a song.  Even if the visitor is standing in the rain.

[jim_24601]

62. Looks at piano forums to get tips and insights on piano playing almost everyday at work during lunch hour!

71. Looks at piano forums to get tips and insights on piano playing every day at work not during lunch hour.

(not that I'd do anything like that, oh no.)

[aquariuswb]

72. Zones out frequently in social situations because he/she can't stop thinking about the piece he/she is currently working on... maybe that's just me though hehe

[pianonut]

#64 a serious pianist thinks 'martial arts' refer to the handshake after a performance, or for women, the quick bow before playing (and then cutting up the piano).

#65 a serious pianist will not drink or eat for days before a recital.  then suddenly, minutes before performing chows down on an entire plate of pasta with a coke. (imagining this)

#66 a serious pianist doesn't leave anything to chance (brings the music just in case).

#67 a serious pianist doesn't sit down or stand up from the bench too quickly.  they often find stride-rite shoes with large toes (ample pedal pushers) and pride themselves on low heels.

#68 a serious pianist would never let a gust of wind ruin the show.  they will reach out and grab music in mid air and just keep on playing.

#69 a serious pianist (i've read) douses the top of his head with a couple of drops of water from a water bottle before a performance.  then, at just the right moment, tips his head forward and lets it drip down like perspiration.  (you have to look exhausted, too)

#70 a serious pianist would not consider a metronome a suitable substitute for their own heartbeat.

[m1469]

#80  A serious pianist always has a "plan B" and thinks to douse the piano with gasoline before a major concert, brings a "strike anywhere match" with them on stage and an escape kit tucked within the ruffles just in case the show goes south.

[sharon_f]

#81. Is always learning.
#82. Is always open to new ideas.
#83. Realizes he/she does not know everything.
#84. Respects the composer and the score.
#85. Respects other musicians.
#86. Respects and values his/her teacher(s).

[pianowelsh]

Hey guys I was doing well until we got into the whole etudes debate . For me looking at the statement 'recognize' the most obvious things is that a VERY serious pianist cannot stop moving their fingers. Whether they are in a ski lodge in vermont , dining out at the rainbow room NY or sitting in a piazza in Venice - those fingers twitch and there is rarely a moment goes by without music being in the head (piano or otherwise) and when they do get asked to play 'randomly' without pratcise they tend to have to be coherced because they only ever want to give their best. Just my observations

[lostinidlewonder]

#87. Plays with flattened fingers which become even more flattened in faster single note runs or difficult chordal passages.

#88. While practicing piano, looks at the clock and its 8am then looks a second time and its 3pm.

btw: I do not know one single serious pianist who doesn't play bits of Chopin and Liszt Etudes.

[jim_24601]

89. Plays Chopin Etudes.
With the hands switched.
In octaves.
Backwards.
And complains that they're too easy.

[e60m5]

90. Knows what role music has in life, and treats it as such; no less, no more.

[clair_de_lune]

91. Always has snippets of pieces playing in one's head.

92. Frequently hums these snippets quite audibly, much to the consternation or annoyance of others.

93. When listening to a recording, feels the discordance between how the artist performed the piece and how YOU would perform the piece (even if you can't play it).

[m1469]

94.  Is not afraid of "silence"

95.  Concerns one's self with thoughts on the essence of musicality and expressivity rather than on those of  "personality" and the striving for "personal uniqueness"

96.  Does not believe in Silence

[sznitzeln]

97. Has trouble talking with a non-piano-person.
98. Can't stop moving his fingers after leaving the piano stool, and obsessively presses any keys that he sees.
99. Is so concentrated on music, that he forgets to eat for 10 hours.
100. Gets #100

[Alfonso Van Worden]

I have two:

65. When there a group of musicians and one of them says"I have got to study" The firts person to follow him is a pianist"

66. A good pianist thinks than music is the most important thing in life, and ever day as soon as he wakes up he listens a good recording from his favourite pianist.

 

[m1469]

48. a serious pianist carries his umbilical cord between two sheets of music.

I'm sorry, but I have been thinking this since you posted it and now I just have to say that I find this to be insanely humorous !!  It tickles me so much and I just thought about it again yesterday while I was driving and I could not help laughing some more.  LOL

m1469 

[tenn]

101. Never plays anything funny

[etudes]

101. Never plays anything funny

btw i think Hamelin cadenza of HR2 and his triple etude are funny (sound)
respect

[steinwayguy]

102. Has bags under his/her eyes and falls asleep during academic classes.

[f-minor]

103. A serious pianist is one whose fingers got hurt at least once from playing.
104. a slob
105. who gets grumpy without a piano around
106. who thinks about octaves when the professor is talking about hormone.
107. a loner
108. who sets something like "liszt rocks" as e-mail address (or password)

(that's all i can think of right now)

[pianonut]

#109 - has real estate people walk by their practice room.

#110 - hates paper cuts on their hands.  is obsessive about using gold bond lotion to avoid cracking hands in the winter.

#111 - goes to piano recitals and sees a ballgame in action, counting the strike one strike two, strike three, you're out system.  or, when a pianist is really good, imagining being them for a day - just naturally great at making it happen.

#112 - listens to piano concertos for orchestral mistakes.  (unless the pianist is really bad, everything is the orchestras fault).

#113 - regards conductors as co-conspirators in a plot to take over the musical world.

#114 - thinks of applause as unnecessary, even when they play well.

