Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Piano is not a hobby

In my younger days I didn't have the confidence & technical abilities to get into piano. As an adult learner, I'm not becoming a professional performer. A lot of adults take up piano as a hobby with no expectation of becoming a concert pianist.

Coming from a non-musical family, everybody around is into business & finance. Unless someone is a virtuoso who can earn an income with his/her performances, Family members would talk about making money at get-togethers but not music. Others in the family wouldn't consider piano as a hobby because they have the old idea you need a teacher to guide you along the way. People get into painting as a hobby but not everybody is comfortable picking songs and learning them on their own.

My parents discouraged me from spending too much time playing piano. They thought that the important thing in life is to focus on making money. Unless someone is earning an income with their playing, sorry. Otherwise I don't rely on a teacher or play only the pieces a teacher feel is at my level. Like painting & photography, playing piano is 1 hobby that would last a lifetime. Playing piano/keyboard is a hobby to most people who are not earning an income for their music and play regularly like doing their morning exercises. In a personal way, playing music is something nobody in my family would do and define me as an unique individual who don't follow family traditions like spending your spare time in front of the TV.

Apparently, the Etude Magazine was a magazine for music professionals. Teachers and such.
Maybe they didn't believe that your profession could also be a hobby. And maybe that's one reason why the Etude Magazine does not exist anymore.

I'm glad that you are taking music more seriously than your family does.

People use words like "hobby" because they want to separate it from their "real work". Don't do this. It doesn't have to make you money for you to take it seriously.

Telepathy was a great hobby in 1955? I guess we need to find some old folks still into this hobby :-)
Maybe some here on PW?


>Wouldn't it be fun to get together and have a hobby show? But, alas, that is not possible

We do have shows, like the ABF recitals. We also collect photos of pianos here (some threads) and more.

Yes but with texting you have the problem of the fake news. Telepathy might solve that?

I remember back in the 70's, I was an apprentice at the Training School local. A lad i knew had his identity (Clocking in) card in his hand, number facing him.
He looked at me. "What's my number?" he simply asked.
I knew, though I'd never seen it. He didn't seem surprised. There was no further discourse about that, though he was in the same place as me for the duration of the course.
I won't mention UFOs . . . . .well, I might, but I'd have to find the piano connection first . . . .Just gimmee some time . . .

You mean, you said the number and it was correct?


Reminds me of a case where I was on a birthday party .Someone came in with a big box, nicely packed. I said, I think somewhat in jest, "oh nice, you give her a microwave ?". At that time, these were pretty expensive, not something usual for a birthday gift. The whole room fell silent. It showed that I was right, but apparently the others knew also that the birthday girl hated microwaves.

Telepathic persons tend to aggravate everyone except themselves. but , I bet they know that. A different kind of soothsayer...(sounds like a title of a song0 LOL

Piano is not a hobby, it's an expensive hobby

Playing piano isn't a hobby folks. It is an addiction. you all need help! :P

Playing piano is therapy.

And we are here seeking help to further the addiction, not to break free of it. 😄