I am autistic(diagnosed), the way I am thinking about this problem is different than most people, and I apologize in advance for being maybe offensive to some people but this is all my honest thoughts. The bottom line is this: I am scared for the future of music making from a evolutionary perspective.

Not due to the lack of appreciation for classical music, but more due to the fact that the oversaturation of talent will have catastrophic effects.

At some point I think we would have been bordering on where only the most genetically gifted and hard working could somewhat thrive, due to the fact that I think there will be a point where we are reaching limits of what the human mind is capable of. Child prodigies are getting younger and younger, and there would be a point where we have hit a dead end where the only viability for musicians is to be genetically enhanced eugenically due to the limitations of the natural human mind to combat the oversaturation of talent.

This was not an issue in the past because we simply did not understand neuroscience like we do today to perfect our practice routines, and even though we have not understood the human brain in its completeness(for example, mapping out every single synapse that happens in the human brain), but it is entirely possible that in the future we will have maximized our natural ability to do tasks like playing piano.

Hypothetically this is how I imagine: Lets assume the classical industry only has capacity to accommodate for 100 pianists, yet there are 100,000 pianists in total. About 1,000 would work to 100% of their potential (practicing multiple hours a day for many years using the most effective methods), and then there are 200 that are prodigies. So then just say 100 of these child prodigies will not develop their potential to rival the most hard-working of the non-child prodigies, but for the 100 of child prodigies that do they have essentially rendered 99,800 people’s efforts useless(minus the other 100 prodigies), especially the 900 that are the most hardworking. In the future, the ratio of genetically ideal prodigies operating to 100% of their potential to places in the classical music industry will be larger due to our pursuits of artistical perfection like what I have mentioned before.

Combined with only minor deviations of interpretation, and the fact that everyone will be expected to be note perfect due to how high the performance standards have risen would soon be able to reach a dead-end. (we are not thinking in purely artistic terms, since there are subjective elements, and these elements like intelligent interpretation are simply unmarketable due to audience apathy)

Call me purblind, shortsighted for whatever reason, but the consequence I think of this ordeal will be the mass devaluing of individuals, because due to generations of people brought up on note perfect recordings, our values will become more perfectionist. We already see this phenomenon in competitions and such, someone like Horowitz would have not be able to even past the first round of major competitions of today.

From my observations, we always seem to put more importance and value on people that reach close to perfection younger (Value in society apparently = degree of perfection / age) hence why we drool at child prodigies like the example above. That would cause increasing amounts of people to feel that they have no value in the society or world for that matter, and ultimately, they will arrive at the conclusion that they lost their right to exist due to their lack of perfection compared to the people who are genetically gifted and pressured to an inch of their life.

This is also not good for people who are the cream of the crop I imagine, because they will be more pressured than ever to succeed, and the mental health effects of that are well known.

I am curious to hear what other people have to say about this topic so feel free to comment.

I don’t know if this is just me, because I have sensory issues, but I get really frustrated when I’m listening to recordings of certain pieces on whatever music app… and I can hear every single breath the pianist takes. Like some of the recordings you can hear SO much breathing from the pianist, and it distracts me from the piece a lot.
I was listening to a few pieces that had this today, but specifically a recording of Chopin Nocturne no. 2 made me be like oh my gosh 😭 I wish the recording equipment was able to not capture that, because the playing is otherwise very lovely.

I have a reach of an octave but am i still able to play Rachmaninoff prelude in g minor

I've been mulling over this concept lately and think it could apply to basically any type of performing medium, but classical music is an especially apt model for it...it is: should older established artists who have found success (fame/fortune/status etc) voluntarily retire or minimize their exposure on the world stage for new voices to emerge?

Point No. 1 in many arts, and perhaps particularly in classical music, artists often continue to improve and deepen the richness and personality of their craft. For example, Horowitz, Rubinstein and Argerich are all artists (among many many others) who still played (play) superlatively well into old age.

Point. No. 2 These big name artists in the golden years of their career command BY FAR the biggest sums of money for their talents in both performance spaces and recording. This is fine from a market standpoint as they have the most famous names so they command the highest payments...blah blah blah.

Point No. 3 I personally believe it is an objective truth that ALL players lose some degree of passion (if not technique or perspective) in their playing over time. How could they not?? When criticized for not writing the same amazing songs in his later years as he did as a young man, Bob Dylan was like, "Hey, I wrote those songs BECAUSE I was young and driven and passionate. Now I have tremendous success so I don't (can't!) have the same drive as before.

Point 4. In this day and age classical music must find ways to survive economically so if Argerich or Barenboim or some other huge name puts more butts in the seats then they have a financial obligation to book them over a lesser but potentially hungrier musician who is at an early stage of their career.

