Can Everyone Develop a Talent for Playing Piano By Ear?

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The discussion revolves around the ability to play music by ear, particularly focusing on the experience of someone who claims to have learned to play Beethoven pieces without formal training. Participants debate whether this skill is something to cherish and whether it indicates true musical talent. Some argue that while being able to play melodies by ear is a sign of a good ear for music, it does not equate to true proficiency or skill, especially in classical music where precision and timing are critical. Others suggest that many people can learn to play by ear with practice, and emphasize the importance of formal training to achieve a higher level of musicianship. The conversation also touches on the difference between playing recognizable parts of a piece versus mastering the entire composition, highlighting that true talent involves a deeper understanding and execution of music. Overall, the thread reflects a mix of encouragement and skepticism regarding the original poster's self-assessment of their musical abilities.
  • #51
cyrusabdollahi said:
I was not joking or being arrogant when I said that, I was being honest . If you don't like it, don't ask for others opinons.

Not you, I was takling about the other people. Especially the sarcastic comment, "And have a nice new year." Oh joy, thanks. Yo had some sense in you, thank god.
 
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  • #52
Yo had some sense in you, thank god.

Me, some sense? That’s a first...lol... Look, people aren’t always going to kiss your as$ all the time. Take criticism with a grain of salt. If all there doing is bashing you, to hell with them. Listen to the criticism that’s honest and will help you out. This is a good life lesson for you, otherwise you will run around screaming at the whole world, and no one will care. (Sorry to be so blunt, but it’s important you recognize this)
 
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  • #53
cyrusabdollahi said:
Me, some sense? That’s a first...lol... Look, people aren’t always going to kiss your as$ all the time. Take criticism with a grain of salt. If all there doing is bashing you, to hell with them. Listen to the criticism that’s honest and will help you out. This is a good life lesson for you, otherwise you will run around screaming at the whole world, and no one will care. (Sorry to be so blunt, but it’s important you recognize this)

I wasn't referring to you!

I will take arrogance with a grain of salt, yes, in fact I should. I am leaving htis forum, because those type of people I don't want around me (They bring me down). I shouldn't be treated that way as well.

I will listen to critism that's honest, there have been about 2 of those type posts, here, however (on this thread, on other threads, otherwise). I don't listen to arrogant, snobby, and rude comments. Like many in this thread.

My mom (who is very wise, mind you) also agrees that many of the comments here are totally innapropriate (especially for someone who is just growing up, learning life, and is 17, like myeslf).
 
  • #54
You're 17, you should be able to handel something this mild life throws at you by now (You're not a little kid, anymore). At 17 you better damn well know about life, or its going to hit you in the face, and HARD. Life is rough .

I am leaving htis forum, because those type of people I don't want around me (They bring me down). I shouldn't be treated that way as well.

I would not advise that, this is one of the TOP forums you will ever find in physics, I promise you. Stay for the physics. You will get help in science in the proper forum's with no attitude or arrogance, this I promies you. The general forum is where we all let loose, if you can't handel it, stay out. I think your blowing this WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY out of proportion. (Catch my drift?)

I will take arrogance with a grain of salt, yes, in fact I should. I am leaving htis forum, because those type of people I don't want around me (They bring me down). I shouldn't be treated that way as well.

Then you will never stay around anywhere in your life. What did I just tell you? Not everyone will kiss ur butt, and u won't find a place full of people that do. In fact, you're better off if they don't .

Just ignore the comments that you don't care for, that's what I do.
 
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  • #55
You know, it seems to me that you have this all figured out. There really was no need to post this thread at all! You've obviously made up your mind that you're musically gifted (and you've told us that your mother and other close family can attest to this fact), and you're right; any naysayers are arrogant and they are people that are out to get you. Remember that in the future, should you get into an argument with anyone, and they disagree with you, they are wrong.
 
