So what attributes should the ultimate pianist have?

What does it take to be truly world class, and yet still be human?

Is it technical ability? Ability to learn? Ability to hear?

In fact what is musical ability? One specific quality of musical ability? Or a mish mash of lucky gifts that geld together to make someone a musician or not?

Interested in hearing peoples thoughts...

I'd say from the lack of responses that this question is pretty much impossible to answer. Sort of like asking "what is time", lol. Einstein died trying to answer that one...

---------

I think that alot of it is Musical Ability when it comes to talent. Anyone can practice the technical stuff to perfection, but only the truly gifted can easily breathe the music into it. Example, my brother tried out for the YAG of California last year. He thought he did unbelievably horrible at the audition, and was sure he owuldn't make it. When he got the remarks back, they were the most glowing reviews that my teacher and I had ever seen. The adjudicator spoke of the musicality that he had broughten to the music, certain ideas that he had never thought of. He even went to say that my brother was the most gifted student he had heard for a very long time. all that after a cruddy performance.

Maybe that's the talent that really sets you apart from the rest of purely technical fiends. I sure wish I had that!

When I was 10, by piano teacher moved. She told my parents to not let me stop playing but not worry about my brother. She thought I had a natural musicality and that he didn't.

I never stopped and he did. I am drawn to music, he isn't.