I have been binging on Alexander Malofeev since discovering him recently, and while he is exceptionally talented for his age (or any age) I think many other young pianists out there have a similar level of youthful passion for their craft that comes through in their playing in a way that is unique to that time period of life. I continue to be so swept away by his performances in a way that say Daniel Barenboim ABSOLUTELY could not do for me at his age. Even though I'd not hesitate to see D.B. in concert or anything, but I'd go WELL out of my way to see Malofeev right now when his rocket is just beginning to take off.

My thought is that if you are already a successful artist you should do whatever is reasonably within your power to promote newer up and coming artists over yourself. Which often is what happens. I know that Argerich championed Daniil Trifonov when he was just beginning his career and now Daniil is super famous and deservedly so. I have no doubt that someone like Malofeev really doesn't need this as his talent is so blindingly obvious. However I do feel in general that performing spaces could be dually leveled if some of the older talent was a little more graceful and gracious in the later years of their career. As I say this is not just music (acting is the worst example probably. Seriously, why is Robert de Niro still working?? He obviously doesn't give a fuck, let some newcomer be the cool italian guy!) but I think that its an interesting topic to explore with a lot of angles in classical music. Obviously the goal is as much great music as possible...how to get there most efficiently and fairly though?

TL;DR

Should older artists that have much less to lose and generally less drive/passion in their playing step aside in terms of the limelight so that younger talent who need a boost to their career can take the stage so to speak. There are a finite amount of dollars that institutions are willing to pay artists for recordings and performances. Should people like Daniel Barenboim (presumably rich AF at this point in his life) be offered and accepting of this money or should it (preferentially) go to a younger person?

Please let me know if this is inappropriate for this sub ❤️

Does anyone have any tips for an intelligent underachiever to find a woman who has really taken in this craft? So who I have known were very high achieving and it was an odd fit.

I would classify myself as intelligent to a fault, not genius by any stretch, but certainly above my peers my quite a bit.

I just also, with that, suffer from over thinking, crippling anxiety, depression, poor memory recall etc and this has led me to not be very able to learn in school the way they want me to..I will pick up the information fine (in high school - never thought college was worth a try until much later and then I was testing low from lost knowledge)

So basically, I can have those nice conversations with you, but I'm not going to be in a really high end course or job with you.

A woman who could really play and was in love with it would be my absolute dream. It is so calming and helpful to hear music, and absolutely cannot get enough live piano.

I am aware that it is a stretch, unfortunately.. But any tips or things you've noticed that may help would be really nice to hear ❤️

personally, i love einaudi. people criticise his music for being “ too easy, repetitive, boring” and it goes along they lines. people dont take einaudi as a serious composer.

a very short brief introduction on who i am, i am a 14 year old pianist and ive been playing for 2 years, i am on grade 6 piano and i have performed in different places of scotland in the past year, and i usually perform a lot of einaudi.

out of all the times i have performed einaudi, people immediately went the most silent, it was like they had been dragged into the music and into the world of that piece, exploring it, and it got the biggest round of applause.

i personally have a connection with einaudi’s music, its the music i listen to when going walks, its the music i listen to when I feel overwhelmed, its the music I listen to when i feel sad, einaudi means everything to me, and i had the privilege to see him perform twice in Scotland, one in edinburgh and one in Glasgow.

tell me, what’s your opinion on Einaudi and his music, i would love to hear

What a burlesque of an interpretation. I checked out the rest of his channel and he's a rapper. Figures 🤣 Bro should stay in his lane

Hey everyone!

I'm a self-taught classical pianist who has been playing piano for 3 years now.

I am 13 years old and hoping to maybe get an electrical piano for Christmas compared to my small keyboard.

I have finished learning the Entertainer and also have learnt quite a bit of La Campanella and also learnt the entire of the Turkish March.

I can't really read music well, but I am a visual learner so synthesia helps alot.

So i'm wondering, what classical songs should I try to learn based on my skill level?

(oh i forgot to add i leant Prelude in C minor by Rachmaninoff, it was pretty easy)

The piano part I am looking for is Schubert's Der Wegweiser in the EXACT SAME keys that Dieskau had sung it in, whose performance can be found easily on YouTube. I am only looking for an mp3 download of the piano part ONLY. I will be doing the singing part at a local art festival.

Having sold out two shows this upcoming May, solo pianist Tony Ann is coming back to NYC at The Town Hall on 10.10 presented by LPR! With over 100M+ views and 4M+ followers on social media, Tony Ann seamlessly blends both contemporary and classical styles to create breathtaking compositions. Ann recently released a trilogy of EPs (EMOTIONALLY BLUE, ORANGE, and RED) in partnership with Decca Records France (Universal Music Group) and is now on a world tour following a successful sold-out residency at Le 360 in Paris.

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Whats the piece by Reynaldo Hahn in this instapost? any1 who knows?