The hardest thing to learn, is how to read music. To learn how to read music well, you can play it one way or another. You can teach yourself how to read music very fast. There are many different things in reading music: melodies, chords, bass lines, harmonies, etc. Once, I was teaching myself the bass line of a Beatles song. The lines are very musical. But at first, I just found it overwhelming. It was hard to remember it all, or remember which parts of each of the bass lines should be played.
I’ve heard that there are three kinds of people which make the best musicians: the young ones who always remember, the old ones who never forget, and the very old ones who can play any instrument. And I’ve also heard about one kind of orchestra which is very good at creating and controlling music. I find that those who can do it on the violin can certainly play it on the piano. In my experience, the younger musicians never forget the music; they are fascinated to learn it again. The piano allows them to play with a greater range than anything. In the orchestra, however, they find that it is impossible to learn the piano as well as on the violin. If you have a real talent for playing the piano, you cannot find time for violin learning.
Is there anything particular that makes a good pianist?
A good piano player learns the same music on both the piano and other instruments – with a few exceptions in the younger ones. A musician who can play the violin and piano simultaneously, will easily be able to play all three at the same time. There are also a lot of people who need a small instrument so that they can be a conductor with one small instrument.
The key to success is understanding that the piano plays a very unique role in our society. We live in a society in which we have to travel far and wide, to get a good school system or to learn a foreign language. A small instrument can make us more independent and a little more independent of the other parts of our society. These are the qualities which must be cultivated for success in piano playing.
What is the hardest thing about piano playing?
There are many things that can make you nervous. First of all, you have to practice well. To take the necessary amount of time to practice each day, is one of the most important things. The most important thing is to practice slowly, so that you do not get too