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Try to play something more well known next time...this coming from Piers "who the heck are you?" Morgan (seriously, who the heck is Piers Morgan?)

A satirical magazine this side of the pond has been calling him "Piers Moron" for many years. He's a former tabloid newspaper editor who became known as a regular pundit / talking-head-chappy for current affairs. Every time I see a clip of that guy speaking on that show, I feel a bit embarrassed to be British.

I'd like to present a rather interesting and enlightening conversation I had with my non musically mother last night:
Me: Heck they call that talent.
Mother: well why don't you audition
Me: Because, any chance of of me being a serious pianist would be history. Heck, I'd be a laughing stock of the piano world.

That is all.

Feel free to post more anecdotes.

I didn't like the lady's comment. I mean, as a judge she should know better and also know more about classical music...

OK, if I were him, I would have to take into account what kind of people the judges are and what kind of audience is watching. He would have to balance showing off to people like us and showing off to people like them. If he shows off to people like us by playing, for example, Rachmaninoff Op. 39 No. 6 very well, then people like them might be bored or they'll think nothing of it. If he shows off to people like them by playing, for example, Chopin Op. 10 No. 5 faster than he can actually play it, he'll at least seem talented temporarily to hold him over to the next round. I think his choice is good, except he could have played it better.

There is room for more showing off. For example, if there were two pianists, and one plays Chopin Op. 10 No. 5, the next one could say "I can do that with my left hand" and play Godowsky's arrangement.

But it's America's Got Talent, which many really talented Americans would never touch.

Yes, you're right. I'm completely against the promotion of classical music in any way. I've been so upset I haven't been able to sleep all week

The intent of my original post was not to highlight the contestant, but rather the judges.

I promise I'm not a grumpy person trying to destroy the dreams of teenage musicians.

Guys Guys Guys!!! (and girls) Pulease! Let's not turn on our own kind, this kid is one of us, a classical music fan. Let's cheer the fact that a 16 YEAR OLD KID came out and said "there is more music out there than Lady Gaga" and then played Chopin. Just to be up there following no talents like these cookie cutter dance groups and rappers screaming Ni@#!r this and Bit#$ that.

I have nothing against pop music, i was raised on everything from mozart to motown to metallica and bach to beatles to bad company but the so called music now just makes me realize how far everything has fallen. So really its not just about being a clasical music fan but a person that understands and appreciates a "High Level Art Form."

I wouldnt be so competitive to those that have not gone to conservatory either. So what someone compliments him, the important thing is that we continue to promote this amazing part of our traditional culture.

So really, who would NOT want their kids listening to our music rather than Snoop Dog. I have a baby girl so as far I'm concerned i see things like Tony Soprano, outside its 2010 but in here its 1955!

I should start a new thread on this.

I guess I fail to see how he is not a prodigy, or how he is worse then other pianists. I mean if you compare him too professional level pianists, of course. I think he saw AGT as an easier opportunity, and why not? Who ever said the conservatory route was the only way to go(I am thinking pianists like Alfred Brendel or more recently Jon Nakamatsu) It is nice to see something different on there, but a lot of people still think of Liberace when it comes to their view on pianists.

I just watched the video and honestly, I have no problem with what he did. Granted, the "black key" was water a bit too deep for him to fully tread yet, but he gave a gallant effort. I do love what he said in his mini interview beforehand about showing everyone how amazing and beautiful classical music is. You really can't blame Sharon Osborne for giving him an ex. I mean look at the ahole she's married to and the "music" she's had to listen to as a result...of course, she's a tasteless dolt.

Fantaisie Impromptu -- just the first theme and the coda -- would be the perfect piece for this contest.

While I was reading the first part of the post above, I thought of Flight of the Bumbleebee too.
A young boy did play it in Australia's Got Talent. He got into the next round, but then he was eliminated.
Pretty talented for his age!

I'd like to see more additions to the above lists. A piano piece for a show like America's Got Talent fits into the category of an encore where it catches the audience by surprise and makes them marvel at the technical difficulty of the piece. I would like to add Tico Tico no Fuba. Also some piano reductions from the operas, Barber of Seville and Marriage of Figaro, could have a "wow" factor.

He played it too fast for me :P . He has good talent though! I just wished Sharon was less...ignorant.

That was really good, especially for a 7-year old!!!

And I bet the blond pole dancer won.....

I don't even remember who won... A "group", but I don't remember its name... It must have caught my attention!
The young pianist lost with this performance:

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&v=EjiBu0DOvY4&annotation_id=annotation_983106[/video]

I have found on the net he wrote his first composition at 2 years and 9 months of age and already has his final piano diploma with honours (he is 7).

Anyway, I don't think that a classical pianist, regardless of age, will ever win one of these competitions judged by viewers. Not if they play classical music... And I strongly dislike show business stuff.

Or watch television at all.

I just finally got around to watching the clip, and couldn't make it to the end. It just thoroughly creeped me out. Not the nice but hapless kid's playing in itself (which really wasn't that fantastic, but I imagine the bizarre set alone could throw one off), but the panelists, the host, and their interaction with "maestro" Bui. Even that "maestro" thing - yeeechhhh!!!

<shudder>

Much of this brings up an important point - it's important to know your audience, regardless of who you're playing to.

I actually agreed with Sharon a bit - it was boring, and not so much because of the playing but because of the repertoire. The Black Key Etude, almost by definition, offers very little variation in terms of harmony and texture. Using so many black keys limits your harmonic possibilities, and it's a Chopin etude, so it's going to stick with one basic figuration, and this one doesn't even have a clear melody. But the show (and it's audience) is looking for dramatic extremes, not nuance.

So, here's a quick list of repertoire choices that I would consider to be more appropriate. (I do think Sharon was wrong about playing more familiar music. The music doesn't need to be familiar, but the dramatic feel for what's being played does.)

Rachmaninoff - Etude in c# minor, Op. 36/9
Debussy - Prelude "Les collines d'Anacapri"
Tchaikovsky - "February" from The Seasons
Prokofiev - 2nd Sonata, Scherzo
Beethoven - Sonata in F# Major, Op. 78 (2nd movement)
Chopin - Prelude in d minor
Mendelssohn - Spinnerlied (Op. 67/4)
Albeniz - Suite Espanola, #7 (Castilla - Seguidillas)

All of these pieces have a familiar, dramatic style, but they're also relatively unknown to the general public. They all clock in at under 3 minutes, and they represent a wide variety of styles to fit the individual tastes of the performer.

I would recommend the "Hades" prelude, Chopin op.28 #16. The entire fiery descent into the abyss takes just about 60 seconds, which is what it takes to hold the attention of the AGT audience and judges with classical music. It begins and ends with dramatic thundering chords and is a good vehicle for the performer's virtuosity.