Asa Ames Lucas Debargue took some lessons when he was younger than quit. Later at age twenty he began playing seriously and has since accomplished a lot!
When are you going to perform in chicago area ? would love to see you play live. you are a blessing to piano world in multiple ways. I think you already know that
A lady after having attended a Jascha Heifetz concert, reportedly gushed, "Oh Mr. Heifetz, I would give my life to play a violin like that." To which Mr. Heifetz replied; "Madam, I did."
mpoulin Basically you have no life because you are either preforming, or practicing to prepare for the next preformance. Pretty much a full time job, but time is spent practicing instead of doing paperwork in an office. It's fun when you can take days off because it's not a serious "job" but more for enjoyment, when you are just taking lessons and such.
That's soooo true. I used to like Dvorak's New World symphony and listen to it every day, but then the orchestra I'm in practices it and literally lost the interest. Professional vs enthusiasm
Cheers for this, I been tryin to find out about "famous pianists of the 21st century" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Poneyton Introductory Preeminence - (search on google ) ? It is a smashing one off guide for discovering how to master the piano minus the normal expense. Ive heard some super things about it and my mate got cool success with it.
Amen. I spoke with a ex-concert pianist. He was selling women’s fashion clothes and good at it. He would go to fashion shows in New York as a buyer. He told me he left concert playing due to the stress. Having to perform at a high level, the preparation, performing in front of discerning audiences. It makes for a bundle of nerves. Not good for one’s health.
Yes I used to want to be a concert pianist but the minimum level was just so high that it was exhausting to play at such a high quality all the time and it really beat the fun out of music making during my degree but I have found a a new and arguably larger passion for teaching piano. Still difficult but not AS difficult with a more consistent pay and a more social lifestyle. I still practice and perform of course but that is more complimentary to the teaching which I can do and love forever!!!
It's true. I got sick with TB due to stress in my piano performance degree. True story. I was down will shingles after having to perform 3 times that week for a masterclass. It's very stressful.
I received this warning personally when I was a child as my grandmother was a concert pianist. From age 3 to around age 12 I really wanted to follow in her footsteps but she sat me down and told me about how lonely it was traveling around Europe and how hard it was to raise a family. I have found that I am much happier teaching than I am performing (not that I don't love performing!) and I get to have the life that I want performing locally on occasion and putting most of my time and effort into running my little piano studio. When I was a child, teaching seemed to me to be the "consolation prize" but I enjoy it so much now, seeing the passion of my students as I help them to hone their craft. I truly feel that I am doing what I was born to do.
Cassia's Piano Being a teacher is a blessing. Your students learn many skills for life as they struggle to learn to play the piano. There is a special place in Heaven for teachers. You have so much patience and discipline. In life, most others are competing with others at work, etc. It is not easy to find a person who is willing in life to impart knowledge to others.
That's really encouraging! I make most of my money from teaching and a smaller amount from performing and I feel I am headed down the path to opening a small studio and just becoming more a local name in music. Maybe we could talk more about what it's like to run a studio and discuss our lives as teachers/performers? email me!- runyan.piano@gmail.com
@@mastergenie19 Hey there! I don't usually email with strangers but I see you are on Facebook. You may enjoy joining a Facebook group or two geared towards studio owners. Lots of people to chat with regarding how to start or really push the teaching side of your business to the next level. Check out "The Studio Challenge" "Top Music Teaching" and "Group Piano Pioneers". Take care!
I live in Indonesia, I am 15 years old and I learned the 1mvt of the Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto completely on my own. Thats just a dream come true for me. My teacher cant tell much my parents even less no one is here to help me with performing or learning even further.
I dreamed of becoming classical pianist since very young age. 2 years before completing secondary music school, I decided not to pursue this further (going to music academy). Thinking about this 20 years later, I don't regret this decision at all. I have regular IT job and play classical piano for pure enjoyment. I can still practice 2-2.5 hours a day.
I love music, especially piano, but I realized very early that counting on artistic abilities to earn a living was fraught. So I became an engineer, keeping piano as a hobby. Now after a long engineering career, I am approaching retirement - and guess what I will be enjoying with all of the free time I will have? Even though my skills are meager compared to any accomplished pianist, that doesn't seem to detract at all from the satisfaction of creating my own live music. I am so grateful that I made at least a humble pursuit of my musical passions; now I have something to look forward to each day for the rest of my life.
If you are great at the piano, but at the same time like having jet lag all the time, like staying in hotels all the time, like eating restaurant food and fast food all the time, like being away from your family all the time or not having a family at all, then you are meant to be concert pianist.
Way to only focus on the negative. I have a good friend is who a successful touring concert pianist. He says the positives out-weigh the negatives and he’s very happy with his life and career. With that said, it takes a certain personality type to be able to handle it and it’s not for everyone. But many people are happy doing it.
It would be great to see a video on how to perform locally (not professionally) and find gigs and concerts locally for those of us who enjoy performing and sharing but arent going to pursue a career concert pianist. Thnx!
My first concerto was the Grieg, which I can still play. Then, the 5 Beethoven Concertos and Brahms 1,2. This occurred by the time I was 21. I could never do Rach 3. I had some very good teachers, but could not climb the Rach 3 mountain. I was accepted to medical school and became a surgeon. Of course taking a residency was an enormous challenge, as well as getting through med school. BUT THE COMPETITION IN MEDICINE IS NOWHERE'S NEAR AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC. I retired after a successful medical career at 53. I think I was a good doctor. I owned and operated my own Medicare Certified Surgical Center. Doing THAT was much easier than learning a new concerto. It is astonishing how MANY people can play beautifully, considering how much work and talent are required. I think I was a good pianist. But not good enough. Enter reality. Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
you must have been fucking amazing man! i've somehow got to my mid 30s being a 'professional' jazz pianist in London. Obv teaching supports it, and done PLENTY of background music gigs in the past. And I'm playing classical music every day, last piece was Reflets dan's l'eau and it was a challenge as I wasn't a massive practicer as a child, or even teen, I was 14 when I got serious about music and about 18 when I started to think about piano technique. Somehow I've got to quite a high level at jazz and my piano playing I would say can be fairly virtuoso in SOME areas but....you, at 21, will have been a far better technician at the piano than i - like I said, I didnt even give a thought to piano technique till about 18 and that was only because I had terrible RSI that i couldn't even really play for two years whilst at music college. I'm not sure i'll ever get to the technique you must have had and most improvising musicians sacrifice technique for learning about music enough to improvise anything. My point is, your comment shows how bloody tough it is for classical pianists. Jazz and improvising is a different world but we're lucky that we don't always have as high technical demands placed on us, even if the very best jazz musicians had techniques that could rival any classical musician.
Thank you for sharing. I think your story speaks to the insane perfectionism inherent in classical music, as well as its subjectivity. What does it mean to be “good enough”? And to whom? Who decided that you could “never” do the Rach 3? And what right do they have to say that? I am a physician, and an amateur concert pianist without formal training and a penchant for liking and learning difficult pieces. I especially adore the Beethoven sonatas. I don't know if I might not ever get my technique fully “polished”. But I love playing, love sharing music, and love sharing MY perspective on these pieces too. And so I play on. And also, congratulations on your accomplishments in medicine. It requires skills in a different area. Even if they requiring “lesser” talent than music (which I’d debate), does not make them any less commendable and remarkable. I hope you continue sharing your knowledge with the world, both in medicine and music! Marcus
Hey so I would absolutely love some advice if you would be willing to give it. I am just starting college this fall and plan to take the medical path. Could you continue piano while you were practicing? Because one of my biggest fears is that while in college and med school and residency and when I become board certified I won't have any time for piano. Any advice you could give for someone who wants to go into medicine but also wants to have piano as a relatively serious side hobby would be infinitely appreciated. Thanks!
You could never do Rach 3 because your decided you could never do Rach 3. Just remove the never in your thoughts/feelings/actions down to you unconscious, then it will happen, and faster and faster.
I gave up when I realized I didn't have the chops to make it into music school. Now it just is what it is; playing to an audience of one in my living room =). Good luck to all struggling to make it!
I realize i wanted to play and study music a few months before the end of high school and college choice, i didn’t have the required skill to make so here i am in a economic and managment college. If i could rewind time back when i was 12, holy shit my life would really not be the same
@@lefudj4236 Why do you say that? You can't know what could've happened if you had started playing the piano earlier. You might have failed anyway and then you'd say 'Why did I even choose this path? I should have stuied economy, law etc.' There is no point living your life on regrets. You ought to love what you do everyday instead of getting stuck into something that's unreachable.
Ahmet Kerem Atakur thats deep... very. Yeah thats true i have to and i do so. Right now im studying and im not really complaining. The thing is i started piano by the age of 12 but got interested in it last year when i was 17... but u are right
@@lefudj4236 Yup! I agree with Ahmet. I apologize if my comment made it seem that not being able to play as a concert pianist makes me or you a failure. Furthest from it! We have the opportunity to play music AND achieve another calling. I ended up studying economics and am making a great living in finance. No regrets! Onward and upward!
I made this realization a long time ago, having someone making a living with concerts in my close family and seeing them struggle so damn much, being away from the family sometimes weeks on end, havig no energy or willingness to travel or do anything in calmer times. And I'm talking world class performer with solo performances in Carnegie Hall, London Albert Hall, Vienna Musikverein etc. And some years 200 concerts. I love piano from the bottom of my soul and can't live without it, BUT I make my living from software engineering. I work part time and manage to spend 15-20 hours per week studying the piano, teaching, playing small concerts. For me, the whole idea that a person *is* their career is not suitable to a lot of people! And actually in this "golden mittle" there's room for happiness and joy, and the best of both worlds.
