Recognize the Difference

December 14, 2008

As long as someone can play piano, he or she is not necessarily a pianist. The way to become a professional pianist is not a simple scheme or pattern which can be used and experienced equally by every person.

I am not speaking about simple piano playing, what I often prefer to define as a pushing down of keys, depressing pedals like the accelerator of your car with a typewriter technique. Not at all. It is very important not to strive after a quite impersonal and unattractive style of playing.

How do you consider your being a pianist?
Did you set your own mission statement about your personal musical development? If not, believe me, you should. Unless you want to play rather for yourself in your free time and not for public. But remember: being a pianist is only the step before you become an artist.