Disclaimer: I just thought it was important to say that I was not talking about myself in the video (even though I can relate to some points I was making) but about the general picture I see in the classical music industry. I’m actually quite happy about a place where I’m at the moment as a performing musician and it would be so unfair from me to complain. Just thought it was important to say this as this video gets quite viewed recently.
Let‘s be realistic: 99,9 % or more with a degree in piano performance will live from teaching and not performing even if you will become a professor at music university your main income will come from the peadagogic side. I myself knew that from the very beginning and I am very fine with that since I love empowering people through piano peadagogy. But as you said, many didn‘t expect being dependent on teaching. But this is reality and music universities should communicate this from the very start.
I think that the music universities are in the business of selling the dream of being a performing musician; that's what the children are signing up (and paying large sums of money) for. They can't tell you the truth and sell you the dream at the same time. As Anna said, it's all about the money.
@@adrianwright8685 You are right, but it is not as bad as it sounds also because the music itself is interpreted as general cultural development alongside other doings. In the similar way, many study anthropology, or paleontology, or history, or mathematics, and teach it without practicing (digging, or creating revolution, or inventing new theorems) only to retain a momentum of the knowledge for mental enrichment. In the case of music, it can also be thought of as part of one's general human development and a goal in itself. The classical musicans who teach do usually have some part-time concert life also, even if they are not 100% paid by giving concerts which is only an extreme minority.
Thank you for being open about this topic. I am one of those, I was very surprised the day I realized that my childhood dream of becoming and living off of being a concert pianist was just not happening, I felt so confused. During my higher education still I basically played for free every time and was never taught to have a business approach to the matter which led to lots of helplessness and a greater artistic need for doing it for the sake of doing… I started to teach early and I love teaching and discovered a passion in it too, but I would be lying if I said I don’t get frustrated periodically that my main focus is not my own piano like for most of my life, even because I work so many hours I just can’t do more, but still it is the best feeling knowing that I have it, that when times are bad all I want is to practice for days closed off from everyone else, and it’s an incredible feeling of fulfillment, intellectual satisfaction and joyful effort that I don’t feel doing anything else…
As a retired professional musician I can testify that you are telling the truth, and telling it a nice way I wouldn't have been able to 😅. The most important thing you mentioned is that music students should have self- or freelance management, and basic business administration skills in their study program, as it has been included for organ builders here in America. This is becoming more important as Social Media are becoming the new concert hall and self-publishing recording studio for so many.
It is great to hear how frank you are about the topic. UA-cam piano videos have recently taken a massive hit, for some reason. There are a few concert pianists who have regularly been making UA-cam videos especially during the past year, and it is extremely high quality content, giving out valuable information and superb performances for free, and it's sad seeing how few views they get, often just numbering in the tens or hundreds. I feel amazed to be able to hear their views and performances, and all of them are incredible pianists at a level I will probably never achieve. I know the feeling you get when you put out something which is truly good, but it never reaches the intended audience, and it is frustrating.
That is very true. From my studies, the UA-cam algorithm is based on numbers. You have to ask for likes and subscribes. It is a game I don’t like to play but the algorithm do not treat it like a game. What can they do? And most give up. I conversed with concert pianists who flat out said UA-cam is not with their time. So sad
What a courageous thing to do - saying these things Anna. As an artist and poet living in England I can see very similar parallels of experience. Things have become much harder through the sustained lockdowns and although exploring social media platforms have offered up some new avenues the lack of 'live' contact with the 'witness' has been very difficult. there is also a lot of COVID-related PTSD kicking in for many people across populations. I hang on to William Blake's view that his audience was the eternal gathering! Keep going please!
And thank you for sharing these intimate thoughts with us. I am convinced that the quality of your piano performances and your videos will pay off in terms of audience.
When I was young, aged about 9 years old, I realised that I did not have the perseverance to become a concert pianist. I was also from a poor background and I did not have parents who would carry me if I had no income either. And looking at this video I'm so glad I didn't bother. I have made many mistakes and wrong turns in life and am full of regrets, but I'm so glad I didn't try the concert pianist route. It would have led to even more misery. I still play every day and have been successful in a different sphere.
This is a very serious matter.I understood long time ago a lot of things about this.Also I think that financially it is ,by definition,very insecure.The box office system is disproportionate.This is a very vast analyse.Music is a luxury.
I appreciated you making this video, Anna! You talked about many important issues existing in the music industry. I didn't feel like you were negative at all -- I did feel like you were open and honest. Let's hope that shortly our world will be safe enough to open up to live performances. Then you can do what you love to do! Good to see you're staying healthy . . . .
Half way through your video and I agree with your points. I was in music and eventually grew unhappy that I was basically preparing my students to take the same path. It seemed a closed-minded and strangely indoctrinating environment, if you can believe it. I left the music field entirely and learned some different skills. Now, much later, my skills are in demand and I'm able to experience financial security. A few thoughts for anyone in the situation: 1. I was probably paid less than $1,000 total, ever, for my playing. (Not that I tried very hard to make performance a career; I moved into teaching an academic music subject before giving up on music.) 2. The classical music culture is close and intense but insular, particularly in schools. Of the graduates of such institutions, many people leave the music profession, like I did. (Towards the end of my school experience I looked for stats on the proportion of graduates who leave, but numbers were impossible to find. Logic says it must be a lot. There are a limited number of slots and many graduates.) Yet within the institution this possibility was never discussed or raised as an option. In fact I would say it was almost taboo. People have a very strong "classical musician" identity, perhaps having been groomed and praised from a young age, won competitions, etc. Students tend to have a stronger mission and focus than in other departments, but not a lot of perspective. The professors are in it for life, clinging to what they've accomplished, striving for tenure... they can be wonderful when teaching you music, but they have no other experience or awareness, they are not good at supporting students who need encouragement to explore different interests and destinations. The environment certainly teaches music, but perhaps at the expense of the student. I would suggest having friends outside the field and taking non-music courses. And taking a good hard look at the post-school landscape. You are a whole person, and can take many paths in life to be successful, fulfilled, and make a contribution. 3. Have an open mind. Have honest conversations and several mentors. I have to get up early tomorrow for my 9-5 job. Have a nice night.