It's so frustrating, I started very late on piano so the chances of me ever making a living from music are close to zero...But I hate the idea of getting a conventional job so much (currently in an apprenticeship, it's terrible for me). I love classical music so much, it really moves me and I don't know if I can become truly happy with music only being a hobby🤔
WOW! These words... it's what i think. Did you progress? I'm 15 and i've started piano playing with 14. Am i too old to living from music, right? I can play Ballade No. 1. It helps?
@@abktross1981 I stopped playing entirely a couple months ago. I couldnt manage having a job + practicing piano that much. I didn't progress and I saw it wouldnt be possible for me. I don't want this to sound discouraging to you, I started playing at age 16 and the most difficult piece I ever played was the Chopin etude op 25 no 12 (with way too many mistakes) so your progress is more advanced than I have ever been.
Fantastic insight and love the honesty. Piano is way way more difficult than flying a plane or being a doctor, I’ve done both … virtuosity is way harder than surgery. Like being a concert pianist is really exceedingly difficult.
Glad you talk reality. Other channels foolishly encourage people to keep practicing to become a professional musician. I spoke with a lounge guitarist in a major hotel. He was quite accomplished. He described a lonely life, going from city to city for short gigs. Of course, his wife and children had to stay at home base, as the children were in school. Thus, he was alone most of the time. I spoke with our wonderful church organist. He owned a construction company. He said to perform music as an avocation. Have a regular job. Do music for pleasure in your spare time. That way, music was purely for fun and enjoyment.
This is very realistic. Deciding you want to be a concert pianist is like deciding you want to be a movie star! There's a lot of competition out there. I took evening classes at Juilliard over a period of years and the advanced Juilliard and Manhattan School pianists played in our class. Our professor was a talent spotter and a connoisseur of pianistic ability. He singled out a young pianist who went on to win the Gilmore and has a thriving concert career. Many Juilliard piano students go for a DMA so they can teach piano at a university. Those are the success stories. One success is Jeremy Denk, whose DMA lecture-recital I attended years ago. Jeremy started by accompanying Joshua Bell. Now he has his own independent career. I love to sing and studied with a leading soprano at a major opera company in New York. I did so not for a career, but because I loved the literature. You don't have to have a career in music to have a life filled with musical joy. I worked at a routine job and went to my voice lessons after work and joined choruses in the evenings. Music can be a major part of your life without having a career.
He's right. Most musicians have as much chance becoming a financially successful, famous concert pianist as flying to the moon. And it has nothing to do with talent. There are many, many concert-level virtuosic pianists who can play Chopin, Liszt, concertos, you name it. -- but earning a living as a concert pianist is difficult. Even if you've managed to do the arduous work of getting to that level via your musical education and hard work (and possibly living through the cut-throat competition scene) - you're still not guaranteed an easy income or steady concert presence. Some incredible pianists do not even want to be part of this competitive/commercial world. Others need to teach, go on youtube, invent software, etc. - Art seems to always suffer when we try to mix "making a living" into things. If you're a young pianist reading this ; focus your heart and soul into your music to express your inner vision - if that's your goal - your fortune as a famous pianist may not be guaranteed but your happiness will be!
I have begun to learn the piano as a very late adult beginner. Since I'm retired, it really is nothing to me to spend several hours each day practising. But that has given me an insight into what must be a truly awful way to spend your life if that is really all that you can do (and to be among the best, that really is what you MUST do, even with the greatest talent in the world). I now see musical expertise from a completely unexpected perspective. It looks so effortless, some kind of God-given gift. It isn't.
Rather than strive to be a concert pianist, be a brain surgeon. You'll spend about 1/4 of the time studying and preparing, and you'll make 100X the money.
This is very, very true. I made a post saying that, there is arguably no group of people more underpaid, relative to the amount effort they put into what they do, than world class musicians.
I'm nowhere near the level of the concert pianists that play in my city, but I'd like to share a bit of my history. I started playing late, at the age of 25(I'm turning 29 next week). Not actually late per se, but I started playing aiming to be a professional. I'm well aware of how much I'm behind of everyone else, and I'd like to say that being a concert pianist, starting at this age is something that is very very difficult and would take a long time, networking would be the only way to do it. And I started at the piano from the scratch, but it was not my first instrument, I had a few lessons on electric guitar, played for almost 10 years(just as a hobby) and was very diligent with my theory background, I had a really good theoretical foundation. I studied mechanical engineering for 5 years, was about to get my major, and then I realized I wouldn't be happy away from music and dropped out all at once(I took a whole semester to make the decision, but once I made up my mind I knew how much I should put to make it work), so I've been, since, studying around 6 hours a day, everyday. After a year I joined the university for a major in composing, since I thought I wouldn't make it has a pianist, but since I had a good background composing, I could make it, but I have the most wonderful piano teacher and last year I changed for the major on piano performance. I study and I work. Most of my income comes from teaching, but I also play and sing in events and things as weddings, I do a lot of accompainment in college for free just to get my networking done and I hope to get a good income soon, because it was not long ago that I couldnt play the repertoire that I play today, I play a bunch of arias of opera, and I volunteered to accompany the university choir as well. On my level I'm studying Beethoven's sonatas right now, along with a bunch of pieces from composers such as Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Bach, Vila Lobos etc. These three thing are more that enough to make a living out of music. Even a non special player would do it, diligent and good players would live really well, but very few people take that extra step to get here. I'd like to say that being in touch with music is something that is really important to me, going to concerts and watching my friends, being in this envoirment is something that makes me happy and I wouldn't be at peace if I was not following that thing that I love. I'm not rich by any means, but I can survive and provide for myself and my parents, even though I work and study at the same time, but my payment comes from being at peace. Aiming to be a concert pianist and make a living exclusively out of that is something that is very hard and requires you to have started at a very young age, have a massive bunch of repertoire done and going to a lot of competitions. You may perform in concerts, but I cannot see having your income made only out of it. But this is very very far away from being able to make a living out of music. On and all, I'm very happy with the decision that I made, but that is because knowing that I'm pursuing something valuable to me is enough for me. It is not an easy path, but I wouldn't be happy if I knew that I was not going after what I love just to be confortable. Confort, for me, is going to sleep knowing that I'm giving everything I have to achieve my goals, and that is one of the reasons that I got so far in such a short period of time.
I love this post. I also started late, and I feel like there are several parallels. Although in high school I had a 61-key cheap digital keyboard that I LOVED and played all the time, I didn't have my first music lesson until I entered college (I actually didn't know that music majors were supposed to take private lessons). I had great theory and aural skills and even though I auditioned for the piano studio, I wasn't accepted as a piano major, but the teacher agreed to give me lessons and encouraged me to be a composition major instead. Composition was fun but wasn't my passion, so after a semester of really hard work and practicing I was accepted as a piano major. I spent several years working part time jobs, trying to balance education and paying bills, and it's been incredibly challenging at times, but I have never given up. 12ish years later, I now have two BMs in horn and piano performance, a MM in horn performance, and (after a few years off of school) I just entered a M.M. program at a great school in collaborative piano. In Fall of 2018 I took the risk to drop all financial stability and became a full-time freelancer, mostly accompanying highschools, playing for orchestras and working church gigs. I was able to pay ALL of my bills that whole year just from music! I'm so excited to be back in school again this year. At the school I'm currently in, I have not met a colleague to this day who started as late as I did, so even though I'm older than most students, I want to show that even late starts can be (and will continue to be) just as successful through really hard work, determination, suffering, grit, and passion. Best of luck, and keep doing what you love!
I am a 54 yr old musician able to earn a living playing and teaching music for which I am grateful. In the past I have done many other jobs. I spend hours a day tenaciously practicing and preparing music. This is really amazing that someone at Josh's level of performance shares such honest information about his and his associates careers. I had to laugh when at 1:38 Josh mentions liking time in isolation to play. I love isolation time with music! Thank you Josh!
Thank you so much for this video! I am in the boat where I cant see myself doing anything else than music. This has helped me get a better view of what it's like. I am now more motivated than ever!
Sounds like reality! Was not discouraging, just an honest presentation. I give you a lot of credit for sharing this experienced perspective with those that need to hear it, sooner rather than later in life. Thank you 👏.
Bravo and as a corollary to that - its always great to dream and push yourself to do better - but the mundane is where the rubber meets the road - play at churches or schools, take the gig and make it your own - you gotta pay the bills - accompany students for solo and ensemble competitions, teach - encourage talent wherever you see it or hear it - towns can have teh greatest need for music and you can be their teacher - churches are great for pianists, those folks take care of you in ways you'd never expect. I've done church music for 30 + years - still learning, still chasing dreams where I am at and making a difference musically - thanks to this guy and others.
Totally stumbled across this video by chance. You make some FANTASTIC points here and lay it out in a very factual way! I have a friend that is a touring concert flutist and from his instagram stories all the travel may seem fun at first, but after awhile it just becomes such a grind to stay focused, rested, and healthy. I have such respect for people that are able to live that life and are able to step on the stage and give their A++ game. This was really insightful, subbed and looking forward to more from you!
