I don't know if this has been brought up before (probably), but does anyone find that being a pianist, or learning piano, that it's really something that's quite a solitary pursuit?..perhaps with other instruments that are more "orchestral" there's more chance to practice with others, the instrument is more portable etc....I find myself endlessly practicing piano at home, but I've taken up violin now (one of the reasons being I'd like to play with other people more often)...anyone else found this?

Yes. You do not need to be an anti social loner, but it sure as heck helps

I actually quite like playing piano, coz it gices me a chance to be solitary and by myself! I like going into school (I end up there early anyway) before anyone else has got there and sitting and playing the grand. Dunno why, but it's a good feeling. As soon as anyone else turns up though, I stop!

I played clarinet first, so maybe I don't see it in the same light as you!

Yeah I love playing piano and being able to be by myself!

This is weird but in all those weird little astrological things about the day of my birth/birthstone/starsign/birthday and stuff, they always say that I like being quiet and my myself most of the time...and its true!I love playing piano in this way too...it doesnt mean i'm a loner, im just not a hyper social bunny thats all!

Oh no, I'm not like that! I love being around people, the more people the better! But I do like my "thinking" time.

Playing alone is no bad thing - I find it soooo.. totally relaxing! Don't like to think about the number of meals I've ruined whilst in another piano playing world!

Anne

Hmm interesting answers, I do find it a relief to get home from work and be on my own with my piano, after being surrounded by people all day (working on a children's ward!). But whilst I was in 6th form several years ago I played in a small classical guitar ensemble and really enjoyed the chance to combine all our music instead of being a lone player...do any pianists use their talents as part of another group/ensemble etc ?

My trick at the moment is to forget to put the dinner in, in the first place!

I do like it when no one is around and I play the piano, it's the only thing I do when I'm alone.

Yes - I'm pretty unsociable on the whole (I see enough people during my working day, anyway, and look forward to practising on my own !)

Oh, it's social enough when you are accompanying a ballet class or another violinist for their exams.

Mine is to put the oven on to heat up, then an hour later realise I've not yet put the food in.....

Mine is to make a wonderful fresh pot of tea and then an hour later to remember I still haven't poured it out!!

YES ! I'm certainly one of those solitary people... Besides piano & violin, I do things like horseriding & ballet where although you are in a class, you can usually ignore the rest of the world other than making sure you don't ram into your classmates !!! That is why i never touched racquet sports bec you have to play with someone else. I stopped fencing recently partly bec of this reason too !

just out of curiosity what's your horoscope? Is it bec of one's nature that they choose piano or is it bec playing the piano makes one anti-social ?!

I'm a pisces ...

It doesn't have to be a solitary instrument! I accompany my friends quite often in school concerts and I play the piano with the school windband. Our orchestra has a pianist too, although one of the teachers normally plays that as most of the pianists in school have an orchestral instrument as their second study. Also, last year I did a piano trio (the sort with three pianists on one piano!) at a festival. Sadly, my duet partner has just gone away to boarding school and I'm missing her terribly... Do you have any violinist/violist/cellist friends who would be interested in forming a piano trio/quartet/quintet with you? There is a lot of lovely music written for this!

My piano teacher's pretty solitary, he likes being on his own and stuff... but i like both!! I like being on my own and think about stuff but I like being with my mates a lot too!!! I like playing the piano in groups and stuff too with my mates but when I'm performing I'm usually playing a solo piece. Starsigns are...starsigns...it's very confusing!! Aquarius!!! It's really weird because the thing it said on 'Louise' means...blah blah blah is true!!!

I'm a mixture - I enjoy being around people for the most part, and you can use the piano to meet new people. At university we do musicals, variety shows and concerts and I really like getting involved in these, the rehearsals are such fun! Yet one of my favourite ways of relaxing is to tune out the rest of the world and go play.

My family have banned me from playing piano whilst I'm cooking - too many burnt through pans I think!!

Edit: Running the bath! Must Not Leave Running Water to Play Mozart!

Yah, Im quite a solitary person. Actually, since taking up piano at 13 ive spent most of my time indoors and on my own so that might have something to do with it! I dont really have much contact with musicians my age at all, apart from these forums, and a few people in my church who play a bit, who I usually only see once at week (at church obviously...). I dont have any non-musical friends. Cant wait for uni, if I ever get there. Get to be with people like me...

I always was inclined to play on my own or pursue other solitary activities. Thus, when I took up playing the piano when I was 6 I stopped playing out with my friends pretty much straight afterwards. Piano playing took up all my non-school time until I was about 10 at which point we got our first computer and then piano was relegated to an hour or two a week in between programming. It wasn't all a waste, now I'm doing a PhD in computer science, but sometimes I wonder how good I'd be at playing the piano if we never did get a computer .

Yes, I've done those activities as well - although these both work well as team activities too, of course!

One of the reasons I always wanted to play the piano was so I could play a piece with all the harmonies. I get so fed up with just playing melody lines.

I've always found playing an instrument a solitary experience - not through choice, I might add. There just doesn't seem to be any way to find other people to play with, not for an adult, anyway. I'm very pleased I've discovered (mainly through these forums - thanks, jo.clarinet) such an active recorder-playing network. The flute's a dead loss really, I'm not good enough for semi-pro orchestras and too good for adult starter orchestras.

I even considered starting the viola a month or so ago, as I would then be eligible to play in the adult beginner orchestras, but I'll se where the recorder playing gets me over the next 12 months.

I make the tea and only remember it when its stone cold!!!!!!!

i love being on my own when I play, it gives me time to relax and just get comletely into the music.