My teacher never told me I was playing at college label, and I thought I wasn't getting anywhere and quit. To my surprise I just found out I had played a level 10 piece. I had no idea. I just picked it up again recently and am enjoying it very much but I missed a lot of years. I think the competition was an issue.
the dark side of having an expensive hobby and being so talented why is life always so dark. there is always a dark side of something! like what path should a person choose to avoid dark sides? i guess there's none. so, i always appreciate those warning about what to expect, and what i should be grateful for since i don't live such life.
Great video, nice to hear another pianist talk about some of this. I think another reason it’s hard to discuss the negative side of the profession is that people always say ‘You’re so lucky to do something you love!’ Your point about music promoters going for ‘sellability’ over pure talent is very astute - obviously, they need to sell tickets! This is something I think music students need to make peace with early on - no matter how talented you are, you can’t sit in your practice room and wait for opportunities. You have to make them. (But yes, that gets exhausting sometimes doesn’t it!)
Thank you for this video, and for your lucidity about the system. We can say the same things about the cinema. The society is a competition even at school by the notation system.
I never expected to be hailed, nor payed. I realised you have to be really top and even then it's not obvious to make a living of it. I was pushed by my teacher to prepare for higher. I didn't do it, I loved playing the piano, I loved playing the violin and every day I play and enjoy what I am doing. And I have no stress. I had enormous stress preforming and was unable to play, as I did when there was no public. The top performers can unlock their stress, but not every musician can do this. Puplic exams were horrific for me, I could freeze of stress. Not anymore, YT music concertos and I play with it. I love it. Just enjoy what you've studied and only play the music you personally like. And jobwise....I did jobs nothing to do with music, but play my preferential music at home.
Great video! In social media we see so many great numbers that a few hundreds of followers or thousands seem few. But it is actually a lot, thinking that all these people would go to a concert of the creator! It is a really difficult life, but it is worth the trouble🙃
Great video Anna. I hope you and other artist will be able to safely do their craft. Many still love and will continue to enjoy professional musicians😄
Dear Anna, thank you for uploading this and your sincerity. I understand you. I only want to remind that you are speaking from the specific frame of competitions and the market system (which as you said selects for a very narrow number of performers) rather than the broader frame and viewing classical music development as the vocation. You wrote "That's what the music society wants us to think" which shows that you are aware attention to market value and competitions it is an indoctrinated value, rather than a self ascribed value. I communicate with musicians frequently, give masterclasses, and frankly the ones with the most enjoyable career are usually, in fact near always, the ones that only perform occasionally, and where their main work is in teaching, or composing, or research with rarer concerts (not trying to fit with market system) or presenting what they have researched/studied with intrigue. Neoliberism (allowing the market to decide what is best for society, thus buildings becoming cheap and grey looking to save cost, Coke adverts taking the place of past education programmes on TV, etc) is not helping the situation. So I also agree that state support would be better. There would be a far larger number of opportunities, more audiences as they could be educated about classical music, and education and research would be shared between teachers as they could travel and give talks, etc. In any case, what I want to say is that the classical music career can be viewed separately from the competition/market-system nonsense. In this way, it is not as bad as it sounds also because the music "career" itself is interpreted as general cultural development alongside other doings. In the similar way, many study anthropology, or paleontology, or history, or mathematics, and teach it without practicing (respectively - digging, or creating revolution, or inventing new theorems) only to retain a momentum of the knowledge for mental enrichment. In the case of music, it can also be thought of as part of one's general human development and a goal in itself. The classical musicians who teach do usually have some part-time concert life also, even if they are not 100% paid by giving concerts which is only an extreme minority.
Good video. I hope there are many more positives than negatives on being a concert pianist. You have a deep understanding and mastery of something that's sublime, and that is beautiful in itself. Few people can say that. Which also relates to the last point you make: maybe popularity is sometimes difficult to attain with this kind of music, since it requires a little bit more effort from the public to understand and appreciate rather than lame, superficial music like 'despacito', for instance. But there's always a niche! Best regards
Anna, I am so proud of you. You spoke from your heart, true, honest, sincere. My mother and sisters, even as music teachers,i earned very very little whilst spending hours of hard work. Thanks and thanks and forever thanks for making this video. Bravo!
Thanks for making such a thought provoking video, Anna which certainly shows how challenging the life of a soloist such as yourself can be. There is indeed an enormous discrepancy between financial rewards among musicians. For example, some famous conductors will no doubt earn far more for a performance than all the individual players in the orchestra put together. And then of course the pandemic makes things much more difficult for musicians financially. Hopefully concerts will restart soon as more and more people get vaccinated. And perhaps, to keep safe, people will want shorter concerts with smaller audiences. This could give more opportunities for younger and less internationally well known soloists to perform and gradually establish a reputation. I really hope you get back to live performance soon and in the meantime please keep on with your videos which are so motivating and enjoyable.
Great video, Anna! It has to be frustrating being a concert pianist at this time when all concerts have been canceled for the most part. It’s also interesting to hear how pianists are selected by symphony orchestras for concerts and how music competitions work.
If you replaced only a few words, everything you have said here also applies to visual artists. They never teached us any real career skills in Fine Arts university either, everything of importance, I learned on my own. There is a lot of corruption going on here too. Social media poses the exact same problems you mentioned. This is mainly because we live in an uncultured society where no one gives a damn about art and many do not even consider it a "real profession". They claim to be so tired after working a mundane 9-5 but once they get home they have free time, most artists often work way more than 8h a day, creating their art, practicing, researching, educating themselves, planning their projects, promoting their art, and wearing so many different hats just in order to survive all without a stable income and without time to relax. 9-5 people would never be able to face the pressure and the amount of work artists deal with on a daily basis, and in most cases with no weekends either. Thanks for this honest video.