Fantastic discussion! What you say is absolutely correct. I dedicated my entire childhood to practicing and taking piano lessons. When I went to college and majored in music, I found that I naturally could not memorize music as most concert pianists can do comfortably. I was a "reader" who could read the most difficult Beethoven piano sonata or Bach fugues, but could not memorize this music. I also found myself unable to improvise for jazz or even pop songs as most pianists can do quite comfortably. One thing you need to know that your first piano teacher sets you on your "path" to success. My first teacher was a well-meaninged nun who had no real understanding of the "path to concert piano." In conclusion, I became a music director for three elementary school districts and taught instrumental music and choral music. I did use my music into my life's work, so it wasn't completely wasted. Amen!
@@MishaSkripach Very interesting! Since so much of Russian music education is state-funded, they would be quick to tell you this. In my case I am happy that I stayed with music as long as I did because my college education in music was so meaningful. I experimented in writing music, and overall, had a great experience teaching music in the elementary schools.
@@leoinsf Absolutely. Accompanists, for examply, do not need excellent memory. But what I like about soviet system ( now being destroyed in Russia slowly but surely, unfortunately), is that the child and the parents can have their expectations checked early on, know about the features of the child's talent, what is present, what is lacking, and so the young person can make informed choices very early. About 50 best little pianists from the ehole country are accepted into specialised full time central music schools in the biggest cities every year. The route of an evening music school followed by a college still remains available to those who did not get in. My son's violin teacher, aged only 32, went to an evening school in a small town , so at a young age he did not have to decide if to be a musician. He then got accepted to a music college in Moscow, then Moscow conservatory, graduated with honours, did masters with honours, now works the assistant professor at Moscow conservatory and plays in the best orchestra and their solo quartet.
@@MishaSkripach Thank you for your kind and informative response! I am so happy to hear from someone who has such good things to say about the Soviet music system. I studied with Lev Shorr in San Francisco who was a Russian immigrant and he was a fantastic teacher and, God bless him, a great man!
@@leoinsf Thank you!! We live in the UK, but my son has been studying all the way with the ex-soviet musicians, some in Moscow online, some in person in the UK. They are frank, strict, friendly and open, they wish the best and are ultimately on the side of the pupil, the custom is to point out everything that is not perfect - on the outside it looks like very harsh criticism, however at the core of it there is the presumption that one is capable of truly great things, and that gives real confidence! I cannot say all are like that, but many.
I’m 40 and just starting to learn. I think I’d love to play little gigs here and there but I have some practice to do. It’s a hobby but I love playing - You look like Zac Efron by the way 😊
This is valuable information to those of us who tend to romanticize the cool aspects of wowing huge audiences, hob-knobbing with music royalty and performing Liszt wearing tux and tails (like Bugs Bunny did in that cartoon). Back in the day, "practice room me" was definitely that sort of dreamer, but at a certain point, after feeling fairly directionless about what exactly to do with my music ambitions, I took this same advice and tried out one of my alternate interests as a possible career. Although that has also had its challenges, over time my plan B career has proven to be the right choice for me, and I still get to do music stuff, strictly for fun-zies. I'm all admiration for folks who can do the practice grind and the gig-hunting grind, but your advice here for people to make sure this is for them is right on the money. Oh and Happy New Year 2020 Josh!!
All I wanted is to play music around thousands of people, I don't care about money they can pay me less as long I can play music in a concert hall, I'm a lonely person and music is the only thing I have and I want to play music in concert hall for people to hear and I will be complete in the inside.
Thank you for the warning to anyone stuck under the delusion that they will....with enough practice.... automatically become a celebrated concert pianist.
Thank you so much for this video! I have thought about this for so long because very soon I will have to choose what to become and I really wanted to become a concert pianist. This video helped me a lot with my decision. I mean, there are so many different possibilities for a musician, it doesn't have to be this way.
When a goal becomes an obsession, it can really make you eat your heart out. What I guess many people forget is that making beautiful music is not the same as being technically flawless. You can be a great musician without being a concert pianist. However, being a good musician just isn't enough in today's classical world. Technical requirements have skyrocketed and the level of playing nowadays is absolutely superhuman: perfection is the minimum requirement. Some of the greatest pianists of the past are easily overshadowed by today's top concert pianists. The piano scene is just crazy competetive. So: not being a concert pianist doesn't in ANY WAY mean that you're not a good, even excellent, musician.
I disagree. There is no non-old pianist today that comes even remotely close to Rubinstein or Sokolov, for example. Give me an example of one of the greatest pianists of the past being overshadowed by someone.
@@vincent-ataramaniko You're right, the average level has risen, but the best of the best from the golden era are just on another plane when it comes to interpretation and originality.
Hello Josh, you have mentioned in the past you had some pain while playing. I couldn't find any video where you explored this further. It would be nice if you talked about this extendively :)
Hi everyone and hi Josh.... i really like math but I LOVE piano.... i want to became a pianist and maybe, i hope, a concert pianist. Watching people like you make me dream and think that the life of a pianist is the best.... i wish you the best!
@@MishaSkripach yeah, i like to play Liszt (i can't play sonata in b minor or reminiscences de don juan but i play most part of la campanella). I play piano from 1 and a half year so i can't play everything i want 😅
Hi Josh, I've been following you for years and just now I saw that you almost have 100.000 subscribers, congratulations! I'm primarily a guitarist who uses piano for composing/theory and your videos are golden nuggets, thank you. Greetings from Europe
You are just not built as a performer, nothing wrong with it...The most important thing is that you know/acknowledge what you cannot do and took a different path! Congratulation....
I am completely depressed. It‘s not working for me. I have been playing the piano since the age of 13. I am 30 yrs old now and in my last year of studying in the music school of paris. But I suck. I don’t know how I made it to this class. Always the same mistakes. I can never play a complete piece without interruption, without failing and stopping time and time again. I work passages, but no matter what techniques, and even after understanding them and correcting them, I will always make the same mistakes again and again. I might play a passage well at slow speed, but it will never go perfectly at higher speeds. At some point, I always fail. 17 years and still the same mistakes! It‘s like I have no control over my fingers! Currently practicing hungarian rhapsody no.6 of Liszt, but I suck. And I record it and listen to it and it‘s aweful I hate it 😭😭😭😭
strong ! Hang in there! A lot of pressure comes from the thought that "you have to play perfect". You don't need to play perfectly. Even with some mistakes people can still enjoy the music. :)
Omg I have been in the same position as you are for YEARS and I feel the need to tell you this. Its not your fautl. You are a smart and capable human being, and you absolutely can play all those pieces without mistakes. The thing is though, you have to be able to practice in way that you don't make mistakes in ghe practice room so you don't develop bad habits with a piece. That means slowing down (a lot) and staying there for some time. That means playing less demanding pieces and that means making sure you play with artistry and in control. A good teacher should be able to find a piece or set of pieces that are demanding enough to make you get better but easy enough that you can play them with ease after some practice. It kills me everytime teachers and pressuring for speed and interpretation when the basics are not covered and the student its clearly struggling with their current repertorie and workload. Then they blame the student or dont say anything but the students realizes that is passing by without playing pieces to a respectable level of mastery. This is why I became a teacher because a lot of teaching is repeating the same traditions and myths from the past that perpetuate the idea that some people are incapable of playing the piano, and while there are some veryy minuscule exceptions every full grown and healthy adult its able to perform excellent when given the proper guidance, enviroment and TIME.
And now i broke my left wrist. I have been working really hard the right hand. One positive thing came out being that i am optimizing my hand and finger movements
@@Georgeknn We're twins! I broke my left wrist the day after looking at a new piano last month (I went ahead and bought the piano in spite of the injury). And coincidentally, I've also been reviewing the fingering that I use on some pieces - finding that I sometimes default to truly inefficient and bizarre methods. I'm sure your optimization efforts will yield significant benefits for your playing. Besides that, I stumbled across this very interesting website (I am not affiliated with it in any way, just thought it looks promising): playinthezone.com It's about mental training for musicians and how to realize your full potential. I'm hoping it could be a real watershed for you, so please have a look.
Marianne Oelund hi. It‘s been beneficial focusing on only my right hand. I did never play hands separately much and my stronger hand is left. So now I can concentrate on my weak hand and get the right finger placements and optimize finger and hand movements. I will now take a look at that website. Thanks
This a great video. I realized that as a concert pianist, most of the times, you put many hours but what you get (income wise) is not enough by any mean.
When I was a child, I wanted to become a ballerina or a pianist. Now I'm glad that my goal has changed a lot. I could have been unhappy and most probably quit even if I were successful. Now I'm a medical doctor going back to research. I feel safer being in a profession that doesn't put me under the pressure of making myself known to the world.
Sometimes I feel like I'll die if I don't learn how to play certain piano pieces super well. However, I made my choice at a young age not to pursue piano performance...and though part of me will always regret it, I know I'm not really into playing in front of others at all. I've always hated it. I'd prefer to stay home all day and practice alone. I guess UA-cam is great for that though or teaching. I could do either.
Commercial performance Concert pianist after all is rare. Concert pianist is fierce competition. Not anyone can become concert pianist. But we believe that anyone can become music hobbyist.
I would recommend asking retirement centers and assisted living centers if you can play for them. These places almost always have a piano. Either upright or baby grand. Hardly anybody who lives there plays it. You don't get paid but its a great way to get your name out there. And they will listen to just about anything.
