America's Got Talent held a You Tube contest this year in which several acts were chosen from You Tube videos and given the opportunity to perform live on the show.

One of the contestants was a talented (but by no means prodigous), 16 year old pianist. I'll try not to further comment on his abilities, but he played a fairly mediocre rendition of Chopin's "Black Key Etude" as his debut piece.

Last night, he was voted through to the next round.

Piers Morgan's advice to him...

...Try to play something more well known next time.

I found that comment fairly amusing. What's more well known than Chopin's Black Key Etude???

I swear, if it's not Fur Elise or the Turkish March, nobody's ever heard of it.

On the flip side, the 10 year old singer was amazing! (At least I thought so, but I can't sing a note).

This always happen, people who wouldn't even get into the conservatory, are suddenly extremely talented. I think its very disrespectful to all those people who worked really hard, and are attending or finished the conservatory.

I agree.

I don't mean to say that the kid has no talent--he is certainly more talented than the vast majority of 16 year old kids taking piano lessons, but he definitely should not be acknowledged as the most talented 16 year old pianist in America, because it simply is not true.

The reality is, however, that a truly gifted 16 year old pianist with a real future as a performer would never be caught dead on America's Got Talent.


The point of my original post was to highlight Piers Morgan's ingorance. I'm not saying that he should be an expert on piano performance, but if he's going to portray himself as an arrogant, know-it-all talent scout, he should actually know what he's talking about.

And Sharon and Howie, well that's a whole separate issue.

And perhaps the most important question here is--Why do I watch that show???

That's just what I was thinking right before I read the last line of your post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gip2yFT2ffw

this is getting worse and worse, I was far better than that when I was 16 :|, and I wouldn't dare to call myself a prodigy!!!

Wow, so this is what classical music looks like when it is a product.

He could have at least chosen something he can play. Eh, Kudos to him anyway.

What would be a good piece to play on this show?

Let's assume:

1.3 minutes maximum(probably less)

2.appeal to a non classical audience(yes, I think Black Key was a mistake)

3.must appear technically difficult

4.Bui(or whoever's playing)could play anything...no limitations on skill

5.can be part of a piece or abridged version

I can't think of many right now:

Rachmaninov:Flight of Bumblebee transcription
Cziffra:Bumblebee transcription
Liszt:Friska from HR #2(abridged)
Mozart/Volodos:Turkish March(may have to be shortened)
de Falla:Ritual Fire Dance
Grieg/Ginsburg:In the Hall of the Mountain King transcription
Lady Gaga/Liszt:Grand Fantasie de Bravura on themes from Poker Face

Other suggestions??

"I was bored...I think if you had chosen something that we can all relate to..."

Omg :,(

LOL so you dont think that the kid is talented? you guys are just piano snobs and sound like haters to me to be honest. Are you guys jealous that you weren't on the show or what? I give the kid props, he is nice. Of course he isn't the best in the world. Just because he is on a show and people who are better than him that go to a conservatory are not on the show, it's disrespectful? LMAO you guys crack me up. You guys seem really uptight to me.

Ok good to know, I really value your opinion!!

I actually liked the Black Keys Étude. It wasn't perfect, but it was good. The Turkish March was decidedly non-impressive, but he marketed himself extremely well.

The bored woman was ridiculous. I actually like how she got corrected, not just by the audience but also by her fellow judge. Even if he's no depository of knowledge regarding classical music, at least he tried to rate the performance by its own merits rather than his own personal preferences.

Difficulty doesn't matter in these kinds of shows. The performance does. I think they'd prefer the Turkish March Victor posted over a perfect performance of Islamey or the Hammerklavier.

I'm not sure if they're short enough, but I'd consider the following, in addition to those already posted:
Grieg - Morgenstimmung
Liszt - Un Sospiro/La Campanella
Debussy - Clair de Lune
Beethoven - Für Elise
Scriabin - Opus 8, Etude 12

Beyond that, transcriptions of popular songs would probably work pretty well. I've seen some interesting ones online.

Nobody said he isn't talented (In fact, I said he is talented). The following points have been made so far:

1. He is talented, but not a prodigy.

2. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of far better 16 year old pianists out there (not saying I was one of them at 16 years old).

3. The black key etude is a bit beyond his abilities--that is, if he is going to play it in front of 20 million viewers.

4. The AGT judges know absolutely nothing about most of the acts/talents they are judging, especially classical music.

5. Why do I continue to watch that show???

I think about the best piece you could hope to use is the frisca from HR 2. Maybe use the Chico Marx version, though that may still be too long. I had good luck with the Military Polonaise with a non-classical audience, and with all the repeats, you could make it most any length to fit a contest without leaving anything out. (except the repeats )

I can kind of see why Sharon would be "bored", but it was for the wrong reasons. The performance was okay, but not perfect. The Black Key has never been the most interesting music to me either.