Hi Anna, I just subscribed to your channel , I'm really shocked to hear about the illusion being a classical pianist. All though you shared negative experience you also provided positive ones as well. It was my dream to become a classical pianist , I didn't quite make the grade all though I'm not a bad pianist. It's my opinion that at your level you should be handsomely paid and revered for the educational level you achieved. I like your honesty and I'm going to share your channel with my daughter who aspires to be a classical pianist. I can say , she much better then I was at her age. Anyways , thanks for sharing, I'm sure your thoughts will help her.
Very interesting. As a Chef. (Not your typical culinary Exec) your words resonate further than you know. Thank you! After this "pandemic," I hope to hear you play live. -s
Dear Anna, i understand and agree so much about the financial issues of this profession. And as a doctor myself I agree with your comparison. I know the difficulties of young artists, especially in these awful moments of complete shutdown of musical life because of that hellish and interminable pandemic.
I experienced that point of corruption myself. The jury knew some of the competitors, they had already played chamber music together. And it felt like, before the competition started, the results were fixed yet...
Dear Anna, thank you for this honest video. As an operatic soprano I can absolutely relate to all the things you've said. Personally I think we should inform our society about the reality of our job as classical musicians to raise the awareness. Also, I think it's super important to inform people studying music how their life will look like after leaving "save zone" of university. Best regards for you!
I see a few issues with these points you raised . Of course it’s a subjective opinion of mine . First you had mentioned about the lack of support from the government. One Thing we have to understand is that unfortunately the world does not need Rachmaninov, Chopin ...I am a pianist and those are my favorite composers and I hate to admit but it’s true. Classical music among the other genres is a perk , a plus in the society but not a necessity . So the Government cannot spend money on this area , unfortunately, with so many social issues going on . Another thing you said is that a pianist doing the same job of another one of more renown are paid less. I understand the frustration ... but let me ask you this : would you prefer to pay 100 dollars to watch Lungansky , Kissin, Bronfman playing or some guy who is pretty good but with less experience, even though they are going to play Rach3 very well ? Because majority of people would prefer to watch Billie Eilish the concert halls already feel the impact. Unfortunately we all know , even though it’s hard to admit , the concert halls attendees are in majority of advanced age. This you attest simply by watching videos on UA-cam and looking at the audience. If you go to concerts you will observe this even more. So the concert halls want to book the best of the best of the best and pay them simply because they fill the whole auditorium easily compared to another unknown , yet talented person . In your country , Russia , the pianists are REALLY good. The best pianists in the world are Russian and naturally it’s going to be difficult for the younger generations to achieve what the stars did. The stars come from another era and relates more to the more mature audience. So the world does not consider playing an instrument a real necessary job , unfortunately! So people are going to pay more to watch the stars and the ones who are only talented will find difficulties in causing the same impression on the audience. I do agree with you as far as the competitions. That, for me , steins the Art and should be banished . However , they found this a way to promote certain pupils . And I agree there is corruption but even that , the winner has to be very good to cause an impact on the audience and judges . I sincerely think that apart from composing for film score or teaching music in a school ,the talented pupils won’t stand the chance as long as the great names are still alive and performing. It’s reality and I know it is difficult to accept. If you were working for an orquestra with another instrument like violin , flute , cello than you would have more chances of surviving off merely playing your music without having necessarily to become a teacher . But , if Chopin had to become a teacher to support himself and I believe there won’t be another Chopin ever in the world the talented musician should consider that too in order to not stop doing what they like .
Two points to consider: In Germany the state subsidies concert venues, orchestras and operas strongly. They wouldn‘t be self-sufficient just of the concert revenue. Still, the state sees it as its duty to nourish culture as an important part of society. Of course you can argue it’s still not enough. But: Considering the density of Orchestras, Theaters, music universities at least some part of classical music is on a high level in Germany as it is a relatively small country for what it actually culturally provides. Secondly, I like to mention that there are younger concert pianists who have the class of the old ones for example Yuja Wang. She is still very wild but on the way to be one of the dominating figures of classical piano in the 21. century.
@@PianistStefanBoetel of course there are ! I’d mention Danill Trifonov for ex! But those people are the exception of the exception because we have lots of great musicians, so to stand out like that is not for everybody
I don’t have time to explain the detailed economics here, but it’s actually a well studied topic called superstar industry. Piano performance is a good example where the superstars can get very high pmt, other lesser known players get little money, just like basketball players.
Seems like it is the same all over the world - Thanks for telling very important things about being a musicians - I think we should talk about it, to let people know that it is not so easy as it could seem to them :)
The classical world really needs to listen to the world of DJs. It’s about the venue and filling halls. You need to get a crew together, start your own festivals, bring in artists associated with a foreign organisation and they will have to reciprocate. You need to build a career in music, whether it’s classical or electronic. You need to build a crew - musician is not a job, it’s a type of person - find a crew.
There are many classical festivals tbh, especially piano. And that really earn A LOTTA money, but well, u better be a professor or the sponsor so u can get that money.
