Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Piano Survey

1: What kind of music do you enjoy playing? (Pop, classical, jazz, etc…)
Mostly classical, but sometimes pop and jazz too.

2: How old are you?
Late 50s.

3: Are you man or woman?
Man.

4: How old were you when you first started to learn piano?
9.

5: Why did you start playing piano?
My parents bought me one. I actually wanted to learn cello at the time!

6: At what level of skill would you rate yourself? (Beginner, intermediate, late advance, etc…)
Early advanced.

7: What kind of piano do you play? (Grand, upright, electric, Yamaha, Knabe, Stienway)
Steinway grand primarily; Yamaha Clavinola with headphones if household members are sleeping.

8: Why do you love to play piano?
It's an outlet I couldn't do without. It's the only thing I do where being a perfectionist helps instead of getting in the way. It's the one thing I do best. It expresses what I can't say in words - and by the way, the words I just wrote only scratch the surface. The only way I could really answer the question would be by playing the piano.

Great post!

Reminds me of the quote:

"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

1) Mostly classical, but I do enjoy playing anything really. I've gotten more into jazz over the past few years.
2) 25
3) Female
4) 7
5) I really liked pianos when I was younger, and begged my parents for one
6) Advanced
7) I play a lot of pianos, of all different kinds!
8) I love to play piano because I have had a lifelong love of the instrument itself. It is my personal outlet and my way of expressing myself through music. I now teach too, so it is wonderful to spread the joy of playing piano to students of all ages. The piano is truly what defines me as a person.

1: What kind of music do you enjoy playing? Classical, Jazz
2: How old are you? 26
3: Are you man or woman? Man
4: How old were you when you first started to learn piano? 10
5: Why did you start playing piano? At the time, it got me out of class at school.
6: At what level of skill would you rate yourself? (Beginner, intermediate, late advance, etc…) Well, I am getting my degree, soooo Late Advance.
7: What kind of piano do you play? (Grand, upright, electric, Yamaha, Knabe, Stienway) Petrof upright
8: Why do you love to play piano? Many reasons: I love listening to the music, the challenge. Passionate about classical music.

Hey Rusty. Welcome.....

1. My current workload is 60% classical, %40 acoustic and electric jazz.
2. 53
3. Male
4. 10

5. I always knew deep-down inside that I would grow up to become a pianist, even before I started lessons. But I started lessons because I wanted to impress a girl that I had a crush on......

6. Professional (though my workload hasn't been "late advanced/virtuoso" for at least 4 years now....)

7. All of my professional life, I've had access to phenomenal grand pianos in the schools that I worked in. Doing the bulk of my practicing there has helped me to live with the fact that I own what I now consider to be a substandard Yamaha. I also own a digital stage piano and a couple of synthesizers.

8. Acoustic piano is what I musically communicate best on. I love the range of colors and sounds.

How about geographic location? That might have an effect on what piano one owns, and more than likely what kind of music they play (ie: more folk pianists are in the south, more jazz pianists in the cities, etc.). For me, it doesn't have too much to do with what I play.

Or how about what music they've been exposed to over the years? This usually has more to do with composing than playing, but someone who listens to a lot of classical music is probably going to be a classical pianist, whereas one who listens/listened to a lot of pop music will probably wind up playing more pop songs than classical ones.

Psychological factors might influence genres as well. Someone who is predominantly moody or sad will probably not play a lot of novelty or ragtime music. Someone who is serious all the time will probably not be playing cakewalks. Someone who's just a bubbly ball of effervescent joy will probably not be playing Rachmaninov concertos.

These three might be interesting additions to the survey.

1: Mostly classical (i.e. "art music") but also pop
2: 24
3: man
4: 6
5: My parents and older brother wanted me to.
6: I've played a Rachmaninoff piano concerto with an orchestra before.
7: Samick
8: It's fun, it's an outlet for my feelings, it's intellectually stimulating, it's challenging.

1) Classical, rock
2) 58
3) Man
4) I hacked around for a few years, but started lessons at age 55.
5) I love music and we have a piano from when our kids took lessons.
6) Early intermediate
7) Young Chan upright
8) Listen to Clair De Lune or Beethoven's Sonata no. 8 Pathetique and you will know why.

1: Classical, little bit of contemporary
2: 17
3: Man
4: 8 (ish)
5: Because you can do so much with it, create so much variety.
6: Late intermediate
7: Upright
8: Expression, to feel good.. Same reason people do drugs?

1: What kind of music do you enjoy playing? (Pop, classical, jazz, etc…)
I play mostly classical, pop, and own compositions (which are also something like classic-pop).

2: How old are you?
45 years.

3: Are you man or woman?
I'm a man. But where is the trans/intersexual option?

4: How old were you when you first started to learn piano?
7 years.

5: Why did you start playing piano?
My parents proposed it to me.

6: At what level of skill would you rate yourself? (Beginner, intermediate, late advance, etc…)
Advanced amateur. I studied music, but am not a professional musician.

7: What kind of piano do you play? (Grand, upright, electric, Yamaha, Knabe, Stienway)
I bought a Yamaha C2 SG last year. My first grand piano; before that, I owned a Clavinova. My father owns a Sauter upright, which I also like to play; at university, my favorite pianos I could practise on were also Sauter uprights.

