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Joined: Dec 2007
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Reading through the forums I have read a lot of stuff about how people start playing from an young age, molding their brains to be able to maximize their potential as a pianist. Playing 2-10+ hours a day. This makes me wonder though, what have you sacrificed, given up or regret about spending so much time learning your craft? Do you feel there are things your brain is bad at or unsuitable for, now that it is tuned for piano playing? do you feel it gives you any other advantages in life? Or are there things you just do not/did not like and wish could have been different?
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Joined: Mar 2006
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I've given up going to many parties and hanging out with friends on weekends.
I also play tennis at a very high level so between music and tennis, I really don't have time for anything else.
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Joined: May 2007
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I have given up alot of social life here in canada as I'm not going to a normal uni/college. When I was in Gr 12, I did part-time school so that I had enough of time to devote to practising the piano. I have been out of school for 2 years after I graduated because of this.
Besides the piano, I play the flute,piccolo and violin as well but I had to give those up recently to concentrate on the piano. Will take the flute&piccolo up again after I return to singapore. maybe the violin too...
I love music and it is my life, I don't regret doing all those things. Now I do have friends who I hang out with once a week so that I feel better. I teach piano and do other jobs as well to fill up my time. Yes, in some way i'm not satisfied with my social life but it's worth it, what i've done to achieve what I have for the past year.
Mastering:Chopin Etudes op.10 nos.8&12 and op.25 no.1, Chopin Scherzo no.4 in E major op.54, Mozart Sonata in B flat major K.333& Khachaturian Toccata
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Let me ask you a question: What do you sacrifice by devoting a few hours a day to the one thing you love to do more than anything else? What does it cost to be able to do an activity that gives you happiness no matter what the day, no matter if you've just taken a break for a little while, or you've done it every day for the last five years?
Or another: What do you sacrifice by deciding to spend the rest of your life with one person who you love deeply?
Why do you see this as a sacrifice? I would think not to play the piano would be a sacrifice. The reason we spend so much time on it is that we love it. I don't know much about marriage, but I do think that devoting so much time to the piano is like a marriage, and it's one of the most rewarding things I'm doing with my life. It's not just a solitary thing where you hide away, it's social, too. Meeting other pianists, instrumentalists, vocalists, talking to your audience, and performing for your friends and relatives. There is no sacrifice, at least, I can't find one. The money it costs to buy a piano pays itself a hundredfold.
I don't believe I'm giving up anything. I believe I'm choosing to be happy.
Piano Hero Encore Rocks the 1800s!
Current Assignments: Bach Prelude and Fugue in Bb Maj, D min, and C Maj from Bk I Mozart Sonata K.280 Brahms Rhapsody Op. 79 No. 2 Bartok Six Roumanian Folk Dances Prokofieff Visions Fugitives Op. 22
I'm going to Ithaca! Yay!!!
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Joined: Sep 2007
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I have to admit, my social life suffers a little because of the piano. Even though i get a lot of attention from girls because of it, i haven't really put in the effort to make a relationship with someone because i'm afraid it will take away time from my piano practice and such.
talk about obsessed, huh.
"I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well."
J.S. Bach
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Originally posted by thepianist2008: Let me ask you a question: What do you sacrifice by devoting a few hours a day to the one thing you love to do more than anything else? What does it cost to be able to do an activity that gives you happiness no matter what the day, no matter if you've just taken a break for a little while, or you've done it every day for the last five years?
Or another: What do you sacrifice by deciding to spend the rest of your life with one person who you love deeply?
Why do you see this as a sacrifice? I am not saying there is anything wrong with loving and devoting oneself to the piano. I was just curious if people who have done so have had difficulty in other skills or areas of life.
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Joined: May 2001
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Originally posted by thepianist2008: I don't believe I'm giving up anything. I believe I'm choosing to be happy. Well said! I share your enthusiasm and I, too, look at all I'm getting from playing the piano, not at what I'm losing! Regards,
BruceD - - - - - Estonia 190
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Joined: Oct 2006
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I'll second Bruce D's post.
Full-Time Music/Entrepreneurship Major: (Why not compose music AND businesses?) Former Piano Industry Professional ************ Steinway M Roland Atelier AT90R ************ All Posts are Snarky Unless Otherwise Noted ************
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Joined: Aug 2007
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What have I sacrificed to play the piano?
1. TV watching.
2. the expectation that I ought to be able to get everything that I ought to do done every day
3. the idea that I'm obliged to spend social time with people I don't really click with. I'm not shy or anti-social. It's just that with piano pressuring my time during the past few years I have felt more free to decline invitations because I'd rather be home practicing. So when the really good potential friends come along, the ones I'd give up practice time to be with, I cultivate those friendships more than I otherwise might have. Less quantity friends, more quality friends.
4. the idea that my life would be better if it involved 2.2 kids, a husband, and a white picket fence.
Some sacrifices, huh?
You got faults,defects, or shortcomings? Like arthritis,rheumatism or migraines? Whatever part of your body it is,I want you to lay it on the radio. Let the vibes flow through! Funk not only moves,it can RE-move, dig? The desired effect is what you get,when you improve your inter-planetary funksmanship. -George Clinton,Grandmaster of Funk
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Joined: May 2007
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Originally posted by BruceD: Originally posted by thepianist2008: [b]I don't believe I'm giving up anything. I believe I'm choosing to be happy. Well said! I share your enthusiasm and I, too, look at all I'm getting from playing the piano, not at what I'm losing!