I think I have the best of both worlds, in high school I entertained the idea of going to a conservatory to become a concert pianist but after reading interviews from top pianists about how hard it was, I changed career paths and decided to become a lawyer instead..so now my FT job is practicing law but piano is just my hobby...its nice to be a concert pianist in ones own living room :)
That’s all great advice! I think the thing to remember is that playing and performing is great, but you have to treat it like a business not just an art form.
[Not aimed at Josh. More so people considering the pursuit]I think the deep question that we should always ask ourselves is why do we need to perform for others? If we were told that we could never perform for someone again, would we still play your instrument? I often argue that I want to perform for others to share my joy with them. That’s valid I suppose. But still, the underlying need to perform has me pondering. I realise that people can also get a kick from making a living by performing something they love, but we have to ask ourselves if we really need to do this at whatever our chosen level to be fulfilled. If we can’t enjoy playing even locally, as Josh suggested, and will only accept convert-level then I believe other factors are involved.Didn’t quite flesh out my point but hopefully y’all get the gist. Anyway, thanks for the video dude. Very honest and on point.
Really enjoyed to hear your thoughts on this Josh, from the perspective of someone who has played in so many concerts. I was wondering if you know of anyone that started late (as an adult) and performed with orchestras (not necessarily professionally). I would love to play something like the Schumann A minor concerto (maybe in 5-10 years). That’s pretty much my piano dream in the longer term, but obviously could change
You can start from any age and perform places. In fact, in some ways, starting later can be better because if you're more passionate about it as an adult verses learning about it as a child and hating it, you can end up better. Keep up your playing and you'll get there!
There was this composer called Ludvig Schytte, he started learning music from zero at age 22 after being trained as a pharmacist. He did very rapid progress in piano and at age 36 he was studying piano with Liszt. His piano literature is not as extensive as other composers that started earlier, but he left for sure some very interesting piano pieces.
I just got the piano version of "the talk". Oh, this seems hard and I "plan" to be a pianist or a piano teacher, and I am sooo scared that I won't make it and become a failure. And the dad part is that not many people can help me... it is hard
12 years ago i won international guitar competition and right away i went to Paris to enter conservatoire and to pursue classical guitar concert career, then one day my teacher in Paris (probably at that time the best teacher in Europe, whose students won the biggest international guitar competition in usa) showed me his salary check, few weeks after that I canceled my admission and went back to my country because I think the gigantic efforts and time that i would spend for such career would likely pay me (financially) so little. Now a little part of me still regret my decision because i knew i could have become a really fine guitarist if i kept going, but overall i think i made the right decision.
Pinter! Uangnya kecil jadi musician...capeknya setengah mati...musti latihan terus. Kerja kantoran lebih enak....kalau capek kerja, bisa main internet...dibayar lagi.
I find myself in a strange situation. I am currently slightly too old to realistically pursue a career as a concert pianist despite my biggest passion being the performance of piano. I have other interests and skills, but there are very few things I enjoy as much as music. I’ve given a lot of thought as to what I see myself doing in the future - I am still very young - and I feel secure in the knowledge that I am capable of attaining other careers while still keeping music as a hobby. Perhaps the best of both worlds is to eventually become a piano teacher - not as demanding and isolating as the life of a concert pianist with most of the benefits ( being able to play and study music regularly and give others an experience they will remember ). Very insightful video, Josh.
If you have something unique to give to the world do it. Play unknown repertoire, write some transcriptions of your own, there is a lot of posibilities 😉
Fingers dexterity touch on very fast tempo Quaver note = 176 for scale and Hanon exercising similar to sport sprinter athletic and long-distance runner and rhythmic gymnastics.
Kind of the same as today; public reception, patrons, concerts, hussle, publishing, teaching private students and smart business deals. The life of a composer (then and now!) is just as arduous as a professional musician and likewise not a guarantee of making a living or becoming famous. Mozart (who made a fairly good income for the time period) was often having money issues and borrowing cash. There's lots of books about this topic, Stewie - and it's interesting how everyone went about it!
They didn't make their pieces known over all the world. In their time they were pretty much restricted to Europe/Russia and East coast USA. Most people in Africa, South America and Asia would never have heard of them
Would you make a video or explain in the comments about making a living as an accompanist and how to get into playing for ballet companies, opera companies, theatre companies, etc?
Awesome Josh! I just bought the Yamaha P515 for wanting to go out on gigs and perform for some extra cash. This is a good reality check video to help keep perspective.
What he said. And this applies as much to jazz and pop music as it does to classical. It is EXTREMELY difficult to support oneself exclusively by live performance whatever the genre. You gotta have a 'plan B'. Additional skill, or skills that will pay the bills while you pursue music. I'm a pop singer/song writer, and a cabinet-maker. I do both. My skills as a cabinet-maker enable me to set my hours for the most part so that I have time for performances. It can be exhausting. But if you don't love it, (music) you won't do it.
Problem with wanting to be a pro pianist is that there are already so many of them - and they are really good. Teaching techniques are now superb and the schools are turning out way more top class pianists than the world can possibly need. Classical music is - unfortunately - still a minority interest and there are only a tiny fraction of people who ever attend a recital or buy a cd.
I started taking piano extremely seriously about 3 months ago and I practice many hours a day and I was determined to get in the conservatory next year (only after 2 years of playing!!) and this video popped up exactly when I needed it. I was even sacrifising my school for piano and this was sooo eye opening. I didn't realize the fact, that I would spend most of my time practicing. I was blinded by making a living as a classical musician and the joy music brings me now, that I didn't realize how stressful it would be. Thank you so much. I guess now my goal will be to have a couple performances a year and teach a few students along with some other fulltime job. Thank you once again, I think this literaly changed my life!
Hey Josh! Could you please give some tips about how to find appropriate pieces to work on which fit with the individual level of playing? I'd consider myself as kind of an late beginner / early intermediate player and i have some troubles with finding nice repertoire..
If the sacrifices are so great what motivates you to excel at this art? Maybe the gift to humanity, maybe the 'look at me' thing? Maybe you want to be a recluse?
4th semester grader here, hewo! Don't get your hopes up, you're skilled, smart and lucky enough just to enter a conservatory! Tbh what Josh said was kinda scary but, damn, nothing beats practicing/playing piano everyday, and even more when you do it for a living (With its ups and downs, I guess)
Manueru -san thanks! I’m actually just in university, not conservatory. I do want to keep going, playing piano is something I need to have in my life. I love the way it feels when I press the keys down, and feeling the power of the piano.
If really become to Concert pianist, it must participate in international piano competition such as busoni and London and cleveland ohio and Dallas and Hilton Head. But age requirement was 15 years old to 25 years old. These contestants age was 15 years old to 20 years old. Some contestants age was 18 and 17!
I wish all of you the greatest success with your music, no matter what path you choose to pursue. Have a great week of practicing, and happy new year!
Josh Wright Do you know of a single concert pianist who started playing in their 20’s? I think i know the answer but I had to ask...
Asa Ames Lucas Debargue took some lessons when he was younger than quit. Later at age twenty he began playing seriously and has since accomplished a lot!
Bobowobo That’s awesome - I’ll check him out! Thanks for the inspirational response!
When are you going to perform in chicago area ? would love to see you play live. you are a blessing to piano world in multiple ways. I think you already know that
Josh Wright what are your tips on making a successful career being a concert pianist who composes and plays their own pieces?
A lady after having attended a Jascha Heifetz concert, reportedly gushed, "Oh Mr. Heifetz, I would give my life to play a violin like that."
To which Mr. Heifetz replied;
"Madam, I did."
Woah
Very true
Didnt this exact thing happen to Horowitz?
I've often heard that many people who loved playing the piano lost a lot of that love once they started doing it professionally.
mpoulin oh that’s so true, especially once you start work with a serious agency...
mpoulin Basically you have no life because you are either preforming, or practicing to prepare for the next preformance. Pretty much a full time job, but time is spent practicing instead of doing paperwork in an office. It's fun when you can take days off because it's not a serious "job" but more for enjoyment, when you are just taking lessons and such.
Professional means doing something for money. Amateur means doing something for the love of doing it.
I'll make sure to avoid that at all costs then
That's soooo true. I used to like Dvorak's New World symphony and listen to it every day, but then the orchestra I'm in practices it and literally lost the interest. Professional vs enthusiasm
"This year I didn't play with orchestra at all"
- Josh Wright, January 3rd.
Cheers for this, I been tryin to find out about "famous pianists of the 21st century" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Poneyton Introductory Preeminence - (search on google ) ? It is a smashing one off guide for discovering how to master the piano minus the normal expense. Ive heard some super things about it and my mate got cool success with it.
I think he was referring to 2019
@@soupgirl1864 ok
I'm perfectly content playing piano as a hobby. Trying to do it as a profession just sounds way too stressful
FourthDerivative this is something I have only just now realised too
Amen. I spoke with a ex-concert pianist. He was selling women’s fashion clothes and good at it. He would go to fashion shows in New York as a buyer. He told me he left concert playing due to the stress. Having to perform at a high level, the preparation, performing in front of discerning audiences. It makes for a bundle of nerves. Not good for one’s health.
Yes I used to want to be a concert pianist but the minimum level was just so high that it was exhausting to play at such a high quality all the time and it really beat the fun out of music making during my degree but I have found a a new and arguably larger passion for teaching piano. Still difficult but not AS difficult with a more consistent pay and a more social lifestyle. I still practice and perform of course but that is more complimentary to the teaching which I can do and love forever!!!
It's true. I got sick with TB due to stress in my piano performance degree. True story. I was down will shingles after having to perform 3 times that week for a masterclass. It's very stressful.
