I just don't get it!

Dear friends visited yesterday (he, the guy who suggested that perhaps I play the Warsaw Concerto the last time they were here. )

Well, I had a couple of months to polish my favorite piece, and after a little coaxing, I started playing. About 3 seconds after I had started, he yelled out: "Chopin, right?"

"Right!" I answered as I tried to concentrate on not my losing place and continued to play.

"What is that? A polonaise?"

"No. An etude." I'm still struggling to keep control.


"What's an etude?"

I stopped. Got up from the piano and gave him a brief description of what an etude was. Sat down and finished my bloody Mary and swore never again to play for ANYONE but myself.



Kathleen

Your audience obviously never played an instrument...... how rude!! I'm a fan of playing for just myself too...!! I have a brother (living in another province) visiting me this afternoon and expect him to ask me to play something....gulp....maybe I will, maybe I won't!! :p

Kathleen, I'm going to have to agree with Sandy on this one. I think your dear friend was rude. But, bless his heart, he probably didn't realize it.
(I've learned from living in the south that you can say anything you want about anyone, as long as you follow it up with bless his/her heart)

Kathleen, I don't think that your guest even realised what he did. And it seems to happen to many on the forum, there is another thread on the Pianist forum on disturbing family TV-time (imagine!) and the one on the ABF about annouying the family.

That's what's happening: people who are not in music simply have no idea what it takes to play the piano and to develop all these skills. I like to compare it (at least at concert level) with the effort professionals in sports make when they prepare for the olympic games - training all day long.

Playing for yourself is just fine, though I understand that just sometimes you would like to get a little smile and a pat for all this effort . The other day I dragged my husband to the piano room, had him listen to my new tango love and he said "wow". Once in two years .

Patty