When Do You Become A Pianist? Options

[Neil Quinn]

i'm currently doing my grade 3 but i don't feel anything close to being a pianist, when does one become a pianist?

That's a good question! You've had lots of proper answers, but for me I feel like a pianist when I am playing something that is moderately difficult and it is sounding pretty good. Sadly I often get so carried away with the feeling that it all falls apart.

Strangely, I always feel I am a much better pianist when there is no-one else around! It's like that nonsense question "does a falling tree make a sound if there is no-one there to hear it?" and "is my piano playing really better when there is no-one else around to hear it?" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Until my sight-reading gets to a pretty good level I won't really describe myself as a pianist - just in case someone whips out some piano music and says "ah, play this then!"

N

[fsharpminor]

I had to sightread a Scriabin Prelude yesterday, triplets and quintuplets to negotiate alonside the crotchets and quavers of 3/4. Nevertheless, it wouldn't even scratch the surface of one of the Transcendental Studies!

Was that the 'pseudo' funeral march ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Apparently, Prelude Op.15/1 in A major.

Ah no, I thought it might be the Bfla t Minor in Op11, that is a parody on a funeral march, 5 beats in a bar.

[Collyermum]

Someone on here recently said they had a friend who was able to accompany a poor exam candidate whose accompanist had not turned up at the last minute for an exam! Now *that's* a pianist, but I fear I have started the piano too late in life to be able to do that, sigh.

I think my ambition to pass my Grade 8 is so give me confidence that I really can play the piano! Somehow, I need that piece of paper to convince me that I can play! The problem with the piano is there are so many really good pianists out there to compare oneself to, I always feel really inferior, especially as a late starter (I was 29 and I've had 2 breaks to have babies in since starting) whereas with my other instruments that I have started late (singing and the harp) they are more individual and I don't find myself making so many comparisons, I can enjoy those at the level I am at more. The piano I am forever wishing I were better, which while being a good thing on the one hand does rather take away some of the enjoyment of the journey.

As someone else once said on here, you always want to be a couple of grades better than you are... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[kingsley13]

I think it's when you can sightread comfortably things of greater than grade 5.

I'm a Pianist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I guess it varies between people. I play the piano at about grade 8 level, but I wouldn't call myself a pianist because I play the clarinet at a higher level so would all myself a clarinettist. I realised this about a year ago in my class music lesson where we were being divided into groups, each with a pianist in (me being my groups). I found it really strange to be called a pianist because I had never thought of myself as one before! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I like the idea of being a pianist though, because I love the feeling of being sat at the piano, playing an impressive piece and knowing that I have control over an instrument so large! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[madbassoonist]

I guess it varies between people. I play the piano at about grade 8 level, but I wouldn't call myself a pianist because I play the clarinet at a higher level so would all myself a clarinettist. I realised this about a year ago in my class music lesson where we were being divided into groups, each with a pianist in (me being my groups). I found it really strange to be called a pianist because I had never thought of myself as one before! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I like the idea of being a pianist though, because I love the feeling of being sat at the piano, playing an impressive piece and knowing that I have control over an instrument so large! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

They often divide the music class that way with us as well - but there are at least 8 first-study pianists, including me. However, one is about Grade 1-2, and at the other end there are 3 or 4 of us around Grade 7-8. There are lots of people who play piano as a second instrument too.

I always say I'm a pianist who plays clarinet and bassoon, not a clarinettist or bassoonist (apart from my forum name!!). However after reading this thread I may have to alter that to 'pianoist' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[clavicembalo]

Well, if not now, I shudder to think when! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)