I just realize today that new and different things are happening in my own piano world due to my participation with the forums. It got me thinking what if I hadn't discovered or participated in PianoWorld?

Without the pianoworld forums...

1. I would just be ploughing along, playing classical pieces, since that's my previous training. I wouldn't have ventured out to Chopsticks improv and discovered that there is music *in* me! I even started reading the Composer Lounge threads yesterday and found it most exciting and inspiring. I would never have known there is this streak in myself. It's a wonderful discovery.

2. I wouldn't have known that it is possible to learn to play by ear. I always believed that it's an innate talent. But with all the anecdotes and all the enthusiasm about play-by-ear courses, a whole new possibility of learning has opened up for me. Now I believe it's totally possible to learn to play by ear, and will definitely start very soon. Now you know the one particular course I am thinking of, don't you?

3. I wouldn't be reading up on theory and harmony, which I just started doing. This is an interest that is a direct result of the above two points.

4. I wouldn't be recording my rinky-dink playing. With the piano bars and the recitals, I got motivated to get my playing to a recordable state, albeit imperfect. Not only does it give me mini goals to achieve, it's also very encouraging to hear feedback from everyone, and to know that perhaps something that I played may bring someone a little enjoyment. (All your playing certainly does that for me!)

5. I wouldn't have been exposed to so many different types of music - Nevue, Final Fantasy, Tomas Leon, Clayderman, etc. etc. So much music, so little time is becoming more true than ever!

6. I wouldn't have come to know so many wonderful, talented, inspiring, fun and crazy people like y'all - and that would be a real shame! I have enjoyed listening to your music, learned all kinds of piano and non-piano stuff from you, laughed out loud from your posts, be inspired and motivated by you. OK, I won't get more corny, but it's just all true!

7. Lastly, I wouldn't be spending so much time at the computer :p

What would your life be like without PianoWorld forums?

I've realized that too - Piano World Forums - the people here with their energies participating have really stimulated my thinking and provided lots to think about on a daily basis. I have never had this kind of opportunity before, and I appreciate it greatly.

Reading and posting here has helped me in many, many ways. And, would you believe, it's crazy and wild that I feel so connected to many of them personally now and I don't know them, them don't know me - our physical characteristic don't enter into it - it's all about the subject and our perspectives of it.

I'm amazed at all the things I'm learning about Adult Beginners, other Piano Teachers, Pianists, and Composers. I try not to miss a day, since I have time for it, but if push came to shove in my time, I would still be here as frequently as possible.

Thank you everyone, and Frank!

Betty

A lot of neat things happened to me at PW as well. I gave up trucking, decided to go to music school, got into a good one, and got a nice little Steinway loaned to me by a supporter who sent it to me to give me an instrument to practice on for my audition which (obviously) went well.

A word of caution though. There are cross-purposed people on here who lurk and post as shills and sockpuppets and not everyone is who you think they are. I learned that back in May and as a result took 3.5 months off from PW to re-focus on my studies.

But it IS a fun place no doubt.

Isn't this place great?

But I also spend too much time at the computer as opposed to the piano.

Kathleen

I owe this place a lot. It really keeps me motivated...

As for USAPianoTrucker comments, I believe that is mostly in the piano forum. ABF is a very mellow and happy place with big hearted souls...

Mark...

Life without piano forums? I can't imagine it! And it's funny to think that I originally found PW through something my mother told me!

Before PW, I didn't have any English-speaking piano friends, and since I've lived in Japan the entire time I've been learning piano, that was one of the biggest things I was looking for, a place to hear about different approaches in the US etc.

What I couldn't have predicted was just how much I would learn from everyone here. All the information about playing, practicing, recording, composers and pieces... it has all made such a huge difference. I can't begin to list it all, but here are just a few of the big things.

Practice techniques- working on the hard parts first, not playing from beginning to end all the time, making my own practice menu, maintaining a repertoire, HT and HS practice

Composers- Well of course, David Nevue has to be mentioned (thanks Monica!) I would probably never have heard of him if I didn't post here.

Recording- I always wanted to make a recording for my family and friends back in the states. Talking with other PW members helped me figure out how to do it the first time. Then, wanting to share my playing with other PW friends was the motivation to start my web page and continue improving my recording techniques. And I wouldn't have known about the Zoom with PW either (thanks again to Monica!)

Resources- through PW I have discovered books about playing, books about pianists and other materials that have added another dimension to my playing and to my thoughts about piano.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

The Piano world forums are fun, however, it may take a while to figure out where you really belong.

