Becoming A Concert Pianist - Realities, Difficulties, and Solutions 

"This year I didn't play with orchestra at all" - Josh Wright, January 3rd.

I wish all of you the greatest success with your music, no matter what path you choose to pursue. Have a great week of practicing, and happy new year!

A lady after having attended a Jascha Heifetz concert, reportedly gushed, "Oh Mr. Heifetz, I would give my life to play a violin like that." To which Mr. Heifetz replied; "Madam, I did."

I'm perfectly content playing piano as a hobby. Trying to do it as a profession just sounds way too stressful

Sometimes I look down at my fingers on the piano and realize I've spent thousands of hours pushing around a bunch of rectangular wooden blocks

I've often heard that many people who loved playing the piano lost a lot of that love once they started doing it professionally.

If you are great at the piano, but at the same time like having jet lag all the time, like staying in hotels all the time, like eating restaurant food and fast food all the time, like being away from your family all the time or not having a family at all, then you are meant to be concert pianist.

I received this warning personally when I was a child as my grandmother was a concert pianist. From age 3 to around age 12 I really wanted to follow in her footsteps but she sat me down and told me about how lonely it was traveling around Europe and how hard it was to raise a family. I have found that I am much happier teaching than I am performing (not that I don't love performing!) and I get to have the life that I want performing locally on occasion and putting most of my time and effort into running my little piano studio. When I was a child, teaching seemed to me to be the "consolation prize" but I enjoy it so much now, seeing the passion of my students as I help them to hone their craft. I truly feel that I am doing what I was born to do.

Rather than strive to be a concert pianist, be a brain surgeon. You'll spend about 1/4 of the time studying and preparing, and you'll make 100X the money.

It would be great to see a video on how to perform locally (not professionally) and find gigs and concerts locally for those of us who enjoy performing and sharing but arent going to pursue a career concert pianist. Thnx!

I dreamed of becoming classical pianist since very young age. 2 years before completing secondary music school, I decided not to pursue this further (going to music academy). Thinking about this 20 years later, I don't regret this decision at all. I have regular IT job and play classical piano for pure enjoyment. I can still practice 2-2.5 hours a day.

My first concerto was the Grieg, which I can still play. Then, the 5 Beethoven Concertos and Brahms 1,2. This occurred by the time I was 21. I could never do Rach 3. I had some very good teachers, but could not climb the Rach 3 mountain. I was accepted to medical school and became a surgeon. Of course taking a residency was an enormous challenge, as well as getting through med school. BUT THE COMPETITION IN MEDICINE IS NOWHERE'S NEAR AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC. I retired after a successful medical career at 53. I think I was a good doctor. I owned and operated my own Medicare Certified Surgical Center. Doing THAT was much easier than learning a new concerto. It is astonishing how MANY people can play beautifully, considering how much work and talent are required. I think I was a good pianist. But not good enough. Enter reality. Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)

I love music, especially piano, but I realized very early that counting on artistic abilities to earn a living was fraught. So I became an engineer, keeping piano as a hobby. Now after a long engineering career, I am approaching retirement - and guess what I will be enjoying with all of the free time I will have? Even though my skills are meager compared to any accomplished pianist, that doesn't seem to detract at all from the satisfaction of creating my own live music. I am so grateful that I made at least a humble pursuit of my musical passions; now I have something to look forward to each day for the rest of my life.

It's so frustrating, I started very late on piano so the chances of me ever making a living from music are close to zero...But I hate the idea of getting a conventional job so much (currently in an apprenticeship, it's terrible for me). I love classical music so much, it really moves me and I don't know if I can become truly happy with music only being a hobby🤔

This reality check is a good way to start the new year

“I wanted to become a classical concert pianist, but I didn’t have the discipline.” Art Tatum

He's right. Most musicians have as much chance becoming a financially successful, famous concert pianist as flying to the moon. And it has nothing to do with talent. There are many, many concert-level virtuosic pianists who can play Chopin, Liszt, concertos, you name it. -- but earning a living as a concert pianist is difficult. Even if you've managed to do the arduous work of getting to that level via your musical education and hard work (and possibly living through the cut-throat competition scene) - you're still not guaranteed an easy income or steady concert presence. Some incredible pianists do not even want to be part of this competitive/commercial world. Others need to teach, go on youtube, invent software, etc. - Art seems to always suffer when we try to mix "making a living" into things. If you're a young pianist reading this ; focus your heart and soul into your music to express your inner vision - if that's your goal - your fortune as a famous pianist may not be guaranteed but your happiness will be!