Most of the people meeting here seem to live in the 19th century ( or even before ) and don't realize, that it was such a big difference playing as a professional musician in those times. What we today call classical music was then totally exiting, fresh and new to those audiences, which were exclusive high society. Those days are long gone... The most important music of the 20th century ( and it's already gone too ) was Jazz and its many related styles of modern music. 1970 Jazz was like already dead in its development, classical music was dead at some time between WW1 and 2. When do all of you want to accept that? Can't you really see, that actually most of you are privileged without even noticing it? One more word : I got 20 piano lessons from an old professional pianist in my life, studied later on Jazz trumpet in Graz/Austria ( earning 1000 DM in the summer in Bavarian beer tents, which made me getting by the first 3 months ). I could get stipendia, but I preferred to earn my money on the stage. I played trumpet in Show Big bands, Jazz bands and Salsa bands ( all of this is like hardest work in the "Bergwerk" - a mine ), then I got my first jobs as a piano player in restaurants, hotel bars, in "dancings" in Switzerland and so on. At the end I was able to play classical piano music in theater productions, in cinemas - accompanying silent movies, playing together with singers or with choir. I was on tour with several acts, best of them being musical Hair ( as a trumpet player, but they wanted me to play piano too, if needed ). In between of 2 tours I got the chance for playing a classical piano concert program. I said yes, practiced less than a week and played my stuff. And this was the only time I earned only 100DM ( still in the 90ies ). So I finally understood, if you aren't really special, if you got no name, if you aren't extremely lucky : you don't follow this dreams anymore and you'll be better off. Life is simple. It has to be lived forward with all you ever got and you don't ever look back.
I know your channel thanks to Mr Wim Winters' video. It is in fact a very interresting and musically fascinating corner of internet. I think the problem is that if you are "complaining" you are simply a... human beeing. Not a traind machinery.
Its ok sweet bird. Remember these are all your own limiting beliefs, and nothing is stopping you from taking control of the beautiful being you are, and loving everything, from the sound you produce, making your practice better, and loving the art of producing a valuable product more.
This is common among artist to be taken advantage of. This is why in the states we have unions for actors, musicians, stage workers. . .and other professionals. If you ever get a chance to join a union do so. and they will have to pay you union rate. And that is why so many musicians revert back to teaching its a way to stay in the music vocation yet have a good steady income. I love to play the piano everyday but its just for my own enjoyment. I make my income do something else. Blessings.
Everyone requires doctors - the medical profession - at times, but the great majority of people do not require or indeed ever go to a piano recital so a comparison is rather meaningless. A pianist who attracts a crowd of 5000 will get paid about 50 times more than one who plays to 100, just like footballers, actors, novelists. This is often irrespective of their relative merits - it might well be that a very worthy musician is underrated and some acclaimed ones overated.
Maybe the world is not waiting for pianists who play covers. Too many pianists play the standards over and over. When one chooses his own path of improvising, composing and perhaps playing Bach or Chopin, than there is a complete other perspective.
What you describe has not to do only with classical music in our society, anyone in every job and career has those problems. The salary of famous musicians is not unjustifiable, compare with the time they have put into their practise and on the talent they have (perfect memory, construction of hand, tremendous hardworking). Although, life is an unfair place ,this is how it works. If you want to make a very hard and complex surgery, i am sure you are going to pick the best doctor that you can find, based on your budget of course. From what i see, your problems has to do with the economic sector. If i have to tell you something, by experience the chaos of life the last 3 years, is that, none is going to give you anything and there is two senarios: The first one is you make nothing, and living a normal life like everyone (and that s not a bad option) Or you are going to find a way to sustain your economical situation, and living the life based on how you want it. (For example, for being data analyst and make some money, takes about 2-3 years on college) Everything has a sacrifice, nothing is priceless. You can't just ask people or society give you the money that you would desire.
What are you trying to infer? The life of a pianist is not a leisurely one at all. Guarantee they suffer as many injuries and mental health struggles as people who work 9-5. We just see the final results that look and sound amazing.
okay. you mentions some dark forces in the selection of pianists for specific venues. I thought you were going to talk about demon-possessed pianos or the real Phantom of the Opera. Phew! It was not that bad. Don't listen to me. I'm just being funny.
Music began to die the day Edison invented the phonograph. Compare the quality of Bach 300 years ago with the repetitive computerized noise of today. Why starve to learn Scales and Harmonics when you can make million$ with vulgar hip-hop noise? Edison killed music forever. 😢
If you want peoples money you have to give them what they want. Every thing you said it's wrong, every thing! You didn't understand how life and society works - grow up :(
@@PianoturtleX She is thinking like a child - she needs help to grow up and none of the comments are helping. If there is one constant to all life, absolutely all life, is struggle - again: somebody help her grow up.
@@antoniomonteiro3698I dont think just telling someone to grow up is helpful though. If you have walked in her shoes but have some alternative ways or experiences, why not help and share them. May be she will 'grow up' if you dont tell her to grow up like a child you claim she is. She also said it is not necessarily her experiences but her observations.
@@antoniomonteiro3698 Bravo. I would still like to hear your experiences and view points though. Would can these young artists do and how can we help nurture them?
Disclaimer: I just thought it was important to say that I was not talking about myself in the video (even though I can relate to some points I was making) but about the general picture I see in the classical music industry. I’m actually quite happy about a place where I’m at the moment as a performing musician and it would be so unfair from me to complain. Just thought it was important to say this as this video gets quite viewed recently.
There is nothing unfair about addressing issues you see or feel.
Let‘s be realistic: 99,9 % or more with a degree in piano performance will live from teaching and not performing even if you will become a professor at music university your main income will come from the peadagogic side. I myself knew that from the very beginning and I am very fine with that since I love empowering people through piano peadagogy. But as you said, many didn‘t expect being dependent on teaching. But this is reality and music universities should communicate this from the very start.
I think that the music universities are in the business of selling the dream of being a performing musician; that's what the children are signing up (and paying large sums of money) for. They can't tell you the truth and sell you the dream at the same time. As Anna said, it's all about the money.
Unless you get a gig as a music pastor at good size church. You will always be busy. Too busy.
Well that doesn't work!!
If 99.9% of pupils go on to teach and 99.9% of their pupils ......
@@dfpolitowski2Cruise lines as well.
