Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Possibly Disturbing Ecital Trend Needs Discussion

If you want to share your music, then you only hurt yourself by not participating. There is no more supportive and accepting online recital than the ABF quarterly recital.
Sam

And now, I think I've made my decision not to post in either place. I posted the 28/24 in defiance of my best friend (a very well trained pianist) who thought it too flashy for ABF and not well played enough to be posted at all. I felt a certain heady achievement at the time but nothing but misgivings since. Everyone who commented on my piece was kindness itself but I hesitate to strain the general good nature a second time. Thanks to you all and good luck.

I know that, Sam. I'm not after hurting anyone. There's not a nicer bunch anywhere than here. That's no excuse for me to impose my half baked attempts at musicianship on your very good collective natures. I just felt I owed ya'll an explanation for my non--participation after the totally unnecessary fuss I just caused with this thread. I'm very sorry I brought it up.

And now, I think I've made my decision not to post in either place. I posted the 28/24 in defiance of my best friend (a very well trained pianist) who thought it too flashy for ABF and not well played enough to be posted at all. I felt a certain heady achievement at the time but nothing but misgivings since. Everyone who commented on my piece was kindness itself but I hesitate to strain the general good nature a second time. Thanks to you all and good luck.

[...] Andy, I appreciate the pro-lurking advice. Thanks in large part to this dicussion, I have been hanging out in the PC shadows rather often lately. It's a bit like sitting at the kid's table but eavesdropping on the adult conversations, lol.

Maybe I'm overreacting (a specialty of mine!) but I fear this may result in graded recitals. I feel that most of us here might prefer that particular can of worms remain closed.

https://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubb...ion_-_a_different_type_.html#Post2212277

2) Comments made in Member Recordings (or in original recordings posted on the main board (an etiquette no-no, apparently, although generally gracefully welcomed, especially by the occasional newbie who doesn't know about Member Recordings) tend to elicit a wide range of responses, thus:

2a) Some responses tend to judge the performance against some kind of an ideal, no matter how new or advanced the performer seems to be. Perfection, observation of tradition, evidence of musical understanding, and good taste are the standards. Pretty high standards. Often, these responses include a YouTube link to a virtuoso performance or two or three. Nothing like rubbing it in! LOL!

2b) Some responses tend to acknowledge a sliding scale of development by listening carefully to what can be heard of the performer's technique. Thoughtful help often follows, with a catalog of strengths and suggestions for things to address and ways to address them. Sometimes that help includes a YouTube link to a virtuoso performance. LOL! But context and presentation of the critique makes a tremendous difference, and some people can share this kind of thing without making it seem like they are rubbing your nose in anything.

2c) Some responses tend to serve to bolster the ego of the critic, showcasing their knowledge about a certain subject or piece. That is not to say that there aren't some very knowledgeable people who share very freely some very fine points, and share well-developed reasons for those points, too. Those kinds of posts are wonderful when they happen. The "look how much I know" posts are different, though. You know them when you see them.

2d) Some responses are soapboxes for the critic to espouse some kind of artistic philosophy.

2e) Sometimes, a bar fight from another thread on the main board will spill into a recording thread.

Some threads are a mix of all of these, especially ones with the word "Chopin" in the title. Plus, there is always drive-by inanity. (Done my share of that, too! )

From the point of view of receiving criticism, I get the sense from reading in Pianist Corner (and a very rich PM correspondence with several Piano World online friends) that at some point, or at some level, learning to give and receive specific criticism is a very important part of the musical endeavor. And when you get to the point of public performance, receiving criticism simply comes with the territory. And always, you can take it or leave it!

The primary purpose of the recitals is to allow AB forum members to provide a snapshot of where they are in their piano journey at that particular point in time.

I just felt I owed ya'll an explanation for my non--participation...

I've listened to your Prelude 24, -Frycek, more times in the last two months than I have Martha Argerich or Howard Shelley. Not only can I listen to it and enjoy recognising it, I can be inspired by it to attempt it myself. Martha can't inspire me like that because I could never reach that level.

However much worth you put on your own contribution I value it, I respect it and I thank you for it.

I would also value entries from other 'beyond beginners' that regularly participate in the ABF forum and that contribute to the themed recitals.