Characteristics Of A Piano Player

Successful pianists, such as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky composed thousands of pieces of music, that transcend time, influence modern composers, and bless the ears and minds of billions of people. Vladimir Horowitz, a classical pianist, once said, “The piano is the easiest instrument to play in the beginning and the hardest to master in the end.” Mastering the piano is a laborious task. It takes years to become sufficient in all aspects of piano playing. Successful pianists are musicians who tackle musical pieces with ease. Anyone can learn to play the piano, but it takes patience, diligence, and enthusiasm to become a successful piano player.

One characteristic that all successful pianists share, is their patience. Most pianists

The only way an artist can become successful is through constant practice. One article reads, “All the best piano players realize that without consistent practice, their piano playing will not improve. Along with practicing, they play with a purpose. Everything they do during each practice session has a distinct reason, and they focus on that. Without a purpose, the exercises and drills can easily become sloppy,” (Megan L). This quotation shows that the most successful piano players achieve their goals by working hard every day. Sometimes it can take years to become a proficient pianist. For example, it took Clotilde Kleeberg, a successful soloist during the 1800’s, over a decade to finally gain recognition for her skill. Ehlrich stated, “When she was twelve years old, she played among other pieces, Beethoven’s C-minor Concerto as well as some of Chopin’s compositions at the “Concerts populaires” all of which were received with the greatest enthusiasm. She studied with still greater diligence, and in her seventeenth year ventured to appear in London, where she soon made a great name,” (147). Clotilde Kleeberg was a successful and celebrated pianist in her day. She was sedulous and motivated. If it took her over a decade to become renowned, imagine how long it would have taken her if she had been