Do you even practice?
Sometimes I look down at my fingers on the piano and realize I've spent thousands of hours pushing around a bunch of rectangular wooden blocks
Lmaooo😂
Those wooden blocks saved my friend life. 🙏
which hammers the strings which make the most beautfiul sounds in the world
I received this warning personally when I was a child as my grandmother was a concert pianist. From age 3 to around age 12 I really wanted to follow in her footsteps but she sat me down and told me about how lonely it was traveling around Europe and how hard it was to raise a family. I have found that I am much happier teaching than I am performing (not that I don't love performing!) and I get to have the life that I want performing locally on occasion and putting most of my time and effort into running my little piano studio. When I was a child, teaching seemed to me to be the "consolation prize" but I enjoy it so much now, seeing the passion of my students as I help them to hone their craft. I truly feel that I am doing what I was born to do.
Cassia's Piano Being a teacher is a blessing. Your students learn many skills for life as they struggle to learn to play the piano. There is a special place in Heaven for teachers. You have so much patience and discipline. In life, most others are competing with others at work, etc. It is not easy to find a person who is willing in life to impart knowledge to others.
That's really encouraging! I make most of my money from teaching and a smaller amount from performing and I feel I am headed down the path to opening a small studio and just becoming more a local name in music. Maybe we could talk more about what it's like to run a studio and discuss our lives as teachers/performers? email me!- runyan.piano@gmail.com
@@mastergenie19 Hey there! I don't usually email with strangers but I see you are on Facebook. You may enjoy joining a Facebook group or two geared towards studio owners. Lots of people to chat with regarding how to start or really push the teaching side of your business to the next level. Check out "The Studio Challenge" "Top Music Teaching" and "Group Piano Pioneers". Take care!
I live in Indonesia, I am 15 years old and I learned the 1mvt of the Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto completely on my own. Thats just a dream come true for me. My teacher cant tell much my parents even less no one is here to help me with performing or learning even further.
This reality check is a good way to start the new year
Yousef Shadian 😭
Only you can decide if it is realistic or not
I dreamed of becoming classical pianist since very young age. 2 years before completing secondary music school, I decided not to pursue this further (going to music academy). Thinking about this 20 years later, I don't regret this decision at all. I have regular IT job and play classical piano for pure enjoyment. I can still practice 2-2.5 hours a day.
do u have kids
Ditto
But how do you feel about your playing ? Is it decent ?
I love music, especially piano, but I realized very early that counting on artistic abilities to earn a living was fraught.
So I became an engineer, keeping piano as a hobby. Now after a long engineering career, I am approaching retirement - and guess what I will be enjoying with all of the free time I will have? Even though my skills are meager compared to any accomplished pianist, that doesn't seem to detract at all from the satisfaction of creating my own live music. I am so grateful that I made at least a humble pursuit of my musical passions; now I have something to look forward to each day for the rest of my life.
If you are great at the piano, but at the same time like having jet lag all the time, like staying in hotels all the time, like eating restaurant food and fast food all the time, like being away from your family all the time or not having a family at all, then you are meant to be concert pianist.
hmm, i dont have a family. sign me up!
U have no clue
Way to only focus on the negative. I have a good friend is who a successful touring concert pianist. He says the positives out-weigh the negatives and he’s very happy with his life and career. With that said, it takes a certain personality type to be able to handle it and it’s not for everyone. But many people are happy doing it.
I'm surprised Dr. Hall would write such a Debbie Downer comment like this. Lots of folks have happy lives as concert pianists.
Bach scholar I love your vids
It would be great to see a video on how to perform locally (not professionally) and find gigs and concerts locally for those of us who enjoy performing and sharing but arent going to pursue a career concert pianist. Thnx!
My first concerto was the Grieg, which I can still play. Then, the 5 Beethoven Concertos and Brahms 1,2. This occurred by the time I was 21.
I could never do Rach 3.
I had some very good teachers, but could not climb the Rach 3 mountain. I was accepted to medical school and became a surgeon. Of course taking a residency was an enormous challenge, as well as getting through med school.
BUT THE COMPETITION IN MEDICINE IS NOWHERE'S NEAR AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC.
I retired after a successful medical career at 53. I think I was a good doctor. I owned and operated my own Medicare Certified Surgical Center. Doing THAT was much easier than learning a new concerto.
It is astonishing how MANY people can play beautifully, considering how much work and talent are required. I think I was a good pianist. But not good enough. Enter reality.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
you must have been fucking amazing man! i've somehow got to my mid 30s being a 'professional' jazz pianist in London. Obv teaching supports it, and done PLENTY of background music gigs in the past. And I'm playing classical music every day, last piece was Reflets dan's l'eau and it was a challenge as I wasn't a massive practicer as a child, or even teen, I was 14 when I got serious about music and about 18 when I started to think about piano technique. Somehow I've got to quite a high level at jazz and my piano playing I would say can be fairly virtuoso in SOME areas but....you, at 21, will have been a far better technician at the piano than i - like I said, I didnt even give a thought to piano technique till about 18 and that was only because I had terrible RSI that i couldn't even really play for two years whilst at music college. I'm not sure i'll ever get to the technique you must have had and most improvising musicians sacrifice technique for learning about music enough to improvise anything. My point is, your comment shows how bloody tough it is for classical pianists. Jazz and improvising is a different world but we're lucky that we don't always have as high technical demands placed on us, even if the very best jazz musicians had techniques that could rival any classical musician.
Thank you for sharing. I think your story speaks to the insane perfectionism inherent in classical music, as well as its subjectivity. What does it mean to be “good enough”? And to whom? Who decided that you could “never” do the Rach 3? And what right do they have to say that?
I am a physician, and an amateur concert pianist without formal training and a penchant for liking and learning difficult pieces. I especially adore the Beethoven sonatas. I don't know if I might not ever get my technique fully “polished”. But I love playing, love sharing music, and love sharing MY perspective on these pieces too. And so I play on.
And also, congratulations on your accomplishments in medicine. It requires skills in a different area. Even if they requiring “lesser” talent than music (which I’d debate), does not make them any less commendable and remarkable.
I hope you continue sharing your knowledge with the world, both in medicine and music!
Marcus
Hey so I would absolutely love some advice if you would be willing to give it. I am just starting college this fall and plan to take the medical path. Could you continue piano while you were practicing? Because one of my biggest fears is that while in college and med school and residency and when I become board certified I won't have any time for piano. Any advice you could give for someone who wants to go into medicine but also wants to have piano as a relatively serious side hobby would be infinitely appreciated. Thanks!
You could never do Rach 3 because your decided you could never do Rach 3. Just remove the never in your thoughts/feelings/actions down to you unconscious, then it will happen, and faster and faster.
@@MathieuPrevot Maybe he decided studying for Medical School was more worth than Studying Rach 3. Good decision right there.
I gave up when I realized I didn't have the chops to make it into music school. Now it just is what it is; playing to an audience of one in my living room =). Good luck to all struggling to make it!
I realize i wanted to play and study music a few months before the end of high school and college choice, i didn’t have the required skill to make so here i am in a economic and managment college. If i could rewind time back when i was 12, holy shit my life would really not be the same
@@lefudj4236 same, with the going back in time
@@lefudj4236 Why do you say that? You can't know what could've happened if you had started playing the piano earlier. You might have failed anyway and then you'd say 'Why did I even choose this path? I should have stuied economy, law etc.' There is no point living your life on regrets. You ought to love what you do everyday instead of getting stuck into something that's unreachable.
Ahmet Kerem Atakur thats deep... very. Yeah thats true i have to and i do so. Right now im studying and im not really complaining. The thing is i started piano by the age of 12 but got interested in it last year when i was 17... but u are right
@@lefudj4236 Yup! I agree with Ahmet. I apologize if my comment made it seem that not being able to play as a concert pianist makes me or you a failure. Furthest from it! We have the opportunity to play music AND achieve another calling. I ended up studying economics and am making a great living in finance. No regrets! Onward and upward!
I made this realization a long time ago, having someone making a living with concerts in my close family and seeing them struggle so damn much, being away from the family sometimes weeks on end, havig no energy or willingness to travel or do anything in calmer times. And I'm talking world class performer with solo performances in Carnegie Hall, London Albert Hall, Vienna Musikverein etc. And some years 200 concerts. I love piano from the bottom of my soul and can't live without it, BUT I make my living from software engineering. I work part time and manage to spend 15-20 hours per week studying the piano, teaching, playing small concerts. For me, the whole idea that a person *is* their career is not suitable to a lot of people! And actually in this "golden mittle" there's room for happiness and joy, and the best of both worlds.
It's so frustrating, I started very late on piano so the chances of me ever making a living from music are close to zero...But I hate the idea of getting a conventional job so much (currently in an apprenticeship, it's terrible for me). I love classical music so much, it really moves me and I don't know if I can become truly happy with music only being a hobby🤔
WOW! These words... it's what i think. Did you progress? I'm 15 and i've started piano playing with 14. Am i too old to living from music, right? I can play Ballade No. 1. It helps?
@@abktross1981 I stopped playing entirely a couple months ago. I couldnt manage having a job + practicing piano that much. I didn't progress and I saw it wouldnt be possible for me. I don't want this to sound discouraging to you, I started playing at age 16 and the most difficult piece I ever played was the Chopin etude op 25 no 12 (with way too many mistakes) so your progress is more advanced than I have ever been.
Made me want to pursue it more.