8: Why do you love to play piano?
I like music.

I love this answer! It makes me wish that I had answered "gentleman" to this question.

Hey, good points. But I did not include any geographical questions because I know a lot of people do not want to give away the geographical location to someone they have never met. As for what kind of music they listen to, is not really relevant to my paper. The paper focuses on what kind of people play piano over all, and what kind of music they play, not what kind of people play piano in New York and what kind of music do they listen to. The last question is good to, and would be great to include but, you can never quite trust what other people say about themselves as to how they act. Whether they are kind or mean for example, most everyone would answer kind, even if they are mean. Because kindness in more popular.
Thanks for the advice!
-Rusty

Hi, Rusty! Here's my contribution:

1 90% Classical; 10% Pop and Jazz transcriptions.
2 66
3 Man
4 5 or 6 years old.
5 Always liked music; always liked the challenge of making music.
6 Advanced
7 Yamaha console (upright)
8 Aesthetic bliss; all sorts of other, beautiful worlds at my fingertips.

1: What kind of music do you enjoy playing? classical and occasional jazz standards
2: How old are you? 59
3: Are you man or woman? man
4: How old were you when you first started to learn piano? 56
5: Why did you start playing piano? I've always admired people who can play the piano, and thought I would give it a try.
6: At what level of skill would you rate yourself? early intermediate
7: What kind of piano do you play? Estonia 190L Grand
8: Why do you love to play piano? It is the perfect combination of a physical and intellectual hobby. Although you don't burn many calories, the physical demands and connection to the instrument are undeniable. Intellectualy all music is a mystery and enormous challenge to a relative beginner like myself.

1 classical, mostly Beethoven and Bach
2 49
3 XX
4 5
5 mother was a professional musician, it was what was done in my house
6 most Liszt will always be out of convincing realm
7 (used) Steinway B arrives this afternoon!
8 my blood turns into vinegar without it

1: What kind of music do you enjoy playing?
Classical (especially Chopin, Beethoven, Schubert)
2: How old are you?
22
3: Are you man or woman?
Man
4: How old were you when you first started to learn piano?
9
5: Why did you start playing piano?
My Dad strongly encouraged me to learn it. At the start I didn't have much interest but it quickly became very enjoyable.
6: At what level of skill would you rate yourself?
...Late intermediate I guess.
7: What kind of piano do you play?
I used to play on a Yamaha upright. Now I play on a Kawai CS6 Digital (since I don't want to disturb my neighbours). After I graduate and make some money I would definitely go for a proper grand.
8: Why do you love to play piano?
Because I love music, and the piano is such a versatile and powerful instrument to create and compose music on. And without music, life would Bb

1. Classical
2. 22
3. Woman
4. 5
5. My mum didn't have the opportunity to learn piano as a girl so she would like me to have the opportunity instead.
6. Late intermediate/Early advanced
7. I started with a Yamaha which I hated. Then I upgraded to a Kawai and I love the sound of it. Makes me want to practice more.
8. Its an instrument where I can play my emotions onto. I love music and its an avenue for me to express myself.

1: What kind of music do you enjoy playing? (Pop, classical, jazz, etc…)
Clasical, pop, jazz (but mostly classical)

2: How old are you?
44

3: Are you man or woman?
man

4: How old were you when you first started to learn piano?
4

5: Why did you start playing piano?
My sister was taking lessons and it looked like fun. They told me I was too young. So I watched what she was doing, and when she was done practicing I sat down and played the song she was practicing. That was the last time I heard I was too young.

6: At what level of skill would you rate yourself? (Beginner, intermediate, late advance, etc…)
Advanced

7: What kind of piano do you play? (Grand, upright, electric, Yamaha, Knabe, Stienway)
Schimmel K-213 (7' Grand)

8: Why do you love to play piano?
It's relaxing, challenging, and rewarding.

1. Classical, old pop standards, ragtime, hymns
2. A few days shy of 66
3. Male
4. 8
5. Maternal parent signed me up. Although the thought of learning piano had never occurred to me before, I remember being very happy and enthusiastic about it.
6. On a good day - advanced.
7. Anything I can get my hands on - acoustic or digital. Home pianos are a 2003 Mason and Hamlin BB, 1975 Everett Studio Upright, Korg SP100 digital with a whopping 32 note polyphony.
8. Same reason I enjoy breathing.....

1: What kind of music do you enjoy playing? (Pop, classical, jazz, etc…) Classical mostly, some rag/very little popular
2: How old are you? 78
3: Are you man or woman? Man (don't get xx/xy bit--genes/chromosomes?)
4: How old were you when you first started to learn piano? 13
5: Why did you start playing piano? Mother wanted me to learn to be 'sociable'--didn't work tho
6: At what level of skill would you rate yourself? (Beginner, intermediate, late advance, etc…)Advanced (Doctorate)
7: What kind of piano do you play? (Grand, upright, electric, Yamaha, Knabe, Stienway)Grands/M&H BB, Estonia 9 ft
8: Why do you love to play piano? Always fascinated by those who played and enjoyed it and the competitions yearly, was apparently good at it and enjoyed lessons and practising. Can't imagine not playing. Already practised technical things today. Pieces later.

Ralph