In her very fine book "Grand Obsession" author Perri Knize says (in reference to a rather humble assignment her new teacher has given her):

"I want a grander, more ambitious goal, one that better fits my fantasy of possessing an innate, neglected talent that will surge to prominence, overcome all odds, and my handicap of a late start, and surprise everyone by achieving greatness". (Chapter 3, Piano Lessons)

I'll admit that it's very tempting to have this fantasy. I've "toyed" with it. But the reality of the everyday struggle just to maintain one's current level of skill and hopefully improve ever-so-slightly in tiny increments from time to time has long since blasted to pieces any irrational hopes that I might be a one-in-a-million "adult prodigy".

How do you feel about this quote. Does it describe one of your deepest, most secret fantasies about your natural born talents as a pianist?

Or are you more realistic (at least most of the time)?

Or are you really that one-in-a-million "adult prodigy"?

Regards, JF

Edited for spelling. Topic title changed to better reflect subject matter.

Well, except for this wee little fantasy about Beethoven's Hammerklavier, I'm pretty realistic in my aims, which are to play with real control, with power, sensitivity and musicality. To be able to at least attempt any piece I want. To succeed with the majority of the ones I try. And, of course, to totally wow my family and friends.

There just aren't, you know, any judges or paying customers involved.

I love the idea of "adult prodigy" ...

It's funny. Only adults seem to want to be prodigies. The kids I know who have prodigious talents seem happy to take things one step at a time.

(Just an observation, but one that I think is significant.)

As long as I can sit down at my piano and play good enough to give myself that incredible "I am moved by this music" feeling--I'm content.

The rest is gravy.

I don't know if that happy attitude applies to all kids with prodigious talents - but you are certainly right about adults.
Maybe it's because we have gotten so used to BEING accomplished in so many fields (our professions, driving, table manners, writing, reading ...) that we have forgotten how we got there - by years and years of learning and practice and being content and happy to take one step at a time.

Well, I am that elusive "adult prodigy".

That is my blessing. My curse is I am stuck in an body that has no innate coordination, ears that cannot tell up from down, eyes that refuse to focus, hands that ache from years of use doing stuff counter-productive to the piano (dare I say paino?), and, finally, the inability to count to 4.

But, if I keep it inside my head, I am a genius. It's that darn "real world" crap that keeps me from greatness. If only you could hear what I dream....

Hi JohnFrank,

The quotation certainly speaks to my secret longings, and in fact there is a divide between what I am now able to play and what I wish I could play. I carry my Chopin album to my piano lessons, and I have a couple of "long-term projects" from among its pages, but I really need more remedial work--Bürgmuller and Hanon--at this stage in my playing.

When I try to play the harder stuff, I am inevitably frustrated. I am no genius. And concentration seems hard to come by; perhaps if only.... My current piano teacher was very sensitive in promoting the Bürgmuller, when I had Chopin aspirations. I've had other teachers who were not so considerate of my longings, seeing only my limitations. I think it helps to have Chopin on "the back burner" of my repertoire. It nourishes a dream, perhaps a foolish dream, but perhaps one less foolish than a delusion of prodigious proportions.

i would be lying if i said i didn't have a desire to leave an affect on the world, whether it be through music or otherwise. And really i think that is the at the heart of that quote.

I'm really more realistic most of the time. I'm getting far too late a start to "achieve greatness", even if I otherwise had been born with the talent.

But I've been told that I'm doing well for someone at my level. If I continue to study and practice, I believe that I can learn to play more and more of the music I love---Mozart, Bach, Liszt, Chopin.

I will probably never play the most difficult repertoire, but this isn't a problem. I'll never be a professional pianist, and I'm not trying to be. But if I can play music I love, expressively and well, that will be reward enough for my studies.

Yeah, well, I think when I first started, I thought *just perhaps* I would find that tiny spark of genius deep inside and be able to play anything, anytime without the grinding effort. Silly me! I am far from an adult prodigy, or even an adult proficient. I will probably never be more than an adult hack. But, what I have learned since starting, is that all I need expect is that I will continue to progress, even if it is at an infinitesmal rate, and that I always enjoy my time at the keyboard. I am still coming to grips with that, but it's easier every day.

I remember reading that quote and not being able to relate to it. :p Maybe I'm just an underachieving slacker, but I have no aspirations of reaching "greatness" or even the advanced stage. I watch YouTube videos of pianists playing terribly difficult classical pieces, and I admire them enormously, but the knowledge that I am unlikely to ever reach that proficiency bothers me not in the least.