@@adrianwright8685 You are right, but it is not as bad as it sounds also because the music itself is interpreted as general cultural development alongside other doings. In the similar way, many study anthropology, or paleontology, or history, or mathematics, and teach it without practicing (digging, or creating revolution, or inventing new theorems) only to retain a momentum of the knowledge for mental enrichment. In the case of music, it can also be thought of as part of one's general human development and a goal in itself. The classical musicans who teach do usually have some part-time concert life also, even if they are not 100% paid by giving concerts which is only an extreme minority.
Thank you for being open about this topic. I am one of those, I was very surprised the day I realized that my childhood dream of becoming and living off of being a concert pianist was just not happening, I felt so confused. During my higher education still I basically played for free every time and was never taught to have a business approach to the matter which led to lots of helplessness and a greater artistic need for doing it for the sake of doing… I started to teach early and I love teaching and discovered a passion in it too, but I would be lying if I said I don’t get frustrated periodically that my main focus is not my own piano like for most of my life, even because I work so many hours I just can’t do more, but still it is the best feeling knowing that I have it, that when times are bad all I want is to practice for days closed off from everyone else, and it’s an incredible feeling of fulfillment, intellectual satisfaction and joyful effort that I don’t feel doing anything else…
@@chucrutecomfarofa I hear you 🙏❤️
So in a certain way you still live your dream.
You are of course privileged, aren't you?
As a retired professional musician I can testify that you are telling the truth, and telling it a nice way I wouldn't have been able to 😅.
The most important thing you mentioned is that music students should have self- or freelance management, and basic business administration skills in their study program, as it has been included for organ builders here in America. This is becoming more important as Social Media are becoming the new concert hall and self-publishing recording studio for so many.
Agree!
It is great to hear how frank you are about the topic. UA-cam piano videos have recently taken a massive hit, for some reason. There are a few concert pianists who have regularly been making UA-cam videos especially during the past year, and it is extremely high quality content, giving out valuable information and superb performances for free, and it's sad seeing how few views they get, often just numbering in the tens or hundreds. I feel amazed to be able to hear their views and performances, and all of them are incredible pianists at a level I will probably never achieve. I know the feeling you get when you put out something which is truly good, but it never reaches the intended audience, and it is frustrating.
That is very true. From my studies, the UA-cam algorithm is based on numbers. You have to ask for likes and subscribes. It is a game I don’t like to play but the algorithm do not treat it like a game. What can they do? And most give up. I conversed with concert pianists who flat out said UA-cam is not with their time. So sad
"UA-cam is not with their time" .... ?
@@adrianwright8685 I believe that was supposed to read "not worth their time."
What a courageous thing to do - saying these things Anna. As an artist and poet living in England I can see very similar parallels of experience. Things have become much harder through the sustained lockdowns and although exploring social media platforms have offered up some new avenues the lack of 'live' contact with the 'witness' has been very difficult. there is also a lot of COVID-related PTSD kicking in for many people across populations. I hang on to William Blake's view that his audience was the eternal gathering! Keep going please!
And thank you for sharing these intimate thoughts with us. I am convinced that the quality of your piano performances and your videos will pay off in terms of audience.
When I was young, aged about 9 years old, I realised that I did not have the perseverance to become a concert pianist. I was also from a poor background and I did not have parents who would carry me if I had no income either.
And looking at this video I'm so glad I didn't bother. I have made many mistakes and wrong turns in life and am full of regrets, but I'm so glad I didn't try the concert pianist route. It would have led to even more misery. I still play every day and have been successful in a different sphere.
Thank you for your honesty!
You showed courage to have your say. Many things are less than satisfactory. Keep laying your favorites your way.
This is a very serious matter.I understood long time ago a lot of things about this.Also I think that financially it is ,by definition,very insecure.The box office system is disproportionate.This is a very vast analyse.Music is a luxury.
You a financial markets trader??
I appreciated you making this video, Anna! You talked about many important issues existing in the music industry. I didn't feel like you were negative at all -- I did feel like you were open and honest. Let's hope that shortly our world will be safe enough to open up to live performances. Then you can do what you love to do! Good to see you're staying healthy . . . .
A very positive expose
Half way through your video and I agree with your points. I was in music and eventually grew unhappy that I was basically preparing my students to take the same path. It seemed a closed-minded and strangely indoctrinating environment, if you can believe it. I left the music field entirely and learned some different skills. Now, much later, my skills are in demand and I'm able to experience financial security.
A few thoughts for anyone in the situation:
1. I was probably paid less than $1,000 total, ever, for my playing. (Not that I tried very hard to make performance a career; I moved into teaching an academic music subject before giving up on music.)
2. The classical music culture is close and intense but insular, particularly in schools. Of the graduates of such institutions, many people leave the music profession, like I did. (Towards the end of my school experience I looked for stats on the proportion of graduates who leave, but numbers were impossible to find. Logic says it must be a lot. There are a limited number of slots and many graduates.) Yet within the institution this possibility was never discussed or raised as an option. In fact I would say it was almost taboo. People have a very strong "classical musician" identity, perhaps having been groomed and praised from a young age, won competitions, etc. Students tend to have a stronger mission and focus than in other departments, but not a lot of perspective. The professors are in it for life, clinging to what they've accomplished, striving for tenure... they can be wonderful when teaching you music, but they have no other experience or awareness, they are not good at supporting students who need encouragement to explore different interests and destinations. The environment certainly teaches music, but perhaps at the expense of the student. I would suggest having friends outside the field and taking non-music courses. And taking a good hard look at the post-school landscape. You are a whole person, and can take many paths in life to be successful, fulfilled, and make a contribution.
3. Have an open mind. Have honest conversations and several mentors.
I have to get up early tomorrow for my 9-5 job. Have a nice night.
With you up to the 9-5 thing. Bummer, I work for myself and make 20k net (after living expenses) every month.
Former musician as well here 😉
My teacher never told me I was playing at college label, and I thought I wasn't getting anywhere and quit. To my surprise I just found out I had played a level 10 piece. I had no idea. I just picked it up again recently and am enjoying it very much but I missed a lot of years. I think the competition was an issue.
