Lessons that make me want to quit piano - Sound Journeys

[@ballistix9275]

You’ve got a great attitude, disposition and work ethic. You will go far, keep at it.

[@PianoturtleX]

You did fine! I was a classmate of Kirill under the same professor so hopefully my opinion helps. Never give up! The journey is tough but focus inward. Make and create your world rich with music and don't let anything or anyone (include yourself) plant seeds of doubt. A musicians life can be the most fulfilling and beautiful. After all we live in beauty which is in part music.

[@mikehoughton4881]

You play extremely well❤ stay positive. What you believe you will achieve!😃

[@3210vca]

You have a magnetic presence. This will serve you well in your future endeavors as a pianist. I feel that you will go places and go far!!!!!!!

[@ks-hb2jt]

Good luck with ur recital and the concert!!! Ur gonna slay

[@charlespappas3483]

What a good experience. I hope your exam and public concert went well!

[@mmilrl5768]

Love this piano sonata so much! Good luck with your recital and concert!!

[@christopherdew2355]

Always enjoy your take on things!

[@victorarias8726]

When I watch piano recitals/concerts/performances I think It's also all about optics. You are handsome, with glorious beautiful Head of Hair, and a magnetic presence.... You did well in that lesson session. Stay focused and positive. We have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of you

[@amyw3377]

I can't believe you had an opportunity to take a lesson with Kirill Gerstein--how exciting! I met him in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Very impressive man.

[@seankimmmmmm]

This one lesson from him changed my perspective on phrasing and since then, I feel like I've matured as a musician.

[@lucapianist]

I love kirill he is an amazing person and is an awsome pianist

[@BR-yc3fc]

Their have definitly been times where I cried after lessons and felt like I'm wasting my time practicing. It doesn't help having an 87 year russian teacher who barely speaks english. I think being a musician and having piano be at the forfront of your life leads you to believe that any critisim of your ability or musical ideas is a personal attack because of how close you hold music to your identity. This can lead to you either letting go of the grasp that music holds to your identity and enjoying your life with out persuing music or understanding that critisim from teachers doesn't point to a lack of skill but a level up in ability making your instrument a more fluid and easy use of expression for yourself and your own happiness, therefor persuing music. Im 16 so I still don't know what the fuck I want to do in my life lol. I just hope I can do somtthing important and note-worthy , in piano(Probably not) or something else. An average life is just not a life worth living.

[@seankimmmmmm]

I am very familiar with this feeling, as it was my life throughout high school too. The difference is that when I was 16, I lacked the courage to express my feelings and didn’t really have anyone to talk about this with. Unfortunately, anxiety is an inherent part of working in the performing arts industry, and it often intensifies as you progress. I understand all the challenges that come with playing the piano up to the age of 16, and it's not easy. My advice is to use the discipline and commitment you've developed to pursue your current/future goal. Be resilient even if your path leads you away from music. Who's to say that another pursuit won't be just as challenging or even more difficult as playing the piano?

[@ariya950]

heyy seankimm, goodlucckk for ur recital and public concert!! i know u can do ittt!!

[@massimozart]

This was an awesome vlog man, looking forward to seeing more of your journey - subbed :)

[@seankimmmmmm]

Thank you for watching

[@sacrilegiousboi978]

Gerstein is a legend. I was lucky enough to see him perform Rachmaninoff Paganini Variations live in the front row with a great view of his hands many year ago - it was sheer perfection. it’s so awesome that you managed to get a lesson from him. Sounds like he really worked you hard - clearly he thought you were good enough to be pushed. Good luck with your upcoming recital and public performance! Also, do you think you’ll be applying for the Chopin Competition next year?

[@seankimmmmmm]

Gerstein is the single best performer I've ever heard live. (no glaze) I would like to enter competitions that I have a chance of winning at 😭 so probably not. Maybe in 4 years we'll see

[@OctoPlaysPiano]

@@seankimmmmmm you got dis!!!!! 🔥

[@ilovebach1010]

All the best for your graduation recital! Pls do more videos!