  • #56
QT said:
I am leaving htis forum, because those type of people I don't want around me (They bring me down). I shouldn't be treated that way as well.
Yes Marlon was a bit of a jerk. You're going to find that there are a lot of people like that, even nice people who are like that, out there in the world. You'll have to learn to get along with it if you're going to get anywhere. Not necessarily accept it but learn to deal with it in a mature manner. You tend to get a bit dramatic. This is the second or third time I have seen you say you aren't going to come back to this forum.
As already stated this is one of the best forums you will find online and there are quite a few nice people here. If you can't hack it, what few knocks come with participating in this forum, then it would probably be better for you to stay and learn to deal with it because any where else it is likely to be worse. Unless ofcourse you want to join a christian youth site or some such thing.
 
  • #57
First of all, tell your mom to go away. You should be able to handle criticism. This isn't third grade. If you like the piano, play the piano. No one is stopping you. You're taking everyone's remarks at face value. Calm down. Stop pouting. Read between the lines, and see what others have to say. Take it with a grain of salt. Move on.
 
  • #58
cyrusabdollahi said:
You're 17, you should be able to handel something this mild life throws at you by now
"Handel"! I get it! Good one
 
  • #59
subliminal messages, I tell you, but in all honesty, he should stop haydn behind his mom.
 
  • #60
QT, I've been a member of this forum for some time despite the lack of posts. But buddy, you have to stop acking questions like, "can I do this? Or that?; If I did this... or that.." We don't determine what you can and cannot do. You do determine that yourself by trying it. So please stop asking questions like this. You think Albert Einstein went around and said things like, "can I be a physicist if I blah blah blah blah?" Just do it! Work at it and go for it. We don't know you, and really we don't give a damn what you did and what you think you can do because you of what you did. It's really dumb trying to seek approval from a bunch of strangers on the internet. If you actually do take advice on the internet that seriously.

Then here's a list of things you can and cannot do:
1. You can't do physics.
2. You can't be a rock star.
3. you can't do that or this.(Whatever that may be)
4. You cannot open doors anymore with your hands.
5. You can open doors using your feet. Good luck!
6. You can no longer blink but when you close your eyes keep them shut and go to sleep.
7. If you accidentally close your eyes, keep them shut for 3 hours and then open them. 3 hours is considered the length of a nap.
8. You can no longer use the toilet to do private business.
9. You are to do your private business in your backyard.
10. If you do not have a backyard, then do your private business in your room.

Im running out of ideas.
Anyone care to add to the list?

PS: If your looking for inspiration, this forum might not be the right place to be looking. Here's some serious advice. Look for inspiration from dead historical figures. There's nothing wrong with that. Look for inspiration in your family, and when you do find that inspiration. Don't go blabbering all about it in this forum or any forum for that matter like you did here.

I got tons of inspiration, but I didn't go around forums asking people whether I can do calculus or play the piano like a prodigy. I went for what I wanted and I just did it. Just be careful what you get yourself into, you might find yourself unhappy with it like me. Doing calculus is no big deal, or playing the piano is no big deal. Millions of people can do it, and to tell you the truth Calculus is actually easier then Algebra! I know a blonde that can do Calculus!(No offence blondes!) grr I hate tutoring that damn boring, repetitive, algebra. It's all repetitive and a joke. I want chaos dammit! Unpredictability! **** YOU MATHEMATICS! x + x does not equal 2x! HAHA!

Yikes, sorry got carried away.
 
  • #61
TheStatutoryApe said:
Yes Marlon was a bit of a jerk.

I think you are a hughe jerk for calling me a bit of a jerk.

Pfff, i am leaving these forums...

marlon:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
  • #62
zeronem said:
Then here's a list of things you can and cannot do:
1. You can't do physics.
2. You can't be a rock star.
3. you can't do that or this.(Whatever that may be)
4. You cannot open doors anymore with your hands.
5. You can open doors using your feet. Good luck!
6. You can no longer blink but when you close your eyes keep them shut and go to sleep.
7. If you accidentally close your eyes, keep them shut for 3 hours and then open them. 3 hours is considered the length of a nap.
8. You can no longer use the toilet to do private business.
9. You are to do your private business in your backyard.
10. If you do not have a backyard, then do your private business in your room.
Im running out of ideas.
Anyone care to add to the list?

