Is it too late to become a professional pianist? (Not concert)

[delnev]

That's the question, I've been searching for it for so long and I still don't find any answers.

Is it too late to become a professional pianist? By this I don't mean being a ✨Famous World-Class Pianist✨ who only lives off by playing in concerts; by this I mean aquiring the skill necessary to play professional repertoire, Chopin, Liszt, Beethoven, etc. The heavy repertoire. I don't pretend to be a Horowitz, I just want to be able to play that music I love so much. I actually want to live off by teaching, performing now and then on gigs and composing.

I'm 20yo. I've always played piano (keyboard) and have had talent for it; I don't want to sound cocky or anything, but piano has always come easily to me, I was able to play some songs by ear when I was 5. My mother never wanted me to do anything with music, so she just pulled me away from it, I always begged to take lessons but she never let me. At 13 my dad bought me a keyboard(55-keys) and I went to a public cultural space we have in my country and asked for piano lessons, the lessons were about $15 dollars a month, but I could only afford one month since my mom never gave me money for that. In that month I begged my teacher to teach me how to read music sheet and teach me classical repertoire, but he just didn't want to (Now that I think about it, I believe he didn't know how to read since the few things he taught me were some beatles songs). So I started composing and learning with synthesia. There was no support whatsoever, so I frustrated played less and less until I played once in a while. Never really stopped playing and even learned to read by myself but self-learning can only take you that far. At 16 I started playing again this time more seriously and with a bit more of understanding of kinda what to do, I learned: Rondó Alla Turca, Moonlight Sonata 1st mvm, Für Elise. I discovered I could enter a conservatory for free (State Conservatory), my mom didn't let me. I turned 18 and my mom told me that if I didn't study a Science/Engineering degree I was out of the house, so I went away, bought a Saxophone, started busking and saving, I was able to buy a digital piano, for many reasons I went back with my mom and she agreed to let me study music, but now I'm 20. I got accepted into an initial level at the local conservatory, my teachers say I can get to under-graduate next year and hopefully jump to the bachelors. I've been taking lessons properly for 6 months now, the first pieces my teacher gave me were Waltz in A minor Op. Posth by Chopin and Invention No. 1 by Bach, I'm starting to learn Chopin's Op. 25 No. 2. Is there any hope for me to be able to become a professional pianist? I'm practicing around 4-6 hours daily and studying music theory-solfege 2 hours.

[ranjit]

Yes, it's quite likely that you can achieve it. Just keep working hard and stick to it. I wouldn't even be surprised if you eventually end up with a doctorate in piano (finances permitting). Keep in mind that you'll likely earn most of your income through teaching.

[pianistavt]

I agree - I'm sure you can attain a high level of mastery over time.

[lostinidlewonder]

Who is to say a successful concert pianist would have to play the more difficult repertoire out there? I bet your bottom dollar that one could sell successfully solo concerts and play pieces that are not so virtuosic. You need to be a good entertainer first and foremost, the days are drawing more to a close where one just relies on being a pianist.

[delnev]

Who is to say a successful concert pianist would have to play the more difficult repertoire out there? I bet your bottom dollar that one could sell successfully solo concerts and play pieces that are not so virtuosic. You need to be a good entertainer first and foremost, the days are drawing more to a close where one just relies on being a pianist.

Because that's what my dream has been since I was little, I've always wanted to be a piano virtuoso. I actually  DON'T WANT to play the unbelivably impossible pieces, but I do want to be able to play Chopin (Ballades, Polonaises, Etudes), some Liszt pieces (La campanella, Un sospiro, Liebestraum, Etudes), Beethoven (Waldstein, Moonlight, Pathetique) between others. I just love that music so much and I want to recover what was stolen from me. I also don't want to be a concert pianist, so is not really for others, is for me, I plan on living off of teaching, composing and playing on weddings/birthdays, etc.

[lostinidlewonder]

If you are into teaching you should immediately start teaching right now and hone that craft. You can get as much qualifications you want but in the end you need teaching experience to become a good teacher. I saw in your title (not concert) so that is why I wondered why you want to totally obliterate that option even if you did one concert every few years. The perspective as to what it takes to be a concert pianist can be quite close minded by the vast majority of the public, what actually constitutes a concert pianist is something I was trying to prompt you to consider, they are not all huge competition winners and big names only, far from it!
 

[ego0720]

Hi.  You show a lot of passion. You are realistic about your goals.  And you kinda have a general direction of where you want to go and where you might be.  Your suppressed desire all your life only strengthened your passion for it.  And you are fiery hot on this, knowing that you have one disadvantage that shouldn't have been but which is that you were not afforded the opportunity early on in your life when you knew you wanted it (badly).  You are doing it even against the wish of your parent who you had to seek approval recently. Now that you got the green light, you need reassurance it can be done because not only you gotta do this you must do it to prove to your family it wasn't the wrong decision, and for yourself.  But you need support.  Welcome to pianostreet.

I will always pick the person who works hard, like really hard -- that was and still is a rare gift.  And I really like your energy.  You really should pin the feeling you have now and never forget it.  You will likely face some hurdles along the way and when you meet these, remind yourself of why you started this journey.  Never forget this feeling you have now.  I'll tackle this first hurdle you have in which you asked if its too late to become a professional pianist -- no it is not too late.  However, some things you already know is that you weren't able to build the foundation early on in your life that many did, so there is a minor setback.  I think you will overcome it.  You will have to navigate the road more serpentine than it needs to be but everyone's journey is different as long as you have strong will and a good sense of reality.  It sets your start time for your adventure in piano later .. if you were 50-60 years old with 30-40 years experience on piano .. those 11 years you missed from 8-19.. will be inconsequential.  It may even be inspirational for many others in your same situation when you become the teacher.  If any negative thoughts come, make sure you turn it into "not yet" rather than "I cannot" or something that will be positive. Know your setbacks, but when it comes to dreams and possibilities, it is not too late.  The ultimate truth will be finishing the race, never forget "tortoise and the hare".