All I want is to be able to play the music that I like and want to be able to play. Fortuitously this turns out to be new age music, much of which is already within my reach. While I hope and expect that I will continue to make progress slowly and steadily, I can play enough right now that I like that I am blissfully content with where I'm at.

I keep my aims as simple as possible. One would have a setback from time to time; I find the need to adjust the hands a bit any where I sit at the piano. These factors came out at yesterday's piano party; it left me inspired to continue.

I wasn't aware relaxation of the neck and back muscles have a factor in playing the piano! I am glad this was pointed out as I found my hands were stiff when I played. Better to learn the right way and avoid injury.

- Mark

Yes, so did I - until I discovered I wasn't one!

JF

I think that pretty much nails my own outlook - words of wisdom to live (and play piano) by!

JF

Yours, mine (formerly) and many others.

JF

More words of much wisdom.

JF

You changed the title of this thread, you sneaky dog.

Here I was thinking this was going to be another one of those great posts about combining sex with piano...

Ever seen The Red Violin?

...

:) Guily as charged! I did edit the OP to explain (the proverbial fine print). Responses were slowing down, so I thought I would spice things up a bit - it's a thread that deserves a longer life span.

Sneaky Dog? That's the best compliment I've received here at PW yet!

:D I'm glad you thought that was a "great" post, although I wasn't sure if the moderator would. I'm trying to clean up my act, but it's difficult at my age (old habits die hard). I wonder though if anyone has tried that yet?

Regards, JF

Yeah, that's me. I admit to myself (and others) that my piano aspirations are probably overly ambitious, and yet, I cling to them nevertheless. It's not so much a decision I make or have made... it's not like I have intentionally set high goals for myself, and I'm now measuring success against these standards. It's just a recognition of what is inside me. At this moment, I want to play pieces I myself have always enjoyed, and some of those are very demanding.

On the other hand, if you told me today that 4 years from now, I could play like Monica (I'm listening to her version of Einaudi's Limbo this very moment, coincidentally enough), I would be totally ecstatic with that. This despite her claims to not being a very proficient player.

One person's lack of proficiency is another's virtuososity, I reckon.

Thank you, AWPP! You are very kind.

Limbo is actually very easy, probably the easiest piece of Einaudi's I've played yet. You will be playing it WELL before 4 years. You could probably play it after just a few months. That's one of the things I like so much about Einaudi's music... much of it is not technically demanding but it is all beautiful.

I never had this fantasy about piano, maybe because I have had enough musical experiences before taking up piano to know that I have no hidden musical talent. Actually, discovering that I could learn to play even without having a special gift was very encouraging. To be a capable and fulfilled amateur is my goal, which I don't find at all limiting.

Adult prodigy. Yup, one day I will be as good of a pianist as the 6-year-old Aimi Kobayashi.

These threads are sometimes a nice reminder that it is all about the journey.

Regarding the very recent past and the immediate present... Am I doing the best that I can do today?

Fantasy? Sure, I have a lot of them. I'd love to sit down and play the "Warsaw Concerto" like the virtuoso that I am (not!). Then, I'd like to slide over to a pipe organ and play Bach like E. Power Biggs. And then go dance like Rachel Brice.

None of these are likely to happen in my lifetime - but I have fun anyways!

I hope there is a happy medium between this bleak picture and irrational hope.

I can honestly say that I have never been learning piano faster in my life than I am right now (I am 35). I think that the more you know, the faster you learn--there is an exponential thing going on there. So, I see no reason not to believe that you can grow this year and grow faster the following year than you did this year.

Of course, there are factors involved such decreased dexterity working against you. But on the other hand, I know 70 and 80 year pianists that have technique that kills mine.

Of course you have to want to learn bad enough to work hard. Many people would think that I am nuts or overcommitted. I spend probably 1.5 hours a day playing, about 45 minutes working on ear training, more time editing or writing music, and a lot of time listening to music. You cannot work that hard and not see results!

John Frank wrote: Thanks, John Frank. As often as I find wisdom in what you post, I'm taking that as a real compliment!

I'm surprised she doesn't include having Zac Efron teach her to play the piano in her prepubescent-like fantasy.


Mel

Mel - "prepubescent-like fantasy"? I'm not so very sure that it's a fantasy that's best characterized with reference to that age/developemental stage (which carries a slight negative connotation). Perhaps it's more like a secret, temporary, unrealistic "hope" that is soon "dashed" by real-world circumstance, and can occur to even the most hardened, cynical, grizzled, world-weary geezer - like me!

Regards, JF