11. You cannot speak Japanese
12. You cannot play Beethoven symphonies after one hearing only
13. You cannot call me a jerk
14. You CAN, however, knock out TheStatutoryApe's teeth

regards
marlon, who is really insulted and leaving these forums filled with rude people:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
  • #63
What a bratty guru. :-p
 
  • #64
One thing about the internet, you will get honest opinions, nobody will suck up to you. You can either live in a dream world, or realize the truth. :smile:

Anyway, are you desperately trying to find something you're good at or what?
 
  • #65
TheStatutoryApe said:
What a bratty guru. :-p



He disrespected a guru!

*runs before the almighty mod power comes crashing down and takes out innocent civilian pengwuinos*
 
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  • #66
TheStatutoryApe said:
What a bratty guru. :-p

no no, what a bratty Ape...

Damn you, how dare you speak up like that to Beethoven's only true reincarnation !

I will kick your <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep>

err, regards, errr

marlono:)

and all the best for 2006 to you too :rolleyes: o:)
 
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  • #67
Pengwuino said:
He disrespected a guro!

What is a guro ?

Do i need to kick your <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> too ?

marlon, who wishes you a Happy Newyear from tha bottom of his heart.:-p
 
  • #68
Must.. destroy... guru!
 
  • #69
moose said:
Anyway, are you desperately trying to find something you're good at or what?

Indeed he is. This is the main activity of all mediocrities...

Well, i shall speak for Quantum Theory too when facing God. I speak for all mediocreties, i am their patron saint, i am their champion...

MEDIOCRETIES EVERYWHERE, I ABSOLVE YOU...
o:) o:) o:) o:) o:) o:) o:)
marlon
 
  • #70
Pengwuino said:
Must.. destroy... guru!

bring it on sucka...i am right here, right next to you...

marlon
 
  • #71
marlon said:
bring it on sucka...i am right here, right next to you...
marlon

I always knew that stuffed whale on the ground was you!
 
  • #72
Pengwuino said:
I always knew that stuffed whale on the ground was you!

ooo buuhuuu, is this the best you can do, hu ?

marlon, still charged and ready to go...:cool:
 
  • #73
QT,
You are indeed wasting your time and ours on these forums. You post nothing but inane threads which invite responses for you take as an insult.

If you wish to get benefit from these forums you need to start posting questions about math and physics in the appropriate forums. Ask questions designed to advance your knowledge of math and physics. You can indeed learn something here if you wish. So far I have not seen any effort on your part to do this.
 
  • #74
Integral said:
You can indeed learn something here if you wish. So far I have not seen any effort on your part to do this.

He has not yet learned any physics here, that is very true. However, he has learned this :

1) he ain't no musical prodigy
2) he ain't no linguistic prodigy
3) he ain't no calculus prodigy

This is some tough news, so let's go easy on him:rolleyes:

regards
marlon
 
  • #75
Ive heard enough of this QT bashing. You guys think you can just waltz in here like your the emperor, on the anniversary of the new year and be rude! Just because QT wants his own fanfare does not make him a bad person, even if he did find out he's only common. He said he could hear some Beethoven, yet all you guys did was bash him and egmont him on. With your tempest mindsets, I would be suprised if he ever comes back in here again. You guys took much humoreske in bashing him and insulting his intelligence. I am appalled.
 
  • #76
cyrusabdollahi said:
Ive heard enough of this QT bashing. You guys think you can just waltz in here like your the emperor, on the anniversary of the new year and be rude! Just because QT wants his own fanfare does not make him a bad person, even if he did find out he's only common. He said he could hear some Beethoven, yet all you guys did was bash him and egmont him on. With your tempest mindsets, I would be suprised if he ever comes back in here again. You guys took much humoreske in bashing him and insulting his intelligence. I am appalled.

Go read all of what he's posted in the past.
 
  • #77
Go read my post u dolt! You're missing the point of it, because your not learned in classical music.
 
  • #78
cyrusabdollahi said:
Go read my post u dolt! You're missing the point of it, because your not learned in classical music.

read the rest of my post because you haven't seen how he acts.
 
  • #79
Dude, you will understand the point of my post if you tell Chi to come read it, trust me. Marlon might understand as well.
 