This.
the dark side of having an expensive hobby and being so talented
why is life always so dark. there is always a dark side of something! like what path should a person choose to avoid dark sides?
i guess there's none. so, i always appreciate those warning about what to expect, and what i should be grateful for since i don't live such life.
Thank you Anna for this clarifying video.
Great video, nice to hear another pianist talk about some of this. I think another reason it’s hard to discuss the negative side of the profession is that people always say ‘You’re so lucky to do something you love!’
Your point about music promoters going for ‘sellability’ over pure talent is very astute - obviously, they need to sell tickets! This is something I think music students need to make peace with early on - no matter how talented you are, you can’t sit in your practice room and wait for opportunities. You have to make them. (But yes, that gets exhausting sometimes doesn’t it!)
Thank you for this video, and for your lucidity about the system. We can say the same things about the cinema. The society is a competition even at school by the notation system.
Love your channel Anna! Great video 🌸
I never expected to be hailed, nor payed. I realised you have to be really top and even then it's not obvious to make a living of it. I was pushed by my teacher to prepare for higher. I didn't do it, I loved playing the piano, I loved playing the violin and every day I play and enjoy what I am doing. And I have no stress. I had enormous stress preforming and was unable to play, as I did when there was no public. The top performers can unlock their stress, but not every musician can do this. Puplic exams were horrific for me, I could freeze of stress. Not anymore, YT music concertos and I play with it. I love it. Just enjoy what you've studied and only play the music you personally like. And jobwise....I did jobs nothing to do with music, but play my preferential music at home.
Great video!
In social media we see so many great numbers that a few hundreds of followers or thousands seem few. But it is actually a lot, thinking that all these people would go to a concert of the creator!
It is a really difficult life, but it is worth the trouble🙃
thanks for your vulnerability and transparency, I love people like that!
Great video Anna. I hope you and other artist will be able to safely do their craft. Many still love and will continue to enjoy professional musicians😄
Dear Anna, thank you for uploading this and your sincerity. I understand you. I only want to remind that you are speaking from the specific frame of competitions and the market system (which as you said selects for a very narrow number of performers) rather than the broader frame and viewing classical music development as the vocation. You wrote "That's what the music society wants us to think" which shows that you are aware attention to market value and competitions it is an indoctrinated value, rather than a self ascribed value. I communicate with musicians frequently, give masterclasses, and frankly the ones with the most enjoyable career are usually, in fact near always, the ones that only perform occasionally, and where their main work is in teaching, or composing, or research with rarer concerts (not trying to fit with market system) or presenting what they have researched/studied with intrigue. Neoliberism (allowing the market to decide what is best for society, thus buildings becoming cheap and grey looking to save cost, Coke adverts taking the place of past education programmes on TV, etc) is not helping the situation. So I also agree that state support would be better. There would be a far larger number of opportunities, more audiences as they could be educated about classical music, and education and research would be shared between teachers as they could travel and give talks, etc. In any case, what I want to say is that the classical music career can be viewed separately from the competition/market-system nonsense. In this way, it is not as bad as it sounds also because the music "career" itself is interpreted as general cultural development alongside other doings. In the similar way, many study anthropology, or paleontology, or history, or mathematics, and teach it without practicing (respectively - digging, or creating revolution, or inventing new theorems) only to retain a momentum of the knowledge for mental enrichment. In the case of music, it can also be thought of as part of one's general human development and a goal in itself. The classical musicians who teach do usually have some part-time concert life also, even if they are not 100% paid by giving concerts which is only an extreme minority.
Good video. I hope there are many more positives than negatives on being a concert pianist. You have a deep understanding and mastery of something that's sublime, and that is beautiful in itself. Few people can say that. Which also relates to the last point you make: maybe popularity is sometimes difficult to attain with this kind of music, since it requires a little bit more effort from the public to understand and appreciate rather than lame, superficial music like 'despacito', for instance. But there's always a niche! Best regards
Anna, I am so proud of you. You spoke from your heart, true, honest, sincere. My mother and sisters, even as music teachers,i earned very very little whilst spending hours of hard work. Thanks and thanks and forever thanks for making this video. Bravo!
Thanks for making such a thought provoking video, Anna which certainly shows how challenging the life of a soloist such as yourself can be. There is indeed an enormous discrepancy between financial rewards among musicians. For example, some famous conductors will no doubt earn far more for a performance than all the individual players in the orchestra put together. And then of course the pandemic makes things much more difficult for musicians financially. Hopefully concerts will restart soon as more and more people get vaccinated. And perhaps, to keep safe, people will want shorter concerts with smaller audiences. This could give more opportunities for younger and less internationally well known soloists to perform and gradually establish a reputation. I really hope you get back to live performance soon and in the meantime please keep on with your videos which are so motivating and enjoyable.
Great video, Anna! It has to be frustrating being a concert pianist at this time when all concerts have been canceled for the most part. It’s also interesting to hear how pianists are selected by symphony orchestras for concerts and how music competitions work.
Absolutely! I lost my livelihood from day one of this manufactured crisis. I refuse to play in front of masked people. It disgustes me.
If you replaced only a few words, everything you have said here also applies to visual artists. They never teached us any real career skills in Fine Arts university either, everything of importance, I learned on my own. There is a lot of corruption going on here too. Social media poses the exact same problems you mentioned. This is mainly because we live in an uncultured society where no one gives a damn about art and many do not even consider it a "real profession". They claim to be so tired after working a mundane 9-5 but once they get home they have free time, most artists often work way more than 8h a day, creating their art, practicing, researching, educating themselves, planning their projects, promoting their art, and wearing so many different hats just in order to survive all without a stable income and without time to relax. 9-5 people would never be able to face the pressure and the amount of work artists deal with on a daily basis, and in most cases with no weekends either. Thanks for this honest video.