Be consistent and know how to deal with burnout.  Ranjit will tell you to ride that wave of passion when it hits.  I, on the other hand, feel one needs to moderate that feeling in avoidance of burnout to prolong the experience .. maintaining an even temperament to keep stoking that fire over a long period of time.  I don't think either answer is wrong I just prefer to keep my emotions controlled so I can think clearly at all times (yes, if I'm overexcited I'm blinded).  The real secret of all those who "made it".. wasn't about the passion it was how one deals with burnout and frustration and seeing the journey to the end.  Not too many of those around.  The stories recycle for many ppl of many endeavors .. and sticking-with-it-to-the-end is what makes a person successful (make sure to address reality problems otherwise that becomes obstinacy; the problem with that is dismissal of new information that can be critical to your evolution, life, and choices).

Also, one point I want to make is you should never rule out anything.  Making a point to rule out concerto is an overreaction.  You should just not think about it or make any point.  You don't need to look forward in participating in a concerto but you should also remove barriers that prevent you from participating in the future should the topic come up.  Because if it does come up, you didn't do it because early on (i.e. now) you already limited yourself from that opportunity.  Let it be.. and let your guide or teachers make those decisions -- your consciousness should only focus on whats in the immediate forefront of your choices.  Keep a manageable goal, succeed in overcoming it .. and see where that leads you.  Throughout this process, always frame any obstacles in the correct way that will suggest you will overcome it.  Any doubts that are unhealthy are thoughts you want to eliminate.  Be receptive to information all around you and choose the ones that are constructive. Consistency, persistence, practicality, receptivity .. focus on qualities that make ppl successful.  You are what you think and so its important to think positively and practically. Logan Paul (YouTube influencer) before becoming known had a little meditation where he stated he will be the greatest entertainer.  He recited that to himself and let the magic happen.  The psychological or spiritual side of practice is very important and I'm only saying this bc I never did that early in my life.  I can attest that it helped me personally to say my wish before I went to sleep of what I want.  Always make sure you reserve 5 minutes to make positive affirmations of what you really want before you "retire" for the night. Also remember that one should never feel too comfortable at doing something in life. I think a healthy portion is 15-20% what is uncomfortable for you.  If you are very comfortable it means you are playing it too safe and not giving some portion to luck or not pushing yourself a little above your ability.

One last point. lostinidlewonder mentioned being an "entertainer".  There are principles in that realm.  First is that you just need -one thing- that sets you apart.. something you want people to remember you for or that they will remember you for.  It's simple but also not so easy an answer. Its bidirectional in the sense that you may want to have some idea but its also something that comes when it happens.  You steer your path but you don't get to choose how the currents flow.  It allows a lot of freedom and doesn't limit success to only the difficult and complex (and this is more of a rite of passage).  The piano universe has so many outlets and we have yet to explore the possibilities to connect with people.  This is an undeveloped terrain and has much room for growth.  Because entertainment is all encompassing, remember that piano has to compete with the likes of other forms of entertainment like singing, dancing, comedy .. so keep that in mind as an alternate perspective on this art. That's good more for when choosing selections in your repertoire. Second is that entertainment is non-selective.  Know that many ppl have practiced 6-21 hours a day for 15 years, and still haven't gotten there.  There are two points to this.  That your journey does not start and end at your conservatory -- the conservatory gives a big boost in your education but you continue to evolve even afterwards.  Also, to the other point of non-selectivity .. I want to add a personal story to illustrate the unknown in life.  When I was in high school there were two students who excelled a lot.  Both were dedicated and very hard workers. And I was in their class where for a month they meticulously created for art & design something that was really neat.  Both were very creative and one could tell how much work was done.  I was rather lazy and I wasn't really inspired.  I kinda goofed off and realized the project was about due within a week.  I had to come up with something.  No matter what it felt uninspiring to me and I said "screw this!" one afternoon and a thought came in.  I connected an idea I had in middle school and used that as a basis of my new idea and used a ruler to whip it up in two days.  I used my knowledge in geometry which I aced and had a knack for so this idea came natural to me.  When the other students got their grade back it was like an 89/100 and the other I think also a B.  One of them commented how impossible it was to get an A and that was true.  When I got mine back, I received a solid A.  I never shared it with them what I got.  I think the teacher was looking at creativity more than he did hard work.  Tbh I'm not exactly clear how he graded. My friend (not the other two) laughed only because I was literally handed my grade a few moments after the other student made that comment.  The point of this story is that its not all hard work.  Sometimes "luck" plays into it or the hard work needs proper steering.  Like Uncle Scrooge said, work smarter .. not harder.  There is also a third point to this which is natural versus force.  But being that this has been a long exposition I'll save that for another topic another day.

[lelle]

I think the truth is that we can't possibly know that. It depends on the quality of training you receive, how receptive and talented you are, and on your networking and luck.

You can make a living in the music industry without playing in large concert halls like Trifonov and Kissin. It's not an easy career, money might not be great, and it requires resourcefulness, entrepreneurship and good business skills. Do you feel like you would be happy with that kind of lifestyle? Answer yourself honestly and try to shut out any kind of external voice, whether approving or disapproving, regarding your decision.