[@seankimmmmmm]

Ofc! The recorded performance and vlog is coming soon!

[@ilovebach1010]

@@seankimmmmmm looking forward to it! I just watched your other videos and has started to change me practice habits 🙏🏼

[@WenqiDeng-r8b]

BRUH UR ALGORITHM IS CRACKED U KEEP SHOWING UP IN MY FEED EVERYTIME AFTER I WATCH YUJA WANG💀 -VICKY

[@seankimmmmmm]

I hope you’re watching my videos vicky 😶 🔫 😄 (this is a threat)

this told me to get my ass up and work i want to be a successful composer-keyword and i teach piano now but i wanna get so much better at classical performance so thank you for the motivation

[@seankimmmmmm]

Anytime bro. I’ll meet you at the top 🫡

[@samli8888]

Chin up boi you’ll make it happen 😁😁

[@NN-rn1oz]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I was formerly a student at your level before I switched careers. (Btw I'm working on the same piece, feel free to check it out on my channel!) Frankly I don't think I would have done what you did, and I would certainly have done worse than you did. There are many professional pianists who are great people, but it doesn't mean they will have good chemistry with you, and taking lessons with them could be quite destructive, despite their best intentions. I'm glad it turned out positively for you in the end. Keep up the good work!

[@saiclee]

the mistake was moving to melbourne

[@seankimmmmmm]

gosh why did i do this to myself

[@kaspianocz6330]

Yes, it is practically impossible to do only piano full time, if you're not an absolute genius. You have to teach, compose, arrange, or sth else beside playing concerts. If you're not a piano star in the age of 18, then you'll probably never be in the future. It's sad but true. Being good is not good enough, basically. You have to be different than anybody else.

[@josh95263]

I don’t think I agree with this

[@qingng_]

hi Sean! What camera do u use?

[@seankimmmmmm]

Hi Qingng, I use an entry level sony zv-1F vlogging camera

[@itsdanielyu]

Hi Sean

[@pensierounico7]

A lesson is not a concert or a competition, it seems like you approach it as such. even during the lesson, as the professor tells you something you nod and agree, no conversation nor discussion about anything. It feels like an athlete getting coached, even the "feelings" you have after the lessons are, in my opinion, very harming for you. how can an hour and a half time spent together with a fantastic pianist and teacher end up with mixed feelings or even pain? aren't you an artist first before all? shouldn't a lesson be a meeting between artist with sometimes different opinions? please don't take this as criticism, I was the same until a few years ago.

[@seankimmmmmm]

Thank you for your feedback. To clarify, I deliberately edited out the parts where I discussed or disagreed with him on certain musical choices because I aimed to keep the video to 20 minutes for your convenience. My aim was to share his opinion on the piece since I've already shared my thoughts in a previous practice vlog about the sonata (I recommend you check out). Also, yes, I am being coached by him. Lesson time is limited, so you listen to the coaching, reflect on it later during individual practice, and decide what to incorporate. Given his extensive exposure to music far surpassing my own lifetime, I think it’s safe to trust his judgment. What you might not understand is that to reach the top in this field, results matter. There’s only one spot on stage, and if you can’t handle the pressure, this isn’t for you. I’ve been playing piano for 18 years, and if I had found it to be too difficult, I would’ve quit a long time ago. Also, in the video I explain that this pressure is only temporary. I don’t practice to escape problems; I practice to get good. Growth only comes under pressure and stress, and anyone who has achieved anything significant knows that. Also, I’m a student first, not an artist. It’s like a high school athlete trying to tell Usain Bolt how to sprint faster. I appreciate your insight, but I think you missed the mark on this one. No hard feelings; you might just not be familiar with how classical music works.

[@pensierounico7]

@@seankimmmmmm thank you for your kind answer. I understand your pragmatic approach to further improve your music career and it is admirable. it saddens me dearly to read that you do not consider yourself as an artist above all, but instead a student.

[@kaspianocz6330]

Terrible sound from that mic, nice video