Hi Anna, I just subscribed to your channel , I'm really shocked to hear about the illusion being a classical pianist. All though you shared negative experience you also provided positive ones as well. It was my dream to become a classical pianist , I didn't quite make the grade all though I'm not a bad pianist. It's my opinion that at your level you should be handsomely paid and revered for the educational level you achieved. I like your honesty and I'm going to share your channel with my daughter who aspires to be a classical pianist. I can say , she much better then I was at her age. Anyways , thanks for sharing, I'm sure your thoughts will help her.
Very interesting. As a Chef. (Not your typical culinary Exec) your words resonate further than you know. Thank you! After this "pandemic," I hope to hear you play live. -s
Dear Anna, i understand and agree so much about the financial issues of this profession. And as a doctor myself I agree with your comparison. I know the difficulties of young artists, especially in these awful moments of complete shutdown of musical life because of that hellish and interminable pandemic.
Your job has probably much more difficulties we’re unfamiliar with :) thank you for your nice comment 🙏
I experienced that point of corruption myself. The jury knew some of the competitors, they had already played chamber music together. And it felt like, before the competition started, the results were fixed yet...
Dear Anna, thank you for this honest video. As an operatic soprano I can absolutely relate to all the things you've said. Personally I think we should inform our society about the reality of our job as classical musicians to raise the awareness. Also, I think it's super important to inform people studying music how their life will look like after leaving "save zone" of university.
Best regards for you!
Thank you so much for revealing the reality, though it's actually pretty sad.
I see a few issues with these points you raised . Of course it’s a subjective opinion of mine . First you had mentioned about the lack of support from the government. One Thing we have to understand is that unfortunately the world does not need Rachmaninov, Chopin ...I am a pianist and those are my favorite composers and I hate to admit but it’s true. Classical music among the other genres is a perk , a plus in the society but not a necessity . So the Government cannot spend money on this area , unfortunately, with so many social issues going on . Another thing you said is that a pianist doing the same job of another one of more renown are paid less. I understand the frustration ... but let me ask you this : would you prefer to pay 100 dollars to watch Lungansky , Kissin, Bronfman playing or some guy who is pretty good but with less experience, even though they are going to play Rach3 very well ? Because majority of people would prefer to watch Billie Eilish the concert halls already feel the impact. Unfortunately we all know , even though it’s hard to admit , the concert halls attendees are in majority of advanced age. This you attest simply by watching videos on UA-cam and looking at the audience. If you go to concerts you will observe this even more. So the concert halls want to book the best of the best of the best and pay them simply because they fill the whole auditorium easily compared to another unknown , yet talented person . In your country , Russia , the pianists are REALLY good. The best pianists in the world are Russian and naturally it’s going to be difficult for the younger generations to achieve what the stars did. The stars come from another era and relates more to the more mature audience. So the world does not consider playing an instrument a real necessary job , unfortunately! So people are going to pay more to watch the stars and the ones who are only talented will find difficulties in causing the same impression on the audience. I do agree with you as far as the competitions. That, for me , steins the Art and should be banished . However , they found this a way to promote certain pupils . And I agree there is corruption but even that , the winner has to be very good to cause an impact on the audience and judges . I sincerely think that apart from composing for film score or teaching music in a school ,the talented pupils won’t stand the chance as long as the great names are still alive and performing. It’s reality and I know it is difficult to accept. If you were working for an orquestra with another instrument like violin , flute , cello than you would have more chances of surviving off merely playing your music without having necessarily to become a teacher . But , if Chopin had to become a teacher to support himself and I believe there won’t be another Chopin ever in the world the talented musician should consider that too in order to not stop doing what they like .
Two points to consider: In Germany the state subsidies concert venues, orchestras and operas strongly. They wouldn‘t be self-sufficient just of the concert revenue. Still, the state sees it as its duty to nourish culture as an important part of society. Of course you can argue it’s still not enough. But: Considering the density of Orchestras, Theaters, music universities at least some part of classical music is on a high level in Germany as it is a relatively small country for what it actually culturally provides.
Secondly, I like to mention that there are younger concert pianists who have the class of the old ones for example Yuja Wang. She is still very wild but on the way to be one of the dominating figures of classical piano in the 21. century.
@@PianistStefanBoetel of course there are ! I’d mention Danill Trifonov for ex! But those people are the exception of the exception because we have lots of great musicians, so to stand out like that is not for everybody
In the end, it's show business. There are always very few "stars" and very many who don't make it to the top.
I don’t have time to explain the detailed economics here, but it’s actually a well studied topic called superstar industry. Piano performance is a good example where the superstars can get very high pmt, other lesser known players get little money, just like basketball players.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for this video,just subscribed🙂
Hallo Anna, vielen Dank fuer dieses Video und Gruesse aus Berlin.
Wow. That really hit home. Thank you Anna.
Some interesting points raised, keep trying!
Seems like it is the same all over the world - Thanks for telling very important things about being a musicians - I think we should talk about it, to let people know that it is not so easy as it could seem to them :)
The classical world really needs to listen to the world of DJs. It’s about the venue and filling halls. You need to get a crew together, start your own festivals, bring in artists associated with a foreign organisation and they will have to reciprocate. You need to build a career in music, whether it’s classical or electronic. You need to build a crew - musician is not a job, it’s a type of person - find a crew.
This!
There are many classical festivals tbh, especially piano. And that really earn A LOTTA money, but well, u better be a professor or the sponsor so u can get that money.
Am I the only one having suicidal thoughts after watching Chopin competition?
Ahahahahaha that’s a good one 😂
First video I saw from you and it was very interesting!
Most of the people meeting here seem to live in the 19th century ( or even before ) and don't realize, that it was such a big difference playing as a professional musician in those times. What we today call classical music was then totally exiting, fresh and new to those audiences, which were exclusive high society. Those days are long gone...
The most important music of the 20th century ( and it's already gone too ) was Jazz and its many related styles of modern music.