Regards, [/b]the same goes for me too
Mastering:Chopin Etudes op.10 nos.8&12 and op.25 no.1, Chopin Scherzo no.4 in E major op.54, Mozart Sonata in B flat major K.333& Khachaturian Toccata
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Joined: Nov 2007
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heh... Not regarding piano per se but music in more general: I'm a "born musician". I left my country, took my wife and my 9 month old baby to come to the uk and study. This must be some sacrifice, huh? Especially on my wifes behalf. On actual piano playing, not only I didn't lose anything, but I'm popular to my friends for being able to play the piano, plus I actually met my (future) wife in a concert where I was playing one of my pieces! Can't get much better than that, can it? THANK YOU PIANO!
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Joined: Jan 2004
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The Canadian chappie is obviously doing his business sums ... if the annual return on 500 hours at the piano is only a stumbling proficiency ... and a second year (+500 hours) a similar plateau ... and the third year (+500 hours) ... the realisation will dawn of not being cut out for music ... and in all probability packing one’s bags and branching out into some other activity ... like karate, golf or hang-gliding!!! ... besides the un-businesslike outlay (spurred by the likelihood of being put off the piano forever) ... the question remains
"Was the 1500 hour sacrifice worth it?"
We need to discount the romantic stories of some who remain cosy with their grand (even though they can’t play it) ... but like to share the gush of what the piano brought into their lives.
The chappie with the calculator reads off activities in a 24 hour day ... with 18 hours in a busy day taken up with sleep, work and travel ... there are only 6 hours in each day where we have any CHOICE.
Sleep ... 8 hours Work .... 8 Travel ...2
Piano ... 2 Eat ..... 1 Read .... 1 Gym ..... 1 Relax ... 1
So agreeing to use up 2 hours (of choice-time) at the piano per day needs careful consideration ... decisions, decisions!!
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Joined: Oct 2007
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I would just like to drop in and echo what many before have already said -- it's only a sacrifice if it feels like you've given up something that may cause regret. I have never felt I've given up anything by devoting my existence to music. So many aspects of mundane existence are terribly overrated anyway.
Die Krebs gehn zurucke, Die Stockfisch bleiben dicke, Die Karpfen viel fressen, Die Predigt vergessen.
Die Predigt hat g'fallen. Sie bleiben wie alle.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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If the truth were known, I suspect more people develop regrets -- perhaps (too) late in life -- for having merely surfed along superficially over the years than those who have developed true depth in one or more specific areas of their life; whether it be becoming an artist/musician, true professional in their vocation or career, connected & engaged father, or ...
Being serious at the piano is a depth activity. One I personally regret not having had the maturity to take much more seriously in my youth.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Originally posted by BruceD: Originally posted by thepianist2008: [b]I don't believe I'm giving up anything. I believe I'm choosing to be happy. Well said! I share your enthusiasm and I, too, look at all I'm getting from playing the piano, not at what I'm losing!
Regards, [/b]My thoughts exactly! I don't think it's a sacrifice, but a privilege. Having the chance to devote your time to something you truly enjoy is a real gift. As a child I never had the opportunity to take piano lessons, hence my gratitude for any time spent practicing and playing. That doesn't mean that I've lost my friends or my social life. Quite the opposite! They love coming to my place and 'snooping' into my music books Maybe I went out more often before, but as somebody already said, it's about the quality, not the quantity.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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I think the people in this thread who say, "Piano is a life-enriching joy and choosing to play is no sacrifice" are right, in an overall, big-picture, whole life kinda way.
Still, I've found that in a smaller, daily sense, choosing to spend a certain amount of time at the piano often does require the difficult choice to give something else up - spending time with one's spouse (maybe occasionally drawing said spouse's ire as a result), reading this book or watching that TV show. I won't say I've ever regretted making the choice to practice or play, but when the book remains unread or the weeks of unwatched shows pile up in the TiVo, I can't say there isn't a certain amount of... I dunno, bittersweet, maybe?
But it's a choice I gladly make, 'cause for me the real regret was the many years I spent ignoring my musical pursuits, sacrificing them (as it were) in favor of more immediate, ephemeral pleasures.
"Music is a proud, temperamental mistress. Give her the time and attention she deserves, and she is yours. Slight her and there will come a day when you call and she will not answer." - Patrick Rothfuss
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Well, this is neither here nor there BUT, when I was in college, I was one of the most popular girls on campus because I knew all the singalong, college and fraternity songs. I was booked months in advance to play piano for the parties in the fraternity basement rumble rooms. I tapped more kegs than Bayer's got aspirin. I was never without the uh, shall we say, company of the best-looking, talented, well-to-do guys - some of which I am in contact with to this day. Without the piano playing, I would be just another co-ed waiting by the phone... I never had to do anything for myself, just be there...
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I feel as I sacrifice nothing as I enjoy it so much, and am never content with the amount of time I put into it. I have given up, however, a sport which I love after a tough decision of which to continue, but am glad I've made it!
Patience's the best teacher, and time the best critic. - F.F.Chopin
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This is not really admitting to a sacrifice, but sometimes I am just curious about how my life would have gone had I played a more easily portable instrument and/or one that is used in the standard Classical orchestra.
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Hi, It is possible that the poser of the question is referring to the problem that some athletes have...too much time getting good at something and really missing out on a lot else. Unlike most sports, playing music is something you can do by yourself. I had some bad isolating physical problems when I was young and pouring hours into music study was the only thing that saved my life. Because of those hours I spent I have been able to do many things I could have never done otherwise...and I don't regret any of that time spent. Anyone who truly masters a piece of music should feel great about themselves and spending the time with the instrument is the only way to receive the rewards.
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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