Being an Amateur

[nicko124]

I know this thread may have stupid obvious questions in it but i am a bit confused what is available to Pianists in the Amateur devision. I am not planning to go into a career to be a concert pianist yet i would still like to be in competitions and things like that. I feel i am good enough because other pianists have said that i am but i don't really know how seriously you take it.

A friend of mine who is an absolutely astounding pianist (and would possibly make a great professional) is going into a career to fulfill his other talent: mathematics. Yet he still talks about entering into competitions in the future.

I mean in the future i would like to work part time as a restaurant pianist side career sort of thing but i would also like something else more challenging to me.

In this thread i would appreciate hearing things from succesful pianists who have not pursued it as a career.

Thanks

Nicko124 

[thalbergmad]

Despite being trained from the age of 3, i  remain an amateur and have only given 1 concert in my entire life.

It may sound daft to all the budding young pianists out there, but i never even wanted to become a pro as i was scared that something that i loved so much might become a chore.

A good friend of mine who has made his career as a pianist, is sometimes jealous as he claims he doesn't have the time that i do to learn a piece. Also, he has not got the time to experiment with the forgotten composers that i love so much.

I am happy as an amateur and continue to practice about 20 hours per week

[Derek]

If I were to have a career as a pianist, it would be to improvise for people in my own way, like Jarrett did. I have no interest in doing what thousands of people can do VASTLY better than I (playing the standard repertoire), the likes of which I have absolutely no desire to compete with. I'm very happy as an amateur. I am the composer, the performer, and listener all in one. Completely self-contained and isolated. I might play local gigs some day, though, just for the heck of it.

[ted]

Nicko124:

There is nothing to stop you being semi-professional in areas other than classical concerts. As you say, playing in restaurants is one way to go. What opportunities there are depends on where you live. In this part of the world there are many amateur groups and clubs in all fields of music. If you have a flair for playing non-classical styles, part-time teaching is definitely an option because teachers of these things tend to be much thinner on the ground than classical teachers.

My teacher thought I could be professional (not as a concert pianist though) and so did many others but I decided against it years ago. Exactly what constitutes success is, of course, subjective. I don't think it's much good being rich and famous if you're never at home, your health's gone and you're a neurotic mess, but perhaps my thinking is unfashionable. I must say that competition plays no part in my life at all, but each to his own - some find it gives them something to work for and good luck to them.