[Mozartian]

---

[ludwig]

What is "serious" pianist? How do we define seriousness? By ability? By personality? By musicality? etc...

[nanabush]

115.  Doesn't go on forums, lying about their skill to get people who they don't know to seem impressed...

116.  Would rather play piano than watch a comedy on TV

[i_m_robot]

89. Plays Chopin Etudes.
With the hands switched.
In octaves.
Backwards.
And complains that they're too easy.

Playing them backwards without switching the hands would be much harder

What is "serious" pianist? How do we define seriousness? By ability? By personality? By musicality? etc...

by how far he/she is willing to go to achieve the great technique possible

117: see above

[dancingfingers]

118. Actually knows that "Moonlight" has two other movements besides the Adagio, and that "Claire de Lune" is part of "Suite Bergamesque."

119. Has a crush on Murray Perahia or Martha Argerich.

120. Engages in furious debates with other instrumentalists over whose instrument is superior.

121. Requests to be buried in a Steinway D.

[i_m_robot]

buried in a SMD

closes both eyes (not just the right) while performing

[SDL]

Has mastered playing that s/he learns with the toes!

[jamie0168]

122. A serious pianist sets goals before every practice session and does not leave until they are accomplished.
123. Can't sleep the night before new repetoire day ( i.e. when it's time for the professor to assign next semester's pieces) due to excitement. 

[m1469]

124.  Cultivates and grows in profound patience

"Patience must have Her perfect work"

[da jake]

Finishes up the piece he/she is practicing, if it means letting fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza get cold.

Dedication.

[Skeptopotamus]

126.  is asian.  (sorry couldnt help it)

[nightmarecinema]

126.  is asian.  (sorry couldnt help it)

Hahahaha


But as primarily a guitarist, I find a lot of these very interesting...

And I also found it kind of frustrating that jazz and heavy metal were put in the same sentence as punk rock and rap. The former two are clearly superior. If you view them as if they aren't, then you should really reconsider how you view music - there are musicians in these genres just as and more talented and amazing as many of the composers listed here. [/end rant]

[joachimf]

89. Plays Chopin Etudes.
With the hands switched.
In octaves.
Backwards.
And complains that they're too easy.

That's not a serious pianist, that's an insane pianist. 
(could be serious as well of course..lol)

#127 Has a poster of the pianolegs photo by Ben Christopher on the wall. (https://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/VIS/vpm01~Piano-Legs.jpg)

[kilini]

128. Gets horribly, horribly angry when somebody interrupts their playing. (like Beethoven in the film Immortal Beloved).

[pianonut]

where can i get some of those piano legs?

does a serious pianist paint a rock that has the shape of grand piano and put it at their front door?

does a serious pianist paint a keyboard that runs from the front door to the livingroom along the wall - so people immediately know either to come in or stay out?  am thinking about doing this - and possibly extending this keyboard up the stairs (making my children feel like the piano has invaded the house totally).

where do serious pianists go for counseling?  my third child only knows the letters P-I-A-N-O     i am serious!  she made a pretend letter for the mailbox, so i go to retrieve it and those are the letters (except in different order).  also, when she was 2 1/2  she was pretending to cheer (like a cheerleader) in the backseat and correctly said  pee--iii-A- enn- O.  when at home cheering, she uses those little loofa things in the bathroom !?  kinda funny.

[yamagal]

129.  Keeps nails trimmed no matter what.  Even if pianist is a teenager and short nails are uncool and everyone else has long, artificial nails in wild colors.  Also, can't stand the clacking sound of nails on keyboard - it bothers pianist as much as it does his/her teacher.

130.  Has a Mini Cooper with black and white paint job and piano-themed vanity plates.

[pianonut]

vanity plates like '88keys'  or something?

[phil13]

128. Gets horribly, horribly angry when somebody interrupts their playing. (like Beethoven in the film Immortal Beloved).

That's me right down to the genes. My greatest annoyance is when someone demands to interrupt me.

130. Will not stop playing when someone asks them to.

[yamagal]

vanity plates like '88keys'  or something?

Yeah.  Hey that might be a fun thread -- piano vanity plates, seen or imagined.

PIANOMAN
TUNER
IVORIES

Hmm there have to be others...

[pianonut]

yes, and bumperstickers.   'u are in the presence of a great pianist,'  'pianist on the road,'  'my music will tame your savage beast,'  'pianists make music every day,'  'classical music rocks,'  (hey, i should start a business), 'piano is my life,'  ' pianists should not be taxed,'  'piano teacher on board,' 'save an ivory tickler, go to a classical piano recital'... hmmm any more ideas?

[m1469]

... hmmm any more ideas?

"I brake for snails" ... he he 

[joachimf]

where can i get some of those piano legs?

I got mine from www.art.com .
Great service, and quick shipment. They also often have different "offers" (almost constantly either 10% off or free shipping, etc.)

And btw, yes, you should start a business 

[jim_24601]

That's not a serious pianist, that's an insane pianist. 

There's a difference?

[yamagal]

yes, and bumperstickers.   'u are in the presence of a great pianist,'  'pianist on the road,'  'my music will tame your savage beast,'  'pianists make music every day,'  'classical music rocks,'  (hey, i should start a business), 'piano is my life,'  ' pianists should not be taxed,'  'piano teacher on board,' 'save an ivory tickler, go to a classical piano recital'... hmmm any more ideas?

Those are really good!  My favorite is "classical music rocks"    If you start a business, I'll put in an order for several of that one...