"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Berthold Auerbach
Monday, October 19
Friday, October 9
Monday, October 5
Pianists are underestimated!
Wow, it's been awhile since I have posted something!
One of my good friends from music camp, Libby Roberts, posted something on facebook that brought some great discussions! I was very encouraged by this, so I thought I would also post it on my blog! Here are 10 reasons on how pianists are underestimated:
You know, people say piano isn’t all that hard to play compared to violin or oboe. I mean, you hit the keys right and it sounds fine - - no flat or sharp sounds to worry about - - no tuning issues - - no breath support, right?
Well, I am justified a small rant about how people take advantage of keyboardists and don’t realize it. So next time you go ordering around a pianist, how about taking this into thought:
1. You other instrumentalists have it easy. You can play YOUR instrument all the time. People expect pianists to sit down at a strange instrument with a completely different action, sound, quality, tone, build, and expect the same results as if it was their own instrument. Try finding an available organ. And the key to open the church. And the power switches for lights/blower/organ. And the key for the organ. Realize that no two organs have the same set of sounds. They are all drastically different because of this. Oh and nobody else can be using the entire sanctuary.
2. A number of instruments (especially reeds) require warming up as part of getting the reed ready. But people would look at a pianist funny if he or she decided to do a few finger powers or stretches before playing. Why? Same applies to organs. And organs themselves need to be warmed up. Any temperature/humidity difference can change the pitch/sound quality significantly.
3. Any instruments with a fret system use the same technique fingerings but with different positions. Pianists have to memorize unique fingerings for every single key! And for the organ, you have to add the knowledge of how to do it with your feet. Not to mention having to know which stops/couplers/pistons to pull and at what time.
4. Not to mention chord. On the organ, not only do you have to play each chord with your fingers, but you have to construct the sound of each chord by adding/removing stops.
5. If a violinist can get the nuance of one melody/supporting line down, they have played well. Pianists have to keep at least two -- normally more --voices in mind and play each one as musically as possible. Organists routinely play 5 or 6 voices, on multiple keyboards, with different sounds for each voice. You also have to use the expression pedals to manually change volume (if possible). And any mistakes you make are as loud as the right notes.
6. Brass, wind, and string players all have to play one note using two hands. Pianists have to play up to 10 notes using two hands. Pianists and organists have a MUCH more difficult time sight-reading than do most any other instrumentalists.
7. To sound good on a piano you naturally have to be better. For example, one can strum chords on a guitar and sound fine, but a person can’t just clonk out chords on a piano steadily and expect to sound good. A pianist has to be good enough to spice it up.
8. Pianists have the ability to be a whole orchestra at one time! We have a lot more responsibility than most people think.
9. Pianos are very important. Without them, what violinist, vocalist, or any other instrumentalist will do in a competition or an audition? Everybody needs good ole’ pianists to accompany them! And there is no sound more pleasant on earth than the piano.
10. Piano is one of the hardest instruments to play WELL.
THanks for reading! Comments are welcome!
One of my good friends from music camp, Libby Roberts, posted something on facebook that brought some great discussions! I was very encouraged by this, so I thought I would also post it on my blog! Here are 10 reasons on how pianists are underestimated:
You know, people say piano isn’t all that hard to play compared to violin or oboe. I mean, you hit the keys right and it sounds fine - - no flat or sharp sounds to worry about - - no tuning issues - - no breath support, right?
Well, I am justified a small rant about how people take advantage of keyboardists and don’t realize it. So next time you go ordering around a pianist, how about taking this into thought:
1. You other instrumentalists have it easy. You can play YOUR instrument all the time. People expect pianists to sit down at a strange instrument with a completely different action, sound, quality, tone, build, and expect the same results as if it was their own instrument. Try finding an available organ. And the key to open the church. And the power switches for lights/blower/organ. And the key for the organ. Realize that no two organs have the same set of sounds. They are all drastically different because of this. Oh and nobody else can be using the entire sanctuary.
2. A number of instruments (especially reeds) require warming up as part of getting the reed ready. But people would look at a pianist funny if he or she decided to do a few finger powers or stretches before playing. Why? Same applies to organs. And organs themselves need to be warmed up. Any temperature/humidity difference can change the pitch/sound quality significantly.
3. Any instruments with a fret system use the same technique fingerings but with different positions. Pianists have to memorize unique fingerings for every single key! And for the organ, you have to add the knowledge of how to do it with your feet. Not to mention having to know which stops/couplers/pistons to pull and at what time.
4. Not to mention chord. On the organ, not only do you have to play each chord with your fingers, but you have to construct the sound of each chord by adding/removing stops.
5. If a violinist can get the nuance of one melody/supporting line down, they have played well. Pianists have to keep at least two -- normally more --voices in mind and play each one as musically as possible. Organists routinely play 5 or 6 voices, on multiple keyboards, with different sounds for each voice. You also have to use the expression pedals to manually change volume (if possible). And any mistakes you make are as loud as the right notes.
6. Brass, wind, and string players all have to play one note using two hands. Pianists have to play up to 10 notes using two hands. Pianists and organists have a MUCH more difficult time sight-reading than do most any other instrumentalists.
7. To sound good on a piano you naturally have to be better. For example, one can strum chords on a guitar and sound fine, but a person can’t just clonk out chords on a piano steadily and expect to sound good. A pianist has to be good enough to spice it up.
8. Pianists have the ability to be a whole orchestra at one time! We have a lot more responsibility than most people think.
9. Pianos are very important. Without them, what violinist, vocalist, or any other instrumentalist will do in a competition or an audition? Everybody needs good ole’ pianists to accompany them! And there is no sound more pleasant on earth than the piano.
10. Piano is one of the hardest instruments to play WELL.
THanks for reading! Comments are welcome!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)