In the 70s I lived for a while in a musical hostel in Holland Park - patronised by many great pianists - you had a piano in your room and could practice up to about 11 at night. We had leading concert pianists Leeds Prize winners and the wannabes who came to do their Wigmore recitals and then get a conservatory job of some sort

Most of the Americans were obsessive practicers - pounding the piano for 8 hours or more a day and had done so willingly for 20 years or more I always felt sorry for the ones who never quite made it as they had lost so much in growing up

Is there a tariff or programme given a minimum of talent and a mazimum of practice and determination to get to a professional standard

I know as a singer it takes about 7 years to build a basic good voice and about 25 to get it right !

E g if you took up the violin and played for 6 hours a day for five years could you make it as a professional in an orchestral desk

Just some thoughts

Have you read the article that StuMac introduced us to here?

That article looks at the number of hours practice needed to achieve different grades. It doesn't go up to professional level but you could perhaps extrapolate the findings.

Yes, I do think there's a correllation between practise and success. However, quite a few teachers on this list will know of musicians they've taught, or know, who do little serious practise yet still turn out exciting performances, very good grades in exams and demonstrate natural musicianship in all they do.

However, if you're not that gifted - and not that many truly are - then it's hard graft and encouragement/support from those around you that wins the day.

I came across a site, http://www.practicespot.com/home.php which seems to have a lot of very helpful hints and comments about making practice time efficient and productive. I do believe that time alone isn't enough, it has to be the right sort of practice. Some people are better naturally at homing in on essentials in life generally, while others sometimes never see the wood for the trees. Maybe this is why some do so well with less practice.

Obviously, if a student practices playing something wrongly it only make things worse as I'm sure others will also have found out when taking on students who have been badly taught by another first.

In fact I always ask who taught them first. Although I am never unprofessional enough to pass comment, I know which ones will have to be taken right back!

Quality not just quantity!