1970 Jazz was like already dead in its development, classical music was dead at some time between WW1 and 2.
When do all of you want to accept that?
Can't you really see, that actually most of you are privileged without even noticing it?
One more word : I got 20 piano lessons from an old professional pianist in my life, studied later on Jazz trumpet in Graz/Austria ( earning 1000 DM in the summer in Bavarian beer tents, which made me getting by the first 3 months ). I could get stipendia, but I preferred to earn my money on the stage.
I played trumpet in Show Big bands, Jazz bands and Salsa bands ( all of this is like hardest work in the "Bergwerk" - a mine ), then I got my first jobs as a piano player in restaurants, hotel bars, in "dancings" in Switzerland and so on. At the end I was able to play classical piano music in theater productions, in cinemas - accompanying silent movies, playing together with singers or with choir. I was on tour with several acts, best of them being musical Hair ( as a trumpet player, but they wanted me to play piano too, if needed ). In between of 2 tours I got the chance for playing a classical piano concert program. I said yes, practiced less than a week and played my stuff. And this was the only time I earned only 100DM ( still in the 90ies ). So I finally understood, if you aren't really special, if you got no name, if you aren't extremely lucky : you don't follow this dreams anymore and you'll be better off.
Life is simple. It has to be lived forward with all you ever got and you don't ever look back.
I know your channel thanks to Mr Wim Winters' video. It is in fact a very interresting and musically fascinating corner of internet. I think the problem is that if you are "complaining" you are simply a... human beeing. Not a traind machinery.
There are several videos on YT about this topic.
Its ok sweet bird. Remember these are all your own limiting beliefs, and nothing is stopping you from taking control of the beautiful being you are, and loving everything, from the sound you produce, making your practice better, and loving the art of producing a valuable product more.
This is common among artist to be taken advantage of. This is why in the states we have unions for actors, musicians, stage workers. . .and other professionals. If you ever get a chance to join a union do so. and they will have to pay you union rate. And that is why so many musicians revert back to teaching its a way to stay in the music vocation yet have a good steady income. I love to play the piano everyday but its just for my own enjoyment. I make my income do something else. Blessings.
Everyone requires doctors - the medical profession - at times, but the great majority of people do not require or indeed ever go to a piano recital so a comparison is rather meaningless.
A pianist who attracts a crowd of 5000 will get paid about 50 times more than one who plays to 100, just like footballers, actors, novelists. This is often irrespective of their relative merits - it might well be that a very worthy musician is underrated and some acclaimed ones overated.
Wonderful!
Does anyone still write music?
many do
👏👏👏
☺️
Maybe the world is not waiting for pianists who play covers. Too many pianists play the standards over and over. When one chooses his own path of improvising, composing and perhaps playing Bach or Chopin, than there is a complete other perspective.
The classical music industry is incredibly corrupt. No reason for people to deny or downplay it. Let the truth be told!
What you describe has not to do only with classical music in our society, anyone in every job and career has those problems. The salary of famous musicians is not unjustifiable, compare with the time they have put into their practise and on the talent they have (perfect memory, construction of hand, tremendous hardworking).
Although, life is an unfair place ,this is how it works. If you want to make a very hard and complex surgery, i am sure you are going to pick the best doctor that you can find, based on your budget of course.
From what i see, your problems has to do with the economic sector. If i have to tell you something, by experience the chaos of life the last 3 years, is that, none is going to give you anything and there is two senarios:
The first one is you make nothing, and living a normal life like everyone (and that s not a bad option)
Or you are going to find a way to sustain your economical situation, and living the life based on how you want it. (For example, for being data analyst and make some money, takes about 2-3 years on college)
Everything has a sacrifice, nothing is priceless. You can't just ask people or society give you the money that you would desire.
❤️😊
Specially for you 😉
Or one has to dress in a 'seductive' manner to get noticed & to get a job which is so unfortunate
Now let me talk to you about the dark side of having a 9-5
What are you trying to infer? The life of a pianist is not a leisurely one at all. Guarantee they suffer as many injuries and mental health struggles as people who work 9-5.
We just see the final results that look and sound amazing.
I loathed giving concerts.
Money is good.
Hi, I'm a med student, I think you should get your thyroid gland checked, it seems slightly enlarged to me.
It’s not worth it
okay. you mentions some dark forces in the selection of pianists for specific venues. I thought you were going to talk about demon-possessed pianos or the real Phantom of the Opera. Phew! It was not that bad. Don't listen to me. I'm just being funny.
Music began to die the day Edison invented the phonograph. Compare the quality of Bach 300 years ago with the repetitive computerized noise of today. Why starve to learn Scales and Harmonics when you can make million$ with vulgar hip-hop noise? Edison killed music forever. 😢
but that invention revolutionized many fields.
not itself. let's say it inspired many inventions
demonstrated a lot of scientific discoveries.
Gould: 🤔
1) Life is not fair 2) Life is hard 3) the biggest problem in life? look in the mirror. Once you understand this then you can move forward in life.
If you want peoples money you have to give them what they want.
Every thing you said it's wrong, every thing!
You didn't understand how life and society works - grow up :(
Why be rude to her? Are you a pianist?
@@PianoturtleX She is thinking like a child - she needs help to grow up and none of the comments are helping. If there is one constant to all life, absolutely all life, is struggle - again: somebody help her grow up.
@@antoniomonteiro3698I dont think just telling someone to grow up is helpful though. If you have walked in her shoes but have some alternative ways or experiences, why not help and share them. May be she will 'grow up' if you dont tell her to grow up like a child you claim she is. She also said it is not necessarily her experiences but her observations.
@@PianoturtleXIt's possible I miss understood that - maybe it's not her that needs to grow up, the warning is valid for anyone described.
@@antoniomonteiro3698 Bravo. I would still like to hear your experiences and view points though. Would can these young artists do and how can we help nurture them?