Calling all concert pianists...advice needed?

Question

I am a 16 year old who's been playing piano ever since I can remember. I am also an aspiring concert pianist, but can find no support from my friends/family for this profession. I am extremely dedicated to piano.

Could someone please tell me an effective method of practicing, and how not to lose concentration? I can play for up to 5 hours, but I hear that concert pianists play up to 12. Also, is there any risk of me losing me hearing because of being exposed to so much piano playing?

I also heard about this one girl my mom knew who entered a conservatory but had to drop out after the first semester because she permanently damaged her hands. How should I practice so this doesn't happen?

I know I have a lot of questions :) but thanks a lot for reading.

PS I love playing the piano - it's not just for my teacher or the audience.

Answer 1

Aww...I am a professional flutist, my parents cut me off when I decided to major in music and pursuit a life in music. So, I understand how you must feel! There are plenty of rich patrons out there, especially in NYC. They love to sponsor young musicians, especially in our situation. (I have one and they like to give me money once in a while and take me to the Hamptons in the summer)

It's very important to have a very strict and regimented practice schedule. If you want to make it, you need to practice at least 6-8 hours a day. You need to divide your practice into 2 hours sessions, with sufficient break in between.

This was my daily practice schedule for when I was in highschool:

Wake up really early!

the first 2 hours session: Scales, arpeggios, articulation excercises, fingering exercise...etc with a metronome. I usually do this the first thing in the morning when I wake up! (I used to have to practice in the garage because my parents thought I was too loud)

Take a break and go have breakfast! go to school. When you come home from school eat, then start practicing again! I even sometimes practice in the band room during lunch. Yes, I had a life too! Don't worry about your friends and social life, they should understand.

the second 2 hours session: I practice my etudes and technical excercises with a metronome.

After this, I do my homework

the third 2 hours session: I practice my pieces

I go have dinner, go do chores

the fourth 2 hours session: I practice pieces and memorization. Afterward, I go to bed. Don't forget to do stretches as often as you can! You have to stop and rest after each session, if you do it consecutively, you will be injured. With this regiment, I have never been injured!

There are many scholarships for musicians. I had never have to pay a dime to go to school. (I even go paid) You just need to ask your teacher, do some research. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Hey there. Well, I'm so glad that you've chosen the piano as your instrument...mine as well! Lol.

Ok, for your practice, start off with the scales, both major and minor. Work on them slowly at first, then gradually speed up. You should do this everyday, even if you're an expert. It helps keep your finger muscles going, and will help in playing difficult pieces.

For concentration, just try to ignore all sounds around you, and focus on listening in on your piece. If you can't do this, then you'll be distracted often. But with practice doing so, you will eventually gain concentration and will get used to focusing on your playing and not get distracted. Pretend you are in concert, on stage, and it's just you and your friend, the piano.

Your hearing won't be affected. No. Lol. The piano is such a gentle instrument that it can hardly hurt anyone's ears.

When you practice your pieces, start with the easier ones, the nes that don't require much stretch, to warm up your fingers. As I said, the scales will help with this too, and that is the first thing you should practice as a warm up before starting any piece. ;-). Good luck!

Oh yeah, and do take frequent breaks, as your fingers will wear out after a while of practice.

Answer 3

Definetly don't play 12 hours straight because it's true that you can do damage to your hands or maybe just plain exhausted!
I heard that when you practice, you're supposed to go 30 minutes between breaks. I personally go an hour, because I can, and breaks that often mess me up.
Good luck with your piano, I hope you really enjoy it and become successful one day =)
(And you don't hurt your hands hehe)

Answer 4

Sorry, I am not a concert pianist, but always wanted to be one, and still want to be! (I'm 18 now) and also studying in the conservatoire, but will have to stop due to too tense shoulders and otherwise not right atmosphere.... I think some of the fault is of my teachers who spoilt me by almost breaking my fingers! (I was an unexperienced, fragile small girl who thought this is the cruel, but right way to learn piano playing)

There are actually so many books on the art of piano playing, the physical and spiritual side of that... one of which I've read myself by Heinrich Neuhaus(his only book I think).

But one of the greatest pianists of all times, you would probably agree is Chopin; A SELF LEARNED (almost), following his natural instinct... Chopin wrote a book suggesting the natural ways to practise the piano, but unfortunately didn't finish that book, because of his death. It's on sale, but so far I've found just French versions of it.

There is another very similar one by Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger: 'Chopin; pianist and teacher as seen by his pupils' The name speaks for itself...

A good site also suggesting how to practise; http://www.pianoeu.com/

About the hearing. I've listened (and played) to too much music from as long as I can remember, my mother would get worried because of that. It was a drug to me, which took me to the clouds, but now I know I abused music to my own disadvantage. I will have to take a life-long break as I simply lost the understanding of music.. I got a very hard lesson!

I've heard Grigory Sokolov practices 8 hours a day from my piano teacher.. But again when Chopin heard one of his pupils practised 6 hours without a break, he got angry and told her never to practise for so long again, He said max. is THREE hours. That was Great Chopin, but no matter how great he was, it doesn't mean we should blindly follow his advices...

The best advice I ever received was very simple: "Just follow your very own heart" By concentrating on your being, your needs and your actions, you'll find out what is good for you and what is not, what you want and what you don't need.

From my experience now, it is very important to remember how to naturally love.. and exist naturally, without the slightest force. If you feel good practising 5 minutes, good so. If 10 hours, good so. There are no rules! I think it is best to have no teacher. Because there is always pressure and someone else's advices messing up your own way. (Of course depends on the teacher and your relationship and on how strong you are in keeping YOUR instinct)....

Sorry for writing so much.. but I gave you information of what could happen to some pianists...

I learned my lesson and I am waiting to enjoy being a concert pianist in my next life.....

Answer 5

There is too much to address here - people can injure themselves, but it is far less likely if you approach the keyboard naturally and understanding your own body and the most efficient way to play the instrument.

You may email me if you want - so much depends on what you are doing that I wouldn't attempt a response without knowing more.

Answer 6

You need to start putting yourself on YouTube if you haven't already because that's how a lot of people's careers started out!

Answer 7

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