I gave up when I realized I didn't have the chops to make it into music school. Now it just is what it is; playing to an audience of one in my living room =). Good luck to all struggling to make it!

I made this realization a long time ago, having someone making a living with concerts in my close family and seeing them struggle so damn much, being away from the family sometimes weeks on end, havig no energy or willingness to travel or do anything in calmer times. And I'm talking world class performer with solo performances in Carnegie Hall, London Albert Hall, Vienna Musikverein etc. And some years 200 concerts. I love piano from the bottom of my soul and can't live without it, BUT I make my living from software engineering. I work part time and manage to spend 15-20 hours per week studying the piano, teaching, playing small concerts. For me, the whole idea that a person *is* their career is not suitable to a lot of people! And actually in this "golden mittle" there's room for happiness and joy, and the best of both worlds.

This is very realistic. Deciding you want to be a concert pianist is like deciding you want to be a movie star! There's a lot of competition out there. I took evening classes at Juilliard over a period of years and the advanced Juilliard and Manhattan School pianists played in our class. Our professor was a talent spotter and a connoisseur of pianistic ability. He singled out a young pianist who went on to win the Gilmore and has a thriving concert career. Many Juilliard piano students go for a DMA so they can teach piano at a university. Those are the success stories. One success is Jeremy Denk, whose DMA lecture-recital I attended years ago. Jeremy started by accompanying Joshua Bell. Now he has his own independent career. I love to sing and studied with a leading soprano at a major opera company in New York. I did so not for a career, but because I loved the literature. You don't have to have a career in music to have a life filled with musical joy. I worked at a routine job and went to my voice lessons after work and joined choruses in the evenings. Music can be a major part of your life without having a career.

I am completely depressed. It‘s not working for me. I have been playing the piano since the age of 13. I am 30 yrs old now and in my last year of studying in the music school of paris. But I suck. I don’t know how I made it to this class. Always the same mistakes. I can never play a complete piece without interruption, without failing and stopping time and time again. I work passages, but no matter what techniques, and even after understanding them and correcting them, I will always make the same mistakes again and again. I might play a passage well at slow speed, but it will never go perfectly at higher speeds. At some point, I always fail. 17 years and still the same mistakes! It‘s like I have no control over my fingers! Currently practicing hungarian rhapsody no.6 of Liszt, but I suck. And I record it and listen to it and it‘s aweful I hate it 😭😭😭😭

All I wanted is to play music around thousands of people, I don't care about money they can pay me less as long I can play music in a concert hall, I'm a lonely person and music is the only thing I have and I want to play music in concert hall for people to hear and I will be complete in the inside.

Thank you for the warning to anyone stuck under the delusion that they will....with enough practice.... automatically become a celebrated concert pianist.

Glad you talk reality. Other channels foolishly encourage people to keep practicing to become a professional musician. I spoke with a lounge guitarist in a major hotel. He was quite accomplished. He described a lonely life, going from city to city for short gigs. Of course, his wife and children had to stay at home base, as the children were in school. Thus, he was alone most of the time. I spoke with our wonderful church organist. He owned a construction company. He said to perform music as an avocation. Have a regular job. Do music for pleasure in your spare time. That way, music was purely for fun and enjoyment.