This is an honest and very realistic description of the life of a professional musician/pianist.
Thank you🎹🎶🎹
Fantastic insight and love the honesty. Piano is way way more difficult than flying a plane or being a doctor, I’ve done both … virtuosity is way harder than surgery. Like being a concert pianist is really exceedingly difficult.
Glad you talk reality. Other channels foolishly encourage people to keep practicing to become a professional musician. I spoke with a lounge guitarist in a major hotel. He was quite accomplished. He described a lonely life, going from city to city for short gigs. Of course, his wife and children had to stay at home base, as the children were in school. Thus, he was alone most of the time. I spoke with our wonderful church organist. He owned a construction company. He said to perform music as an avocation. Have a regular job. Do music for pleasure in your spare time. That way, music was purely for fun and enjoyment.
This is very realistic. Deciding you want to be a concert pianist is like deciding you want to be a movie star! There's a lot of competition out there. I took evening classes at Juilliard over a period of years and the advanced Juilliard and Manhattan School pianists played in our class. Our professor was a talent spotter and a connoisseur of pianistic ability. He singled out a young pianist who went on to win the Gilmore and has a thriving concert career. Many Juilliard piano students go for a DMA so they can teach piano at a university. Those are the success stories. One success is Jeremy Denk, whose DMA lecture-recital I attended years ago. Jeremy started by accompanying Joshua Bell. Now he has his own independent career.
I love to sing and studied with a leading soprano at a major opera company in New York. I did so not for a career, but because I loved the literature. You don't have to have a career in music to have a life filled with musical joy. I worked at a routine job and went to my voice lessons after work and joined choruses in the evenings. Music can be a major part of your life without having a career.
He's right. Most musicians have as much chance becoming a financially successful, famous concert pianist as flying to the moon. And it has nothing to do with talent. There are many, many concert-level virtuosic pianists who can play Chopin, Liszt, concertos, you name it. -- but earning a living as a concert pianist is difficult. Even if you've managed to do the arduous work of getting to that level via your musical education and hard work (and possibly living through the cut-throat competition scene) - you're still not guaranteed an easy income or steady concert presence. Some incredible pianists do not even want to be part of this competitive/commercial world. Others need to teach, go on youtube, invent software, etc. - Art seems to always suffer when we try to mix "making a living" into things. If you're a young pianist reading this ; focus your heart and soul into your music to express your inner vision - if that's your goal - your fortune as a famous pianist may not be guaranteed but your happiness will be!
I have begun to learn the piano as a very late adult beginner. Since I'm retired, it really is nothing to me to spend several hours each day practising. But that has given me an insight into what must be a truly awful way to spend your life if that is really all that you can do (and to be among the best, that really is what you MUST do, even with the greatest talent in the world).
I now see musical expertise from a completely unexpected perspective. It looks so effortless, some kind of God-given gift. It isn't.
Rather than strive to be a concert pianist, be a brain surgeon. You'll spend about 1/4 of the time studying and preparing, and you'll make 100X the money.
This is very, very true. I made a post saying that, there is arguably no group of people more underpaid, relative to the amount effort they put into what they do, than world class musicians.
I know someone who did that!
Looool!!! I like that isolation too… 😀 so glad I’m not the only one… I just want to play most off the day…
never give up on your dreams
I'm nowhere near the level of the concert pianists that play in my city, but I'd like to share a bit of my history.
I started playing late, at the age of 25(I'm turning 29 next week). Not actually late per se, but I started playing aiming to be a professional. I'm well aware of how much I'm behind of everyone else, and I'd like to say that being a concert pianist, starting at this age is something that is very very difficult and would take a long time, networking would be the only way to do it. And I started at the piano from the scratch, but it was not my first instrument, I had a few lessons on electric guitar, played for almost 10 years(just as a hobby) and was very diligent with my theory background, I had a really good theoretical foundation.
I studied mechanical engineering for 5 years, was about to get my major, and then I realized I wouldn't be happy away from music and dropped out all at once(I took a whole semester to make the decision, but once I made up my mind I knew how much I should put to make it work), so I've been, since, studying around 6 hours a day, everyday. After a year I joined the university for a major in composing, since I thought I wouldn't make it has a pianist, but since I had a good background composing, I could make it, but I have the most wonderful piano teacher and last year I changed for the major on piano performance.
I study and I work. Most of my income comes from teaching, but I also play and sing in events and things as weddings, I do a lot of accompainment in college for free just to get my networking done and I hope to get a good income soon, because it was not long ago that I couldnt play the repertoire that I play today, I play a bunch of arias of opera, and I volunteered to accompany the university choir as well. On my level I'm studying Beethoven's sonatas right now, along with a bunch of pieces from composers such as Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Bach, Vila Lobos etc. These three thing are more that enough to make a living out of music. Even a non special player would do it, diligent and good players would live really well, but very few people take that extra step to get here.
I'd like to say that being in touch with music is something that is really important to me, going to concerts and watching my friends, being in this envoirment is something that makes me happy and I wouldn't be at peace if I was not following that thing that I love. I'm not rich by any means, but I can survive and provide for myself and my parents, even though I work and study at the same time, but my payment comes from being at peace. Aiming to be a concert pianist and make a living exclusively out of that is something that is very hard and requires you to have started at a very young age, have a massive bunch of repertoire done and going to a lot of competitions. You may perform in concerts, but I cannot see having your income made only out of it. But this is very very far away from being able to make a living out of music.
On and all, I'm very happy with the decision that I made, but that is because knowing that I'm pursuing something valuable to me is enough for me. It is not an easy path, but I wouldn't be happy if I knew that I was not going after what I love just to be confortable. Confort, for me, is going to sleep knowing that I'm giving everything I have to achieve my goals, and that is one of the reasons that I got so far in such a short period of time.
Leandro Sukevicius Major respect for chasing your passion. Best of luck to you in this new year.
I love this post. I also started late, and I feel like there are several parallels. Although in high school I had a 61-key cheap digital keyboard that I LOVED and played all the time, I didn't have my first music lesson until I entered college (I actually didn't know that music majors were supposed to take private lessons). I had great theory and aural skills and even though I auditioned for the piano studio, I wasn't accepted as a piano major, but the teacher agreed to give me lessons and encouraged me to be a composition major instead. Composition was fun but wasn't my passion, so after a semester of really hard work and practicing I was accepted as a piano major. I spent several years working part time jobs, trying to balance education and paying bills, and it's been incredibly challenging at times, but I have never given up. 12ish years later, I now have two BMs in horn and piano performance, a MM in horn performance, and (after a few years off of school) I just entered a M.M. program at a great school in collaborative piano. In Fall of 2018 I took the risk to drop all financial stability and became a full-time freelancer, mostly accompanying highschools, playing for orchestras and working church gigs. I was able to pay ALL of my bills that whole year just from music! I'm so excited to be back in school again this year. At the school I'm currently in, I have not met a colleague to this day who started as late as I did, so even though I'm older than most students, I want to show that even late starts can be (and will continue to be) just as successful through really hard work, determination, suffering, grit, and passion.
Best of luck, and keep doing what you love!
JereMii Im glad it worked out for you! You seem to be pursuing your passion and working your ass off! Good luck for the future
Leandro Sukevicius can’t imagine how much in student loans you owe
You will reach your goals! Just continue to stay happy and focused! I believe in you!
I am a 54 yr old musician able to earn a living playing and teaching music for which I am grateful. In the past I have done many other jobs. I spend hours a day tenaciously practicing and preparing music. This is really amazing that someone at Josh's level of performance shares such honest information about his and his associates careers. I had to laugh when at 1:38 Josh mentions liking time in isolation to play. I love isolation time with music! Thank you Josh!
That's why I rely on teaching.
Glad you said this and its sage advice to have in that regard because what you are saying is so true.
Thank you so much for this video! I am in the boat where I cant see myself doing anything else than music. This has helped me get a better view of what it's like. I am now more motivated than ever!
Sounds like reality! Was not discouraging, just an honest presentation. I give you a lot of credit for sharing this experienced perspective with those that need to hear it, sooner rather than later in life. Thank you 👏.
I think this video is even more optimistic than the reality of most musicians. It's tough.
Bravo and as a corollary to that - its always great to dream and push yourself to do better - but the mundane is where the rubber meets the road - play at churches or schools, take the gig and make it your own - you gotta pay the bills - accompany students for solo and ensemble competitions, teach - encourage talent wherever you see it or hear it - towns can have teh greatest need for music and you can be their teacher - churches are great for pianists, those folks take care of you in ways you'd never expect. I've done church music for 30 + years - still learning, still chasing dreams where I am at and making a difference musically - thanks to this guy and others.
Totally stumbled across this video by chance. You make some FANTASTIC points here and lay it out in a very factual way!
I have a friend that is a touring concert flutist and from his instagram stories all the travel may seem fun at first, but after awhile it just becomes such a grind to stay focused, rested, and healthy. I have such respect for people that are able to live that life and are able to step on the stage and give their A++ game.
This was really insightful, subbed and looking forward to more from you!
Daniil’s playing is so intoxicatingly perfect
100% agreed
Unlike your spelling!
@5:25 Clair de Lune with How Great Thou Art... it makes me cry every time. So wonderful.
I think this video was a gift for my birthday because I was born in January 3th. Thank you Josh. God bless you a lot.
Fantastic discussion!
What you say is absolutely correct.
I dedicated my entire childhood to practicing and taking piano lessons.
