I had an intuitive question whether to call myself a pianist or not.... I think not coz a pianist should mean that this person is an accomplished pianist (Excellent sight reading, accompanying skills,.....and those stuff).
What do you think?

That is a nice thing to discuss about. Most people i know only call themselves "pianist" if they have a diploma of the academy of music, or when they play professional (solo). Otherwise you just say "i play the piano". Because this is common practice it just feels that way for me. I'm looking foreward to other opinions.

Yes, I agree. To call myself a 'pianist' would seem a bit presumptuous at my level.

Anyone who plays the piano can be called a pianist

QUOTE (missfabflute @ May 30 2005, 12:40 PM)

Anyone who plays the piano can be called a pianist

I agree. It would be a bit disheartening for beginners learning the piano to find that although they can play, they can't be called a pianist until they have a diploma.
David

I heard John Lill in a radio interview a couple of years ago. When he went to the RCM his new tutor said to him, "When you know all the 48, all of Beethoven's sonatas and all of Chopoin's Etudes, then you can call yourself a pianist."

Ouch. I am going for an easier definition.

Sorry. Should have been, "Chopin's Etudes"!

Yes, I agree with David and Missfabflute.

There are books by Fanny Waterman and Marion Harewood (the joint founders of the Leeds Piano competition), entitled "The Young Pianist's Repertoire".

The first one is, if I remember correctly, around grade one level.

I don't think it's necessary to take a narrow view of the term "pianist".

Maggie

What came to my mind when reading the replies is that it also matters a great deal which language you use. I'm not sure how to express this in English, but the word "Pianist" in English is a officially a perfect translation of the Dutch word (and visa versa) but it doesn't feel the same when you use it. It is hard for me to explain, but i hope you'll understand what I mean.

Another thing, I know people who are bragging they can play piano, but only can play as much as one simple song. I think it is also important that someone is (at his own level) serious about playing piano before you can call him a pianist.

Then there are terms like Trained Pianist, Concert Pianist , and Super Pianist.

what's the difference?

QUOTE (fawnfawn @ May 30 2005, 11:52 AM)

what's the difference?

I'll be surprised if I know.

I think an instrumentalist is a person who plays an instrument - What I think is happening is that people are defining what may be termed virtuoso as opposed to pianist.

My simple belief is a pianist is a person who can accurately play the piano. How well or badly is another story

btw - the ABRSM gives certificates in Piano Playing - am I correct?

Quite literally, a person who plays the piano is a pianist. I think:
1. The piano should be your first/main instrument.
2. You must be currently playing it (ie. there is no point if you haven't touched it for 50 years).
3. It should be something you want to do.

Though, you wouldn't call yourself a pianist unless you wanted to play it!

QUOTE (p_2005 @ May 30 2005, 12:11 PM)

Quite literally, a person who plays the piano is a pianist. I think: 1. The piano should be your first/main instrument. 2. You must be currently playing it (ie. there is no point if you haven't touched it for 50 years). 3. It should be something you want to do. Though, you wouldn't call yourself a pianist unless you wanted to play it!

Curiously accurate in my view and i concur.

why does it have to be your 1st instrument though? i mean you could have a piano dip and it could still be your 2nd instrument- so are you less of a pianist than a grade 5 player who doesn't play another instrument?

QUOTE (dcmbarton @ May 30 2005, 01:25 PM)

QUOTE (missfabflute @ May 30 2005, 12:40 PM) Anyone who plays the piano can be called a pianist I agree. It would be a bit disheartening for beginners learning the piano to find that although they can play, they can't be called a pianist until they have a diploma. David

I'd say the same. i dont think you should have to be a pro to be called a pianist, what if its just a hobby but you're really good, you'd be stuck with ..."i play the piano" for all your life!

QUOTE (missfabflute @ May 30 2005, 12:40 PM)

Anyone who plays the piano can be called a pianist

Yes a pianist plays the piano. Of more interest is when a pianist can be described as a musician!!

George,
exactly right!

It's a difficult question otherwise. In arts, once you start studying and practicing you call yourself a musician or artist or what you are. More difficult with professions. Like student lawyers or doctors can't call themselves lawyer or doctor until they have a practicing certificate from their professional body.