I'm nowhere near the level of the concert pianists that play in my city, but I'd like to share a bit of my history. I started playing late, at the age of 25(I'm turning 29 next week). Not actually late per se, but I started playing aiming to be a professional. I'm well aware of how much I'm behind of everyone else, and I'd like to say that being a concert pianist, starting at this age is something that is very very difficult and would take a long time, networking would be the only way to do it. And I started at the piano from the scratch, but it was not my first instrument, I had a few lessons on electric guitar, played for almost 10 years(just as a hobby) and was very diligent with my theory background, I had a really good theoretical foundation. I studied mechanical engineering for 5 years, was about to get my major, and then I realized I wouldn't be happy away from music and dropped out all at once(I took a whole semester to make the decision, but once I made up my mind I knew how much I should put to make it work), so I've been, since, studying around 6 hours a day, everyday. After a year I joined the university for a major in composing, since I thought I wouldn't make it has a pianist, but since I had a good background composing, I could make it, but I have the most wonderful piano teacher and last year I changed for the major on piano performance. I study and I work. Most of my income comes from teaching, but I also play and sing in events and things as weddings, I do a lot of accompainment in college for free just to get my networking done and I hope to get a good income soon, because it was not long ago that I couldnt play the repertoire that I play today, I play a bunch of arias of opera, and I volunteered to accompany the university choir as well. On my level I'm studying Beethoven's sonatas right now, along with a bunch of pieces from composers such as Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Bach, Vila Lobos etc. These three thing are more that enough to make a living out of music. Even a non special player would do it, diligent and good players would live really well, but very few people take that extra step to get here. I'd like to say that being in touch with music is something that is really important to me, going to concerts and watching my friends, being in this envoirment is something that makes me happy and I wouldn't be at peace if I was not following that thing that I love. I'm not rich by any means, but I can survive and provide for myself and my parents, even though I work and study at the same time, but my payment comes from being at peace. Aiming to be a concert pianist and make a living exclusively out of that is something that is very hard and requires you to have started at a very young age, have a massive bunch of repertoire done and going to a lot of competitions. You may perform in concerts, but I cannot see having your income made only out of it. But this is very very far away from being able to make a living out of music. On and all, I'm very happy with the decision that I made, but that is because knowing that I'm pursuing something valuable to me is enough for me. It is not an easy path, but I wouldn't be happy if I knew that I was not going after what I love just to be confortable. Confort, for me, is going to sleep knowing that I'm giving everything I have to achieve my goals, and that is one of the reasons that I got so far in such a short period of time.

This is an honest and very realistic description of the life of a professional musician/pianist. Thank you🎹🎶🎹

When a goal becomes an obsession, it can really make you eat your heart out. What I guess many people forget is that making beautiful music is not the same as being technically flawless. You can be a great musician without being a concert pianist. However, being a good musician just isn't enough in today's classical world. Technical requirements have skyrocketed and the level of playing nowadays is absolutely superhuman: perfection is the minimum requirement. Some of the greatest pianists of the past are easily overshadowed by today's top concert pianists. The piano scene is just crazy competetive. So: not being a concert pianist doesn't in ANY WAY mean that you're not a good, even excellent, musician.

Sometimes I feel like I'll die if I don't learn how to play certain piano pieces super well. However, I made my choice at a young age not to pursue piano performance...and though part of me will always regret it, I know I'm not really into playing in front of others at all. I've always hated it. I'd prefer to stay home all day and practice alone. I guess RU-vid is great for that though or teaching. I could do either.

1. Practice 2. Practice 3. Practice some more 4. Practice... 40 hours a day!

Fantastic insight and love the honesty. Piano is way way more difficult than flying a plane or being a doctor, I’ve done both … virtuosity is way harder than surgery. Like being a concert pianist is really exceedingly difficult.

What does it take...? I'd have to start with a couple of dozen more buttloads of raw talent than I possess...

Made me want to pursue it more.

To me personally becoming a concert artist is as far away as a distant galaxy in the universe 🙄

I want to be a composer, in fact I have made a couple of pieces already! But no one wants to play them, it's just sad they will never get played....I mean truly, why must we play the same music over and over again?!?!

Totally stumbled across this video by chance. You make some FANTASTIC points here and lay it out in a very factual way! I have a friend that is a touring concert flutist and from his instagram stories all the travel may seem fun at first, but after awhile it just becomes such a grind to stay focused, rested, and healthy. I have such respect for people that are able to live that life and are able to step on the stage and give their A++ game. This was really insightful, subbed and looking forward to more from you!