When I went to college and majored in music, I found that I naturally could not memorize music as most concert pianists can do comfortably.
I was a "reader" who could read the most difficult Beethoven piano sonata or Bach fugues, but could not memorize this music.
I also found myself unable to improvise for jazz or even pop songs as most pianists can do quite comfortably.
One thing you need to know that your first piano teacher sets you on your "path" to success.
My first teacher was a well-meaninged nun who had no real understanding of the "path to concert piano."
In conclusion, I became a music director for three elementary school districts and taught instrumental music and choral music.
I did use my music into my life's work, so it wasn't completely wasted. Amen!
Interestingly, in Russian system you would have been informed of that memory problem much earlier.
@@MishaSkripach Very interesting!
Since so much of Russian music education is state-funded, they would be quick to tell you this.
In my case I am happy that I stayed with music as long as I did because my college education in music was so meaningful.
I experimented in writing music, and overall, had a great experience teaching music in the elementary schools.
@@leoinsf Absolutely. Accompanists, for examply, do not need excellent memory. But what I like about soviet system ( now being destroyed in Russia slowly but surely, unfortunately), is that the child and the parents can have their expectations checked early on, know about the features of the child's talent, what is present, what is lacking, and so the young person can make informed choices very early. About 50 best little pianists from the ehole country are accepted into specialised full time central music schools in the biggest cities every year. The route of an evening music school followed by a college still remains available to those who did not get in. My son's violin teacher, aged only 32, went to an evening school in a small town , so at a young age he did not have to decide if to be a musician. He then got accepted to a music college in Moscow, then Moscow conservatory, graduated with honours, did masters with honours, now works the assistant professor at Moscow conservatory and plays in the best orchestra and their solo quartet.
@@MishaSkripach Thank you for your kind and informative response!
I am so happy to hear from someone who has such good things to say about the Soviet music system.
I studied with Lev Shorr in San Francisco who was a Russian immigrant
and he was a fantastic teacher and, God bless him, a great man!
@@leoinsf Thank you!! We live in the UK, but my son has been studying all the way with the ex-soviet musicians, some in Moscow online, some in person in the UK. They are frank, strict, friendly and open, they wish the best and are ultimately on the side of the pupil, the custom is to point out everything that is not perfect - on the outside it looks like very harsh criticism, however at the core of it there is the presumption that one is capable of truly great things, and that gives real confidence!
I cannot say all are like that, but many.
I’m 40 and just starting to learn. I think I’d love to play little gigs here and there but I have some practice to do. It’s a hobby but I love playing - You look like Zac Efron by the way 😊
This is valuable information to those of us who tend to romanticize the cool aspects of wowing huge audiences, hob-knobbing with music royalty and performing Liszt wearing tux and tails (like Bugs Bunny did in that cartoon). Back in the day, "practice room me" was definitely that sort of dreamer, but at a certain point, after feeling fairly directionless about what exactly to do with my music ambitions, I took this same advice and tried out one of my alternate interests as a possible career. Although that has also had its challenges, over time my plan B career has proven to be the right choice for me, and I still get to do music stuff, strictly for fun-zies. I'm all admiration for folks who can do the practice grind and the gig-hunting grind, but your advice here for people to make sure this is for them is right on the money. Oh and Happy New Year 2020 Josh!!
“I wanted to become a classical concert pianist, but I didn’t have the discipline.”
Art Tatum
Where does this quote come from?
oh he could have been, very easily
I hope posting this quote doesn't imply that you think the very best jazz pianists don't have an equal command of the instrument...
@@TehWinnerz the command is different
@@bigdick3228 I suppose you're right - different but equal? And I'm talking about musicians like Craig Taborn and Matt Mitchell, full virtuosos.
I would love to see more videos on the details of how to book concert performances and local gigs.
All I wanted is to play music around thousands of people, I don't care about money they can pay me less as long I can play music in a concert hall, I'm a lonely person and music is the only thing I have and I want to play music in concert hall for people to hear and I will be complete in the inside.
Thank you so much Josh for speaking the reality instead of giving false leads. This is such an honest video!
Thank you for the warning to anyone stuck under the delusion that they will....with enough practice.... automatically become a celebrated concert pianist.
Thank you so much for this video! I have thought about this for so long because very soon I will have to choose what to become and I really wanted to become a concert pianist. This video helped me a lot with my decision. I mean, there are so many different possibilities for a musician, it doesn't have to be this way.
When a goal becomes an obsession, it can really make you eat your heart out. What I guess many people forget is that making beautiful music is not the same as being technically flawless. You can be a great musician without being a concert pianist. However, being a good musician just isn't enough in today's classical world. Technical requirements have skyrocketed and the level of playing nowadays is absolutely superhuman: perfection is the minimum requirement. Some of the greatest pianists of the past are easily overshadowed by today's top concert pianists. The piano scene is just crazy competetive. So: not being a concert pianist doesn't in ANY WAY mean that you're not a good, even excellent, musician.
I disagree. There is no non-old pianist today that comes even remotely close to Rubinstein or Sokolov, for example.
Give me an example of one of the greatest pianists of the past being overshadowed by someone.
@@vincent-ataramaniko You're right, the average level has risen, but the best of the best from the golden era are just on another plane when it comes to interpretation and originality.
Hello Josh, you have mentioned in the past you had some pain while playing. I couldn't find any video where you explored this further. It would be nice if you talked about this extendively :)
Hi everyone and hi Josh.... i really like math but I LOVE piano.... i want to became a pianist and maybe, i hope, a concert pianist. Watching people like you make me dream and think that the life of a pianist is the best.... i wish you the best!
Are you currently able to play anything well?
@@MishaSkripach yeah, i like to play Liszt (i can't play sonata in b minor or reminiscences de don juan but i play most part of la campanella). I play piano from 1 and a half year so i can't play everything i want 😅
@@Lordversus44 Do you have some me of your playing uploaded somewhere? Usually future pianists try to have some exposure online?
Hi Josh, I've been following you for years and just now I saw that you almost have 100.000 subscribers, congratulations! I'm primarily a guitarist who uses piano for composing/theory and your videos are golden nuggets, thank you. Greetings from Europe
Muchas Gracias...
Great advice!
I’m at a dilemma of choosing between being a concert pianist or a jazz pianist. If you can share insights, it will be greatly helpful😄
Alot of hard work and hours of practice every day
I wish I could perform but stage fright always took over. So I went in the path of education and still play for enjoyment.
You are just not built as a performer, nothing wrong with it...The most important thing is that you know/acknowledge what you cannot do and took a different path! Congratulation....
Josh Wright at the beginning of 2020: "I like that isolation"
People in July 2020: Teach me, pleeeeeease!!!
I am completely depressed. It‘s not working for me. I have been playing the piano since the age of 13. I am 30 yrs old now and in my last year of studying in the music school of paris. But I suck. I don’t know how I made it to this class. Always the same mistakes. I can never play a complete piece without interruption, without failing and stopping time and time again. I work passages, but no matter what techniques, and even after understanding them and correcting them, I will always make the same mistakes again and again. I might play a passage well at slow speed, but it will never go perfectly at higher speeds. At some point, I always fail.
17 years and still the same mistakes! It‘s like I have no control over my fingers! Currently practicing hungarian rhapsody no.6 of Liszt, but I suck. And I record it and listen to it and it‘s aweful I hate it 😭😭😭😭
strong ! Hang in there! A lot of pressure comes from the thought that "you have to play perfect". You don't need to play perfectly. Even with some mistakes people can still enjoy the music. :)
Omg I have been in the same position as you are for YEARS and I feel the need to tell you this. Its not your fautl. You are a smart and capable human being, and you absolutely can play all those pieces without mistakes. The thing is though, you have to be able to practice in way that you don't make mistakes in ghe practice room so you don't develop bad habits with a piece. That means slowing down (a lot) and staying there for some time. That means playing less demanding pieces and that means making sure you play with artistry and in control. A good teacher should be able to find a piece or set of pieces that are demanding enough to make you get better but easy enough that you can play them with ease after some practice. It kills me everytime teachers and pressuring for speed and interpretation when the basics are not covered and the student its clearly struggling with their current repertorie and workload. Then they blame the student or dont say anything but the students realizes that is passing by without playing pieces to a respectable level of mastery. This is why I became a teacher because a lot of teaching is repeating the same traditions and myths from the past that perpetuate the idea that some people are incapable of playing the piano, and while there are some veryy minuscule exceptions every full grown and healthy adult its able to perform excellent when given the proper guidance, enviroment and TIME.
And now i broke my left wrist. I have been working really hard the right hand. One positive thing came out being that i am optimizing my hand and finger movements
@@Georgeknn
We're twins! I broke my left wrist the day after looking at a new piano last month (I went ahead and bought the piano in spite of the injury). And coincidentally, I've also been reviewing the fingering that I use on some pieces - finding that I sometimes default to truly inefficient and bizarre methods. I'm sure your optimization efforts will yield significant benefits for your playing.
Besides that, I stumbled across this very interesting website (I am not affiliated with it in any way, just thought it looks promising): playinthezone.com
It's about mental training for musicians and how to realize your full potential. I'm hoping it could be a real watershed for you, so please have a look.
Marianne Oelund hi. It‘s been beneficial focusing on only my right hand. I did never play hands separately much and my stronger hand is left. So now I can concentrate on my weak hand and get the right finger placements and optimize finger and hand movements. I will now take a look at that website. Thanks
This a great video. I realized that as a concert pianist, most of the times, you put many hours but what you get (income wise) is not enough by any mean.
