What are the odds of becoming a concert pianist?

I'm just wondering, I would really like to become one, but I know it's not too likely, but what are the actual chances? Is there some sort of statistic?

Squat to none.

I'm not meaning pure concert pianism (if there is such a phrase), I accept I will have to have some other career (did I spell that right?). But I want to have some sort of ongoing participation in a concert hall.

It’s a moot question when applied to a single individual. Statistics are only meaningful when applied to a large population. If you become a great concert pianist then you become part of the statistics of great concert pianists. It’s that simple.

However, becoming a great concert pianist takes a lot of hard work, dedication, DETERMINATION (and desire), and let’s not forget about sheer talent. If you have all of those working in your favor you’ll become one. If any of those elements are missing it’s highly unlikely that you’ll succeed.

Moreover, if you’re initial goal is to become great, you’ll probably fail. That’s typically not the driving motivation behind the people who do become great. Most people who become great do so because they want to play well. The fact that they become great is simply what follows naturally from their desire to play well.

Just be the BEST you can be and accept wherever that takes you.

On a personal note, I started playing the piano 2 years ago (I was 56 at the time), I had great hopes of learning to play some pretty cool stuff, even just as a hobbyist without any dreams of becoming an actual performer at all. My initial hopes were quenched when it came to my attention that my fingers simply won’t do what I want them to do. I’ve been playing some pieces long enough to easily be able to play them well. My fingers just won’t do it. I know what I want to make it sound like, and I TRY to play it the way I want it to sound, but my finger just won’t do it. PERIOD!!!

Perhaps it as something to do with my age. Maybe it has to do with my health disabilities (I do have mental problems). Not the scary kind, just more like dementia. Whatever the reason, my fingers just won’t move the way I want them to move and no amount of practice or technique has yet changed that. I can’t even play simple Hanon exercises as smoothly as I’d like to. My fingers just won’t do what I want them to do period. It’s like there’s a physical limitation there that just can’t be overcome. Perhaps it’s even a form of early arthritis, I dunno. I seriously thought I could do this, but physical I just can’t.

In fact, lately I seem to be getter worse instead of better! I’ve moved on to much slower pieces, and even then I have trouble playing certain phrases precisely how I want them to sound. My fingers just won’t do it. I keep playing anyway, but my dreams of even becoming remotely good at an amateur level have been dashed. Of course, at 56, let’s face it, I did start this a bit late in life. I think I would have been fantastic had I done this when I was 20. But that’s water over the dam.

If you can get your fingers to play what you feel I say go for it!

Originally Posted by Abracadabra

On a personal note, I started playing the piano 2 years ago (I was 56 at the time), I had great hopes of learning to play some pretty cool stuff, even just as a hobbyist without any dreams of becoming an actual performer at all. My initial hopes were quenched when it came to my attention that my fingers simply won’t do what I want them to do. I’ve been playing some pieces long enough to easily be able to play them well. My fingers just won’t do it. I know what I want to make it sound like, and I TRY to play it the way I want it to sound, but my finger just won’t do it. PERIOD!!!

Just wait a moment here. You've been playing the piano for two years. As a hobbyist. Obviously I haven't heard you play, but I wouldn't rush to the conclusion that the reason you can't make it sound like you want it to sound is physiological. You might just be underestimating the time and work necessary. I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to make his fingers do what he or she wants them to do after two years. As an outside observer I would say you're far too pessimistic.

I think you make a good chance if you become a professor in piano.

Originally Posted by katchum

I think you make a good chance if you become a professor in piano.

And the chances of that in turn?
That'd be a heck of an income, though.

Originally Posted by EldKatt

...I wouldn't rush to the conclusion that the reason you can't make it sound like you want it to sound is physiological. You might just be underestimating the time and work necessary. I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to make his fingers do what he or she wants them to do after two years. As an outside observer I would say you're far too pessimistic.

After having studied, seriously, with several very qualified instructors, for 13 years, I still can't do what I want my fingers to do all of the time. I'm closer than I was 5 years earlier, and closer than 5 years before that, but it's still not perfect.

In fact, I would venture to say that most concert pianists are not 100% satisfied with their own work, and they know there's always something they could have done just a little bit better. (In fact, I hope they can self-criticize, else how would they really know what needs improving?)

But as was said, it's a bad idea to base one's decisions upon statistics. Get some informed outside opinions of your own talents, and then make your judgements on those opinions. (What I'm saying is, just because some great pianist heard you and said you sucked, doesn't mean you actually have to listen to them... but you should at least try and get their opinion.)

Good luck, if that's the route you want to pursue.

Hi. I started playing the piano 6 months now,I feel great improvement,and I want to reach a level where I can play like Chopins;Op 25 No 6 in G sharp minor,or Debussy - Valse romantique.Im in the elementary class where 10-11 year old kids are. Well Im making 2 years of improvement in 1 year. With this tempo When will I be abble to play that level music? By the way Im 19 years old. I know, I know. :-D But I just want to be a great pianist,so I can teach my son or doughter to be the absolute perfect in piano.

Oh come on.. I've been playing for 40 years and I can't make my fingers always do what I want. I still can't get my hands completely around the piano part of Ravel's piano trio. And I make music for a living, I have for the last 25 years.

So, just so you know.. 2 years, 5 years, makes no difference, there will always be SOME piece of music that you can't get your fingers around.

I've just been asked to perform in concert the piano part of one of my own pieces (a rather massive song cycle), and I refused. I can't get my fingers around some of the more intricate parts. Besides, it's just so much more fun watching someone ELSE torture themselves with a difficult passage.