I have noticed many different types of personalities on this forum from the constant bickerer (Bic-er-er!) to the truly supportive and well intentioned.

If it were not for PW, I would probably own a costco grand, still not be able to play anything, and be a full fledged member of the piano/furniture crowd!.

I would not know that there are so many various ways to learn to play the piano as well as so many beautiful genres of music out there.

This website is not perfect, but none are. My only wish is that not so many members take themselves so seriously as this is a place to unwind and have fun.

The whole purpose to have ambiguous user names to begin with is to separate the *real* person, from the fun filled adult/child inside!

I also wish that the moronic "star-bar" rating system had some/any form of accountibility and not just set up in a drive-by fashion in which malicious people can have a field day!

All in all, this IS a great site that offers up a wide array of options in terms of piano specific categories.

If you want to bicker, talk about pianos instead of playing them, while trying to impress people with your command of the english language and basically, discuss the most minute detail to the nth degree,...we have a forum for that!.

We also have a section for begining adults as well as accomplished pianists, teachers, and even electronic piano enthusiasts so you can't say that there is nothing here for you.

I still would give this site an "A", and an "A+" in certainly within site with just a minor tweaking.

People and motivation are the major draws for me to the forums.

The guy above really got me involved in the "people" aspect when I argued with him about the merits of the "star-bar" rating system soon after joining. I lost my argument by losing a star, but I don't care because I found a great cyber-friend in the process.

When I get down with the slow results of learning a new piece or just get in a funky state, I can come here and have my spirits lifted and motivation renewed.

I've not found another place on the web where I feel so much at home...even when I don't feel like posting much and just want to lurk. This has been my home page since joining and I know of no other place that comes close to beckoning me away.

The longer I'm here the better I enjoy the many posters who mean more to me than they may ever know. Long live Piano World!

What a good subject and now we can honor Frank B. Because of Frank B , our founder, our lives as piano teachers, piano tuners-technicians, students, composers, performers, etc will continue to vastly improve as the result of Frank B's vision for us in Piano World. Thank you so much Frank B. Sincerely Sandy B

I wouldn't be playing as nice a piano.

I would have never entered an online recital.

I wouldn't have participated in 3 wonderful piano factory tours.

I wouldn't have so many imaginary friends.

I wouldn't have found out about a terrific mystery writer (Mary Anna Evans).

I'd be getting more work done.

Hey Buddy we are real...lol...unless you "REALLY" have imaginary friends...lol

That was one of the first things that came to mind.

yeah, this may not be the best place for persons, like myself, who tend to procrastinate instead of productive practicing.

But I think the trade off is well worth it!!

I've definitely learned more from the ABF and the folks here than from any other source. It really is a part of my on-going piano education. Wonderful exposure to music played by wonderful real people that I can relate to and a constant source of new inspiration (the enthusiasm is really infectious). Also about the only place I can get any constructive feedback, invaluable for self-learners like me.

MrSH, I hope that my *real* person is the same as the fun filled adult/child inside! On the other hand, since your avatar looks a bit like your picture, can I assume it's an image of your *real* person? If so, I can't imagine what your child inside is like!

I really enjoy my jam mates and musician friends who play fiddles and mandolins and banjos and whistles and bodhrans and guitars and accordions, and we learn a lot from each other about music. But this place is about PIANOS - what a treat!

And yeah, I hang out more here in the ABF and very little in other forums. Because here everyone just plays piano and has a great time. I love the range of abilities and styles of music - it's like having live music to listen to when I'm at work, and I know the folks making it. And I like that it's a discussion group where there's a kazillion different ways of looking at the music - there's something in every thread that turns out to be useful or recognizable or delightful or funny or whatever. Great group of posters.

And yes, I *could* be playing that new music I got or the tunes for the next dance at this very moment

Cathy

There are ill mannered, albeit sarcastic, posters on the Teachers forum too.

I like ABF because of the humbleness and humility.

I would second everything ShiroKuro said--except that I really don't know many people who talk about playing the piano, in English or any other language.

I've gotten many ideas on music, technique, and practice. I've broadened my music preferences, taken on new challenges, and read many great piano books.

Mostly I've learned that you can be seriously involved in learning the piano without necessarily having the most talent or being very advanced. We all love the instrument at our level and in our individual ways, but all with a lot of enthusiasm!

Nancy

I'd be climbing the walls when I don't have enough to do at work, instead of hanging out with cyber-friends.

