Stores, I had assumed that one should gain his or her musical education/knowledge from those who are successful professionals in the field. After all, one must learn from someone. That is why I have taken to heart the opinions of teachers who had graduated from prestigious conservatories and renowned authors such as Dubal and Schonberg. How would you suggest making musical judgments? Should you only base them on your own personal experience and never on appeals to authority? In some cases, I may not have sufficient experience to judge certain issues solely from my own perspective (e.g. I have never done a study of how young you have to start in order to be a virtuoso.); thus I was hoping that by reading and listening to noted experts in the music field, I can increase my knowledge.

Kuanpiano, Horowitz isn't the only virtuoso that I have listened to. I have listened many renowned pianists, including but not limited to Rubinstein, Hofmann, Rachmaninov, Lhévinne, Argerich, Pollini, Cliburn, Richter, Gilels, Ashkenazy, Berman, Serkin, Arrau, Bolet, Volodos, et al. I know that only a select few pianists could possibly compete with the level of technical precision that Horowitz offered.

Just as a matter of interest, a large number of sources state that Liszt began taking piano lessons from his father when he was seven years old (others I can find mostly say six).

For example, Wiki: "At age six, Franz Liszt began listening attentively to his father's piano playing as well as to show an interest in both sacred and Romani music. Adam began teaching him the piano at age seven, and Franz Liszt began composing in an elementary manner when he was eight."

Things I have learned from this thread.

1. No matter how good you are, you still suck.

2. I had no interest in Julliard and therefore screwed for life.

3. 16 year old know everything, and us old 23 year old should just get out of the way as the old generations should.

4. This thread was much more entertaining last night when I got to enjoy a few shots of Vodka.

I do take offense to the university students not as good as conservatory students. I know as a university student there are a few advantages I have. For one, my debt is not going to be as large, and in some cases I feel the education available to me is good. I get a lot of time and attention from 3 different piano profs out here. My main teacher, one for accompanying, and a retired prof who I take Keyboard literature. I feel myself growing faster here then I ever did when I was at the Chicago College of the Performing Arts, which was also a fine school, and a conservatory.

When I was there, i was a later starter, and got lost in the fray pretty fast in favor of younger pianists. Did that mean I was less of a pianist...in the end no, after getting some great teaching away from there, I feel like I could compete with the other conservatory students.

My point is that one shouldn't base one's knowledge on any one opinion/thought/idea alone. Do the homework and form YOUR own opinion based on as much hard FACT as you can find. You're on the right track by listening (which is a sadly forgotten art) and reading and asking questions. There is no definitive answer about such things as "the best", etc., because it boils down to opinion. There is no definitive answer on how young a person must be to begin in order to become a virtuoso, because there are far too many varying factors to consider and also because of individuality/personality.
It's much like when a student brings a work to me and plays with a certain articulation, phrasing, etc. I ask them why they're doing certain things. "Because I heard Horowitz play it that way", is not an acceptable answer. Give me a reason for the choices you've made and be able to back those choices up with more than "so and so plays it that way."

Regina - Stores has hit the nail on the head here. I do hope you'll take his comments to heart.

Yes, I do think that stores is right. For the record, I do try to read/obtain many different views and then decide what makes the most sense to me. Of course, if my personal observation/judgment contradicts what someone says, then that is not necessarily cause to mistrust my own perceptions.

Lol at semifinals, such a shame on Judges ignorance towards talent, dedication and hard work!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_2z3JveTec

Bui actually played Bumble Boogie better than the Black Key Etude...but then BB is not as difficult as the Etude. Seems like this thread has come full circle.

I liked that video for what it's worth. I mean, I prefer listening to classical music, but for an audience, and a show like this, this seems more like what should be played.

By the way, he does the boogie pattern the same way Trans-Siberian Orchestra does their "A Last Illusion" (starts with Mozart Sonata K. 545 but goes into bumblebee after that). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_Qc5YYp4Cg

Although Sharon is definitely incorrect about Flight of the Bumblebee it being the most difficult piece, lol!

The trans-siberian orchestra I like . Though most of their Beethoven cd was kind of whack, I really liked their christmas cd's.