Really appreciate your honesty and willingness to share! Have a wonderful 2020 and I hope you have lots of gigs!
When I was a child, I wanted to become a ballerina or a pianist. Now I'm glad that my goal has changed a lot. I could have been unhappy and most probably quit even if I were successful. Now I'm a medical doctor going back to research. I feel safer being in a profession that doesn't put me under the pressure of making myself known to the world.
Thank you for that Dr Wright... Happy New Year to you & your family too!
Sometimes I feel like I'll die if I don't learn how to play certain piano pieces super well. However, I made my choice at a young age not to pursue piano performance...and though part of me will always regret it, I know I'm not really into playing in front of others at all. I've always hated it. I'd prefer to stay home all day and practice alone. I guess UA-cam is great for that though or teaching. I could do either.
Commercial performance Concert pianist after all is rare. Concert pianist is fierce competition. Not anyone can become concert pianist. But we believe that anyone can become music hobbyist.
Love this video. So honest! Thank you for your advice and practical perspective.
Thank you, Josh.
I would recommend asking retirement centers and assisted living centers if you can play for them. These places almost always have a piano. Either upright or baby grand. Hardly anybody who lives there plays it. You don't get paid but its a great way to get your name out there. And they will listen to just about anything.
that is just, what we do :-) It is more about collecting experience and have fun on performing
Thank you Josh! Happy New Year to you too!
I think I have the best of both worlds, in high school I entertained the idea of going to a conservatory to become a concert pianist but after reading interviews from top pianists about how hard it was, I changed career paths and decided to become a lawyer instead..so now my FT job is practicing law but piano is just my hobby...its nice to be a concert pianist in ones own living room :)
thanks for your helpful perspective Josh!
That’s all great advice! I think the thing to remember is that playing and performing is great, but you have to treat it like a business not just an art form.
Happy new year to you, Josh, and your family. God bless you ☺
Excellent!
[Not aimed at Josh. More so people considering the pursuit]I think the deep question that we should always ask ourselves is why do we need to perform for others? If we were told that we could never perform for someone again, would we still play your instrument? I often argue that I want to perform for others to share my joy with them. That’s valid I suppose. But still, the underlying need to perform has me pondering. I realise that people can also get a kick from making a living by performing something they love, but we have to ask ourselves if we really need to do this at whatever our chosen level to be fulfilled. If we can’t enjoy playing even locally, as Josh suggested, and will only accept convert-level then I believe other factors are involved.Didn’t quite flesh out my point but hopefully y’all get the gist.
Anyway, thanks for the video dude. Very honest and on point.
1. Practice
2. Practice
3. Practice some more
4. Practice...
40 hours a day!
Like Ling Ling 😋😂
That's not the point he made, networking is also of great importance. We need more than the practice room
Glad to watch your video
Really enjoyed to hear your thoughts on this Josh, from the perspective of someone who has played in so many concerts. I was wondering if you know of anyone that started late (as an adult) and performed with orchestras (not necessarily professionally). I would love to play something like the Schumann A minor concerto (maybe in 5-10 years). That’s pretty much my piano dream in the longer term, but obviously could change
You can start from any age and perform places. In fact, in some ways, starting later can be better because if you're more passionate about it as an adult verses learning about it as a child and hating it, you can end up better. Keep up your playing and you'll get there!
There was this composer called Ludvig Schytte, he started learning music from zero at age 22 after being trained as a pharmacist. He did very rapid progress in piano and at age 36 he was studying piano with Liszt. His piano literature is not as extensive as other composers that started earlier, but he left for sure some very interesting piano pieces.
@Ogany Supreme thank you, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon so should hopefully make that come true for myself to an extent
@@theroninpianist4443 that's a very interesting story - never heard of him before. Thanks for this info :)
Solid video man, thank you for making this.
Very sensible and wise piece of advice
I just got the piano version of "the talk". Oh, this seems hard and I "plan" to be a pianist or a piano teacher, and I am sooo scared that I won't make it and become a failure. And the dad part is that not many people can help me... it is hard
You have an excellent teaching gift
12 years ago i won international guitar competition and right away i went to Paris to enter conservatoire and to pursue classical guitar concert career, then one day my teacher in Paris (probably at that time the best teacher in Europe, whose students won the biggest international guitar competition in usa) showed me his salary check, few weeks after that I canceled my admission and went back to my country because I think the gigantic efforts and time that i would spend for such career would likely pay me (financially) so little. Now a little part of me still regret my decision because i knew i could have become a really fine guitarist if i kept going, but overall i think i made the right decision.
Pinter! Uangnya kecil jadi musician...capeknya setengah mati...musti latihan terus. Kerja kantoran lebih enak....kalau capek kerja, bisa main internet...dibayar lagi.
I find myself in a strange situation. I am currently slightly too old to realistically pursue a career as a concert pianist despite my biggest passion being the performance of piano. I have other interests and skills, but there are very few things I enjoy as much as music. I’ve given a lot of thought as to what I see myself doing in the future - I am still very young - and I feel secure in the knowledge that I am capable of attaining other careers while still keeping music as a hobby. Perhaps the best of both worlds is to eventually become a piano teacher - not as demanding and isolating as the life of a concert pianist with most of the benefits ( being able to play and study music regularly and give others an experience they will remember ). Very insightful video, Josh.
If you have something unique to give to the world do it. Play unknown repertoire, write some transcriptions of your own, there is a lot of posibilities 😉
Fingers dexterity touch on very fast tempo Quaver note = 176 for scale and Hanon exercising similar to sport sprinter athletic and long-distance runner and rhythmic gymnastics.
Very insightful, thank you.
What about the composing side.
Chopin Liszt Beethoven etc. How did they make their pieces known all around the world
Good question
Kind of the same as today; public reception, patrons, concerts, hussle, publishing, teaching private students and smart business deals. The life of a composer (then and now!) is just as arduous as a professional musician and likewise not a guarantee of making a living or becoming famous. Mozart (who made a fairly good income for the time period) was often having money issues and borrowing cash. There's lots of books about this topic, Stewie - and it's interesting how everyone went about it!
A lot of them were famous concert pianists who played their own pieces. See trifinov concerto for a modern example.
Im confident that composing is harder since the standart are much higher
They didn't make their pieces known over all the world. In their time they were pretty much restricted to Europe/Russia and East coast USA. Most people in Africa, South America and Asia would never have heard of them
Great advice, thanks. Happy 2020.
Would you make a video or explain in the comments about making a living as an accompanist and how to get into playing for ballet companies, opera companies, theatre companies, etc?
Awesome Josh! I just bought the Yamaha P515 for wanting to go out on gigs and perform for some extra cash. This is a good reality check video to help keep perspective.
Amazing thank you🤩😊☺️👌🏻❤️
What he said. And this applies as much to jazz and pop music as it does to classical. It is EXTREMELY difficult to support oneself exclusively by live performance whatever the genre. You gotta have a 'plan B'. Additional skill, or skills that will pay the bills while you pursue music. I'm a pop singer/song writer, and a cabinet-maker. I do both. My skills as a cabinet-maker enable me to set my hours for the most part so that I have time for performances. It can be exhausting. But if you don't love it, (music) you won't do it.
Problem with wanting to be a pro pianist is that there are already so many of them - and they are really good. Teaching techniques are now superb and the schools are turning out way more top class pianists than the world can possibly need. Classical music is - unfortunately - still a minority interest and there are only a tiny fraction of people who ever attend a recital or buy a cd.
Lovely honest advice
Great video, cheers Josh!
I started taking piano extremely seriously about 3 months ago and I practice many hours a day and I was determined to get in the conservatory next year (only after 2 years of playing!!) and this video popped up exactly when I needed it. I was even sacrifising my school for piano and this was sooo eye opening. I didn't realize the fact, that I would spend most of my time practicing. I was blinded by making a living as a classical musician and the joy music brings me now, that I didn't realize how stressful it would be. Thank you so much. I guess now my goal will be to have a couple performances a year and teach a few students along with some other fulltime job. Thank you once again, I think this literaly changed my life!
Terrible mistake
@@gustavopaulette3496 what is the mistake?
Hey Josh! Could you please give some tips about how to find appropriate pieces to work on which fit with the individual level of playing? I'd consider myself as kind of an late beginner / early intermediate player and i have some troubles with finding nice repertoire..
If the sacrifices are so great what motivates you to excel at this art? Maybe the gift to humanity, maybe the 'look at me' thing? Maybe you want to be a recluse?
Just finished my first semester majoring in piano performance and this video destroyed my dreams
4th semester grader here, hewo!
Don't get your hopes up, you're skilled, smart and lucky enough just to enter a conservatory!
Tbh what Josh said was kinda scary but, damn, nothing beats practicing/playing piano everyday, and even more when you do it for a living (With its ups and downs, I guess)
Manueru -san thanks! I’m actually just in university, not conservatory.
I do want to keep going, playing piano is something I need to have in my life. I love the way it feels when I press the keys down, and feeling the power of the piano.
Due to my short attention span I take breaks every 10 minutes for 30 seconds. And it works. I can’t wait to make piano vids with particles.
If really become to Concert pianist, it must participate in international piano competition such as busoni and London and cleveland ohio and Dallas and Hilton Head. But age requirement was 15 years old to 25 years old. These contestants age was 15 years old to 20 years old. Some contestants age was 18 and 17!