Im one of those who could pull it off..

Music is so much more than becoming 'concert pianist'. There are so many more options with a piano than becoming concert pianist. Just make 'MUSIC'. Whether you do it solo or with a band. There is so much more to play with a piano. Why not performing with some other good musicians and make your OWN music instead of playing covers from the big composers? There is so much more to play with a piano, a piano is such a magnificent instrument 'to compose' your own songs, create your own sound and make some NEW music.

I’m 40 and just starting to learn. I think I’d love to play little gigs here and there but I have some practice to do. It’s a hobby but I love playing - You look like Zac Efron by the way 😊

That's why I rely on teaching.

Hello Josh, you have mentioned in the past you had some pain while playing. I couldn't find any video where you explored this further. It would be nice if you talked about this extendively :)

I'm sure there will be many who disagree, but I don't think anyone is more underpaid, relative to the amount of effort they put into what they do, than world class musicians. Classical and jazz. Think about it: It takes a TREMENDOUS amount of effort to merely be admitted to a top conservatory as a musician, and yet, what does that guarantee in terms of career prospects? Absolutely nothing.

Really enjoyed to hear your thoughts on this Josh, from the perspective of someone who has played in so many concerts. I was wondering if you know of anyone that started late (as an adult) and performed with orchestras (not necessarily professionally). I would love to play something like the Schumann A minor concerto (maybe in 5-10 years). That’s pretty much my piano dream in the longer term, but obviously could change

never give up on your dreams

How often are away from family, during this performing career, my daughter wants to become a concert pianist and teacher, but she also wants to work in an office environment with her future husband whom (hopefully) she will be very close to. How often will she be away from her family, in let's say the 365 day year?

To make a decent living as a musician is so hard. One does not need to be extremely good to make a decent living in an office work. I feel sorry for musician, but again it is their decision to follow their emotion instead of their brains.

This is valuable information to those of us who tend to romanticize the cool aspects of wowing huge audiences, hob-knobbing with music royalty and performing Liszt wearing tux and tails (like Bugs Bunny did in that cartoon). Back in the day, "practice room me" was definitely that sort of dreamer, but at a certain point, after feeling fairly directionless about what exactly to do with my music ambitions, I took this same advice and tried out one of my alternate interests as a possible career. Although that has also had its challenges, over time my plan B career has proven to be the right choice for me, and I still get to do music stuff, strictly for fun-zies. I'm all admiration for folks who can do the practice grind and the gig-hunting grind, but your advice here for people to make sure this is for them is right on the money. Oh and Happy New Year 2020 Josh!!

Commercial performance Concert pianist after all is rare. Concert pianist is fierce competition. Not anyone can become concert pianist. But we believe that anyone can become music hobbyist.

I hope to play for old age homes or hospitals or something to that effect not for money just to help lift people’s spirits one day. That’s my goal. Maybe even on the street with my dog 😂😂.

Peanist

If the sacrifices are so great what motivates you to excel at this art? Maybe the gift to humanity, maybe the 'look at me' thing? Maybe you want to be a recluse?

Problem with wanting to be a pro pianist is that there are already so many of them - and they are really good. Teaching techniques are now superb and the schools are turning out way more top class pianists than the world can possibly need. Classical music is - unfortunately - still a minority interest and there are only a tiny fraction of people who ever attend a recital or buy a cd.

What about the composing side. Chopin Liszt Beethoven etc. How did they make their pieces known all around the world

This is might be my last video before I'm giving up on being a concert pianist

I have begun to learn the piano as a very late adult beginner. Since I'm retired, it really is nothing to me to spend several hours each day practising. But that has given me an insight into what must be a truly awful way to spend your life if that is really all that you can do (and to be among the best, that really is what you MUST do, even with the greatest talent in the world). I now see musical expertise from a completely unexpected perspective. It looks so effortless, some kind of God-given gift. It isn't.

I’m playing la Campanella,Fantaisie impromptu, Hungarian rhapsody no.2, czardas, golden hour,comptine d’un autre ete l’apres midi, and River flows in you at only 10 years old, do I have a great future?