Having just watched the clip Piers was not the one who suggested a better known piece, that was Sharon. So Piers did not display any significant ignorance, though if he's the most talented person they've had on the show, then the show has a problem. The kid played pretty good, but he's certainly not the most talented 16 year old pianist, just the most talented on ATG,(which isn't saying much).

However, I agree with the poster who commented that the 10 year old girl had a huge set of pipes. She could really sing.

Correct, Piers did not say that in the above posted clip. He said it the following night during the results show.

Sadly, though this wonderful Etude is popular amongst Classical Music lovers; people who are not into it; would have never heard it.

It's interesting that on the video clip comments before the performance, HM makes the caveat : "... but the question is : would something like this act translate to Las Vegas?" as if that were a major criterion for success. By AGT standards, then, these are Vegas-potential "acts." That says a lot, doesn't it?

Regards,

I thought classical pianists would be happy to see that kind of music up there, as it promotes classical music, but not Brent B apparently! No on is preventing the "more" talented kids you would like to see up there from competing in the show, so stop blaming the kid. Also, may be you should ask those talented kids to put their stuff on YT and present themselves like this kid did.

Try to play something more well known next time...this coming from Piers "who the hell are you?" Morgan (seriously, who the hell is Piers Morgan?)

A satirical magazine this side of the pond has been calling him "Piers Moron" for many years. He's a former tabloid newspaper editor who became known as a regular pundit / talking-head-chappy for current affairs. Every time I see a clip of that guy speaking on that show, I feel a bit embarrassed to be British.

I'd like to present a rather interesting and enlightening conversation I had with my non musically mother last night:
Me: Heck they call that talent.
Mother: well why don't you audition
Me: Because, any chance of of me being a serious pianist would be history. Heck, I'd be a laughing stock of the piano world.

That is all.

Feel free to post more anecdotes.

I didn't like the lady's comment. I mean, as a judge she should know better and also know more about classical music...

OK, if I were him, I would have to take into account what kind of people the judges are and what kind of audience is watching. He would have to balance showing off to people like us and showing off to people like them. If he shows off to people like us by playing, for example, Rachmaninoff Op. 39 No. 6 very well, then people like them might be bored or they'll think nothing of it. If he shows off to people like them by playing, for example, Chopin Op. 10 No. 5 faster than he can actually play it, he'll at least seem talented temporarily to hold him over to the next round. I think his choice is good, except he could have played it better.

There is room for more showing off. For example, if there were two pianists, and one plays Chopin Op. 10 No. 5, the next one could say "I can do that with my left hand" and play Godowsky's arrangement.

But it's America's Got Talent, which many really talented Americans would never touch.

Yes, you're right. I'm completely against the promotion of classical music in any way. I've been so upset I haven't been able to sleep all week

The intent of my original post was not to highlight the contestant, but rather the judges.

I promise I'm not a grumpy person trying to destroy the dreams of teenage musicians.

Guys Guys Guys!!! (and girls) Pulease! Let's not turn on our own kind, this kid is one of us, a classical music fan. Let's cheer the fact that a 16 YEAR OLD KID came out and said "there is more music out there than Lady Gaga" and then played Chopin. Just to be up there following no talents like these cookie cutter dance groups and rappers screaming Ni@#!r this and Bit#$ that.

I have nothing against pop music, i was raised on everything from mozart to motown to metallica and bach to beatles to bad company but the so called music now just makes me realize how far everything has fallen. So really its not just about being a clasical music fan but a person that understands and appreciates a "High Level Art Form."

I wouldnt be so competitive to those that have not gone to conservatory either. So what someone compliments him, the important thing is that we continue to promote this amazing part of our traditional culture.

So really, who would NOT want their kids listening to our music rather than Snoop Dog. I have a baby girl so as far I'm concerned i see things like Tony Soprano, outside its 2010 but in here its 1955!

I should start a new thread on this.

I guess I fail to see how he is not a prodigy, or how he is worse then other pianists. I mean if you compare him too professional level pianists, of course. I think he saw AGT as an easier opportunity, and why not? Who ever said the conservatory route was the only way to go(I am thinking pianists like Alfred Brendel or more recently Jon Nakamatsu) It is nice to see something different on there, but a lot of people still think of Liberace when it comes to their view on pianists.

I just watched the video and honestly, I have no problem with what he did. Granted, the "black key" was water a bit too deep for him to fully tread yet, but he gave a gallant effort. I do love what he said in his mini interview beforehand about showing everyone how amazing and beautiful classical music is. You really can't blame Sharon Osborne for giving him an ex. I mean look at the ahole she's married to and the "music" she's had to listen to as a result...of course, she's a tasteless dolt.