I'd have no one to ask when I'm not sure how to tackle something now that I'm self-teaching again.

I wouldn't have discovered New Age music, the anime sheet music site (thanks, Monica - I think ), or that Chopsticks can be something other than annoying.

Ditto here. Without PW, maybe I'd have been promoted to full prof. by now.

That's the (only) negative. Lots of positives:

1.) I've been introduced to my two favorite composers to play: David Nevue (and everybody who thanked ME for that should really thank Bob Muir instead, as he's the one who suggested "Solitude" as an easy piece way back when I was a brand new beginner. Thanks, Bob!!), and Ludovico Einaudi. Yikes, I can't remember who suggested him first... Euan???

2.) Great group of people who understand in a way that none of my family or friends do just how important piano is to my life.

3.) Zoom! And the credit here belongs to ragtime88 who was the first to describe the Zoom to a waiting PW public. Thanks, Ragtime88!

4.) Recitals. Nothing beats being able to share your playing with an appreciative and supportive audience.

5.) All around great entertainment. There have been threads where I've laughed harder than just about anything else I've seen or read. I *still* chuckle over that First Act piano thread.

Thanks, Frank, for creating the best piano forum on the planet!

Everything said above reflects what I feel as well.
So much information to learn from. Whenever there was a question about a piece I was learning, there was always someone who played it and was able to give great advice.
The recitals are excellent. A way to ensure that one is continually learning new material and to look back on it as well to see improvement.

Monica..what First Act piano thread you talking about..? I think I'll check it out and respond to it..

Peter

I'll give you the URL, but I have to preface it by saying that the thread itself won't make as much sense or be as funny unless you keep up regularly on the very controversial threads about Suzuki pianos and the Piano$uper$tore over in the main forum. The opening post in the First Act thread is a word-for-word satire of a similar thread that was started by a guy, many of us whom believed to be a sockpuppet, about a Suzuki piano he had just ordered. (That thread, btw, was so radioactive it not merely got locked but deleted from the archives entirely. ) The First Act thread just flowed from there.
"First Act Piano" thread

Monica you gave me a big chuckle when you said if it were not for our Piano World you might be a full professor by now. Wanting to share my thoughts on your post. First, you are a huge shining star overlooking our Piano World with your wisdom. We need you. Second," It is lonely at the top?" Chuckles, Sandy B

Sandy (193866) is sending everyone to the ABF to give a tribute to Frank and say a big "THANK YOU" to Piano World.

I especially want to thank Frank for the Non-Classical Piano Forum! It has changed my life! The Tim Richard's Jazz and Blues books are AMAZING! Someone over there mentioned these books along with a Jazz Theory book. I thought, "Oh ya, just another book for the never use pile, but WOW! It's the best!

Words simply can't express how happy I am to have found the Non-Classical Piano Forum and all the AMAZING stuff I have discovered over there!

Also would just like to send out a thank you to Wolfindamist! For introducing me to Youtube videos! That's where I discovered the best tutorial videos! Wherever you are Wolf, just have to say, really miss you!

So, officially, Frank! We appreciate all you do!
Thanks Again!

Ah lol, Monica , here I was trying to be funny because I thought you were talking about the #1 thread. That's why I said I was going to add another post to it. Doh..

Peter

Hi Rosanna

I find this place such a fabulous escape from the realities of my life and piano has become such an obsession that I really find I have to talk to like minded people about it (because in the main my family and friends just don't really get it!! kinda sad but true )

most of all I love to read all the different experiences that many members share on here too, I can't find the time to respond to everything I read but, I read far too much and spend waaay too much time here. I think I am a "piano-world-a-holic"!

thanks Frank from me too


Lee

What if we woke up tomorrow and no Piano World Forums? This thought makes me very grateful to our founder, mentors and all members of our Piano World Community. Sandy B

Now that's a scary thought.

May just be the inspiration (strange as it may seem) for Mr SuperHunky's scary Halloween improv challenge! (See MrSH, I am putting in the pitch whenever I can!)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST ROSANNA...We too often get caught up in our own world to leave it long enough to be grateful Rosanna. Your post indeed has me thinking how grateful we are to Frank B and all the others who are strong supporters of Piano World. So thank you for your post Rosanna. Sandy B

Sandy, there are many things that come to our lives serendipidously. It's nice to count our blessings. Who would have thought that googling for digital piano reviews would have brought me to this cyber community?