What he related about competition is analogous with chess grandmasters. It's not enough to just become a grandmaster (elo 2500). In order to get the invitations to the most prestigious events you need to be above 2750 for the most part. Otherwise it's a real grind to try and make a living from tournaments alone. This is why many grandmasters end up teaching, either as a supplement or a career avenue. It's just too damn hard if you are not in the top 1/2 of 1% of chess players globally. And when you think of all the lost childhoods it's really a sobering narrative. The same thing goes for professional cyclists. The best make the big money. The others will get by but it won't always be pretty.

Hi everyone ... ive been learning piano for 9 years ( i began when i was 7 yo and half) And i was learning alone at home so i was young and didnt have teacher ... i was playing just for fun but i also learn solfege (a littne bit ) so i m suck on sight reading rn and i find that really difficult because now ive discovered that i really love piano and of course classical piano... but i find my playing suck... but i don't know if it's normal or not... Can someone help me maybe in dm i can show him my work and maybe give me advice... im really lost and want to be better really and i want to work harder (not for being a concertist but just ... a really good player who can sight read ... ) Thanks for your attention

I would love to see more videos on the details of how to book concert performances and local gigs.

hey guy's i'm 14 and blind is it to late to become a concert pianist. is there any hope for me.

Josh Wright at the beginning of 2020: "I like that isolation" People in July 2020: Teach me, pleeeeeease!!!

Looool!!! I like that isolation too… 😀 so glad I’m not the only one… I just want to play most off the day…

I would recommend asking retirement centers and assisted living centers if you can play for them. These places almost always have a piano. Either upright or baby grand. Hardly anybody who lives there plays it. You don't get paid but its a great way to get your name out there. And they will listen to just about anything.

When I was a child, I wanted to become a ballerina or a pianist. Now I'm glad that my goal has changed a lot. I could have been unhappy and most probably quit even if I were successful. Now I'm a medical doctor going back to research. I feel safer being in a profession that doesn't put me under the pressure of making myself known to the world.

I am a 54 yr old musician able to earn a living playing and teaching music for which I am grateful. In the past I have done many other jobs. I spend hours a day tenaciously practicing and preparing music. This is really amazing that someone at Josh's level of performance shares such honest information about his and his associates careers. I had to laugh when at 1:38 Josh mentions liking time in isolation to play. I love isolation time with music! Thank you Josh!

What if you like composing and would just want to play your own compositions ? Do you know of any competitions that aim at that direction? I’m not concert pianist perfected but love making my own compositions and I think I can do something with it...

I have no prior musical experience, but want to learn to play the piano. Not as a career, but for fun. How good could someone realistically get in a year if they practiced for about an hour a day?

I’m at a dilemma of choosing between being a concert pianist or a jazz pianist. If you can share insights, it will be greatly helpful😄

@5:25 Clair de Lune with How Great Thou Art... it makes me cry every time. So wonderful.

Bravo and as a corollary to that - its always great to dream and push yourself to do better - but the mundane is where the rubber meets the road - play at churches or schools, take the gig and make it your own - you gotta pay the bills - accompany students for solo and ensemble competitions, teach - encourage talent wherever you see it or hear it - towns can have teh greatest need for music and you can be their teacher - churches are great for pianists, those folks take care of you in ways you'd never expect. I've done church music for 30 + years - still learning, still chasing dreams where I am at and making a difference musically - thanks to this guy and others.

Sounds like reality! Was not discouraging, just an honest presentation. I give you a lot of credit for sharing this experienced perspective with those that need to hear it, sooner rather than later in life. Thank you 👏.

Thank you so much for this video! I am in the boat where I cant see myself doing anything else than music. This has helped me get a better view of what it's like. I am now more motivated than ever!