I'm not sure where musical performance lies. It isn't strictly a profession...or is it with an academic body behind it? I suppose you would be a professional if you got a diploma, not that the body would censure you for breaking its code of practice!

F

QUOTE (George Burrell @ May 30 2005, 01:33 PM)

QUOTE (missfabflute @ May 30 2005, 12:40 PM) Anyone who plays the piano can be called a pianist Yes a pianist plays the piano. Of more interest is when a pianist can be described as a musician!!

What then is a musician?

People in the UK tend to describe themselves as a .... when they earn their living from that activity. "I am a plumber" means they earn their living as a plumber. "I am a banker" means they get lynched.

When I earned the bulk of my living from performing, I described myself as a 'pianist'. These days, I earn the bulk of my living from piano teaching, so I describe myself as a 'piano teacher'.

I suppose it all depends on how people use terms lime, "I am a ..."

Yeah, I suppose... Though you are most well known by your first name and not any other names you may have. (that's the worst logic I could have come up with!)

IMO:

A musician need not be an instrumentalist, but someone who can simply evaluate music.

A pianist is someone who plays the piano, anything else is just snobbery.

Still waiting on the definition of a MUSICIAN

QUOTE (grand choeur @ Jun 1 2005, 02:38 AM)

Still waiting on the definition of a MUSICIAN

I will give you a clue..

I would define a musician as a person who shows musicianship.

Musicianship is a type of artistry.

One definition of art I was reading read as follows - "high quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value."

When someone is described as a "good musician", you are describing them at a level above the instrument(s) they physically play or use.

A pianist at any grade may or may not be a good musician.

Being 'a pianist' is merely a state of mind. If someone believes they are a pianist, then they are, one only has to convince oneself; if anyone chooses to disagree then that's their problem.

As for whether one has to earn a living from playing the piano to use the term pianist: perhaps to put it as the occupation in one's passport; but as a mere self-describing adjective, I'd say not.

I'd agree with that; I used pianist in my username and certainly wasn't trying to imply that I was a concert pianist!

I think that to answer the question 'what do you do?' in a generic situation then yes 'I'm a pianist' would mean I earn my living from that. In a musical context like what instrument do you play 'I'm a pianist' would be acceptable even from someone who's only been playing for a week (although of course technically the answer to that question is piano...).

lol, that would be an occasion you would say 'I play Piano!' I mostly agree with the familiar term that the term pianist should only be associated with one that plays the piano, to a certain degree in which they do not intend to give it up. I suppose you can't apply the term pianist who has only been playing for one day or so though, for they could give it up the next day! In terms of comparison with other instruments, let's say that you play piano mainly, and your a higher grade in flute for example, if you feel your main instrument is piano, then you are a pianist, not a 'flautist'*, despite your grade. But if you were a higher grade in your piano, but flute was your more frequent playing instrument, then you would be a 'flautist', not a 'pianist'. To be honest, if you want to express someone is a concert pianist, just take a little time to say 'Concert Pianist', for there is a chance that you will be saying 'I'm a pianist! in terms of playing piano more frequently than, 'I'm a pianist!' intending to say you were a concert pianist. Otherwise, the term Concert Pianist would make no sense!

Wobby

*Why Flautist?!

Agree with the above two posts, but I would say someone could be called both a pianist, and a flautist, violist, trombonist etc etc. People can be more than one if they play that instrument.

Yeah, that's true, but let's say anyones talented enough to play a one-man orchestra, which I seriously doubt, it would be a really long winded way to say 'I'm a celloist, violinist, bassoonist, oboeist, contraist, flautist, xylophonist...'
Why not just stick to 'musician' instead! Makes life so much easier!

Wobby

or an orchestrition?

Probably from the Itallian Flauti for flutes...

I agree, however it would be best to say that "Im a pianist... But im only grade <blahblah>" Otherwise people might think ur some maestro that can play all of chopins works, and believe me that can get quite embaressing...

yes i totally agree with this... for example, someone who plays at a church or for plays, may not necessarily have a diploma, but is still a pianist in my eyes.

joy