Piano Playing Purpose

[sunlightscreen]

Hi everyone,

With music I feel there needs to be an image or idea in the mind, some kind of emotional thought and release coming from the heart and soul of a person. I find the competitions to repress emotions, and not support it, the kind that helps them achieve fame .. it seems to be counter to what music is all about: sharing common thoughts and emotions for enjoyment. What do you think about the purpose and meaning of practising for piano?

Here is me playing for goodness of humanity (check out my "about section") I imagine the suffering and hope for people of this world, and that is something important for my mind's health and for others: [search up my channel Paul Zeng, I'm the person wearing purple]

Sharing goodness,
Paul

[ted]

I agree with Cecil Taylor that all music should be fun, a celebration of life. It doesn't matter what sort of music you play or create as long as you enjoy it. If other people enjoy it too then that is a bonus but if they don't it is of no consequence.

[ego0720]

With music I feel there needs to be an image or idea in the mind, some kind of emotional thought and release coming from the heart and soul of a person. I find the competitions to repress emotions, and not support it, the kind that helps them achieve fame .. it seems to be counter to what music is all about: sharing common thoughts and emotions for enjoyment. What do you think…

Your idea aligns with mine. However I would challenge our belief that competition represses emotions and not what music is all about. It is still a part of music. But it is subjective. It can be less genuine with repetitive rehearsals and not raw but that is our viewpoint. From another’s vantage point there can be a level of expression and very musical.. that will depend on the person decoding the message. Music is an all
-encompassing field. And any branches of it is art that does involve the heart and soul. That’s what makes it beautiful an art form. It has no form.. like water.

For me, it’s quality time with my kids. We share that joy with whoever we can. We will always strive for the ultimate level where we can emulate any song or sound in life (pretty much never ending). Piano is a way to tap our emotions and help communicate it in ways that can be satisfying. Although it is accessible to anyone music is still esoteric. My stance is to get more ppl to try it for personal growth.  Not be afraid to fail. It is a tool.. we need to use it to improve our quality of life. I stay away from that competitive spirit personally bc that can lead to misery if not well managed. We need more ppl to just love it no matter the age or level.

[lostinidlewonder]

With music I feel there needs to be an image or idea in the mind, some kind of emotional thought and release coming from the heart and soul of a person.

A performer might feel something but individual audience members may feel something else. It is wise not to become too self absorbed in what you think you are transmitting because a performer should consider what their audience might be thinking otherwise they may simply lose connection with them and instead be lost in a world of their own. One can have personal thoughts and story telling in their mind while playing but it should aid in your expression rather than be the source of expression, the music stands alone without us having to feel it is sourced from our own thoughts.

What do you think about the purpose and meaning of practising for piano?

What do you mean practicing? You mean training yourself to actually play the piano better? The meaning and purpose is quite logical and needs no response. If you mean why play the piano at all, well it's no different why people take up all sorts of different creative arts. The personal meaning can be various, ultimately people do it because they enjoy doing it, then there are a huge variation of specific reasons why they enjoy doing it.

Here is me playing for goodness of humanity (check out my "about section") I imagine the suffering and hope for people of this world, and that is something important for my mind's health and for others

How can one feel "suffering and hope" in piano playing? Even vocal music which has words directing ones attention cannot always transmit a specific emotion and listeners will make varying interpretations. So it is wise to be somewhat more controlled in what you feel deeply when playing, you don't want music to play you (you may get melodramatic thoughts which overtake you and make you emotionally drunk but unaware of the real transmission of your work), you want to play the music. If your feelings are enormous it may transmit to uncontrolled playing. This can be desirable in certain instance, especially if you are undergoing free improvisation for example but when you are playing something composed we need to be more reserved, more controlled, masters of our emotion.