I saw how crappy living composers get treated. That needs to change

I just got the piano version of "the talk". Oh, this seems hard and I "plan" to be a pianist or a piano teacher, and I am sooo scared that I won't make it and become a failure. And the dad part is that not many people can help me... it is hard

Daniil’s playing is so intoxicatingly perfect

he is basically saying please don't be a concert pianist there is no need to add more people to an already competitive job market

Fantastic discussion! What you say is absolutely correct. I dedicated my entire childhood to practicing and taking piano lessons. When I went to college and majored in music, I found that I naturally could not memorize music as most concert pianists can do comfortably. I was a "reader" who could read the most difficult Beethoven piano sonata or Bach fugues, but could not memorize this music. I also found myself unable to improvise for jazz or even pop songs as most pianists can do quite comfortably. One thing you need to know that your first piano teacher sets you on your "path" to success. My first teacher was a well-meaninged nun who had no real understanding of the "path to concert piano." In conclusion, I became a music director for three elementary school districts and taught instrumental music and choral music. I did use my music into my life's work, so it wasn't completely wasted. Amen!

Good that I don't play piano trumpet is better anyway

What he said. And this applies as much to jazz and pop music as it does to classical. It is EXTREMELY difficult to support oneself exclusively by live performance whatever the genre. You gotta have a 'plan B'. Additional skill, or skills that will pay the bills while you pursue music. I'm a pop singer/song writer, and a cabinet-maker. I do both. My skills as a cabinet-maker enable me to set my hours for the most part so that I have time for performances. It can be exhausting. But if you don't love it, (music) you won't do it.

This is - Damn

Luck. Luck to have the talent, luck to learn piano early enough to master it, luck to have the opportunity to perform. The real question is why would you want to.

I think this video was a gift for my birthday because I was born in January 3th. Thank you Josh. God bless you a lot.

Hey Josh! Could you please give some tips about how to find appropriate pieces to work on which fit with the individual level of playing? I'd consider myself as kind of an late beginner / early intermediate player and i have some troubles with finding nice repertoire..

Whom should i contact for performing in stage ?

I felt very tempted to abandon my engineering university, and pursue a career as a pianist. This video made me feel very conflicted, I am scared

This a great video. I realized that as a concert pianist, most of the times, you put many hours but what you get (income wise) is not enough by any mean.

Thank you so much for this video! I have thought about this for so long because very soon I will have to choose what to become and I really wanted to become a concert pianist. This video helped me a lot with my decision. I mean, there are so many different possibilities for a musician, it doesn't have to be this way.

Hey uh so, I have no arm and two fingers how do I-

Hi Josh, I've been following you for years and just now I saw that you almost have 100.000 subscribers, congratulations! I'm primarily a guitarist who uses piano for composing/theory and your videos are golden nuggets, thank you. Greetings from Europe

Does one have to study music at university or conservatory to make it?

I wish I could perform but stage fright always took over. So I went in the path of education and still play for enjoyment.

Networking Networking!!! And also the right marketing Just see Tiffany Poon's case ...

12 years ago i won international guitar competition and right away i went to Paris to enter conservatoire and to pursue classical guitar concert career, then one day my teacher in Paris (probably at that time the best teacher in Europe, whose students won the biggest international guitar competition in usa) showed me his salary check, few weeks after that I canceled my admission and went back to my country because I think the gigantic efforts and time that i would spend for such career would likely pay me (financially) so little. Now a little part of me still regret my decision because i knew i could have become a really fine guitarist if i kept going, but overall i think i made the right decision.

Muchas Gracias...

Great advice!

Thank you so much Josh for speaking the reality instead of giving false leads. This is such an honest video!

boo

It’s almost all networking. Look at Tiffany Poon.

I like your shirt.

So many music hobbyist and general piano professional graduation from music university mustn't be passed and grasped the Dexterity touching skills of fingers about tempo mark Quaver note = 176 for scale and Hanon exercising and karl czerny Etude. Without grasp fingers dexterity touch technique very fast tempo Quaver note = 176 for scale and Hanon exercising without music expression style. Technique and music are closing relationship. Especially on Liszt transcendental Etude and Chopin Etude and Czerny Etude Op 299 and Op 740 very fast tempo

Famous Concert pianist worked in commercial performance through tv /entertainment company and famous jazz composer worked film score in film company and tv entertainment company. These famous people can't become teacher.