  • #80
cyrusabdollahi said:
Ive heard enough of this QT bashing. You guys think you can just waltz in here like your the emperor, on the anniversary of the new year and be rude! Just because QT wants his own fanfare does not make him a bad person, even if he did find out he's only common. He said he could hear some Beethoven, yet all you guys did was bash him and egmont him on. With your tempest mindsets, I would be suprised if he ever comes back in here again. You guys took much humoreske in bashing him and insulting his intelligence. I am appalled.
A feeble effort. How long did you spend on this post, two minutes?

edit: Beethoven didn't write any humoreskes, and AFAIK waltzes either.
 
  • #81
cyrusabdollahi said:
Dude, you will understand the point of my post if you tell Chi to come read it, trust me. Marlon might understand as well.
Well, I did just now read your post, so now Pengwuino will soon understand what you meant just as soon...

Hmm...

I, uh...

...eh...er...hm.

No, I don't know what you're talking about.
 
  • #82
I'm pretty confused now myself.
 
  • #83
I clarified it in post no. 80.
 
  • #84
horray, rachmaninoff got most of it. He just missed the words: anniversary + waltz = Strauss, fanfare+for+the+common = copeland,
 
  • #85
cyrusabdollahi said:
horray, rachmaninoff got most of it. He just missed the words: anniversary + waltz = Strauss, fanfare+for+the+common = copeland,
Didn't notice those. I don't really like J. Strauss, and I really, really hate Copland (though, at least I can spell his name write :-p)
 
  • #86
Yeah, Copland is pretty bad. J. Strauss is great, if you don't like him you lack taste.
 
  • #87
rachmaninoff said:
I clarified it in post no. 80.
D'oh!

Sometimes it takes a minuet for things like that to sink in (even if it's in a liszt right in front of you).
 
  • #88
WHAT!? Aaron Copland is awesome! Fanfare for the Common Man and Appalachian Spring are just two of his most popular but he has a lot of other really great orchestral and choral works.

Losers.
 
  • #89
Jelfish now you really don't have any taste BE GONE!~!~~~ lol, chi, I thought you had some trebble with that one.
 
  • #90
Ah, geez folks, I go away for a few days, and this is what I return to. :rolleyes:

Okay, while QT has somewhat asked for the teasing by starting out asking if we think he has talent and then posting that he doesn't care what we think anyway, this seems to have gone a bit too far.

QT, being able to match notes you hear to the keys on a piano is, unfortunately, not sufficient to indicate any talent. This doesn't mean you have no talent, it just means this is not adequate to determine if you do. Even those with talent require training to develop that talent and make it something special.

What you have demonstrated is basic aptitude that will make it easier for you to learn to play the piano (or any other instrument) should you choose to take lessons. Having some sense of pitch, which is what matching sounds to keys is, will help you more quickly recognize wrong notes when you play them as you learn.

As with any interest, if it pleases you to do it, pursue it. We would do you a disservice to tell you that your skill translates into a special talent if it doesn't, but that does not mean you can't take lessons and develop a talent. Whether you ever develop any extraordinary talent or not doesn't really matter as long as you enjoy what you play.
 
  • #91
Did anyone else notice that the only reason we were being hard on QT was because he takes things the wrong way and was affected by it? It obviously happens everywhere too. If someone pokes fun at somebody and the person gets mad, soon enough more people join in just because the person is being a tight ass.One thing though, rarely do you find that you have a talent in something without working with it for a while. Everything takes time.
 
  • #92
What's really funny is that we always give him really good advice, yet he totally ignores it and finds something to be insulted about.

Look at the "Can I do Calculus?" thread in the Academic section. 95% of the replies were genuine and very helpful, yet he found ways to be insulted. Same with the "What's your IQ thread," we gave him good advice and told him not to worry about his IQ -- especially not to compare it to other peoples -- yet, somehow, he got insulted.

If he’s trying to find something he’s good at, that’s great for him, I think most people do some soul searching at that age. However, most people don’t expect to be hailed as the great messiah of physics at 17 when they haven’t taken a physics course!
 

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