Public Piano Etiquette

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow! Not the reaction I expected. I think the problem at the resort (not the sort of circles I usually run with either... we were guests of my mom) was that it was full of extremely wealthy, extremely used to being catered to people. It was not the only entitled behavior I saw... just the only directed at me. It was a really lovely grand piano, and I never saw anyone else playing it the entire week. I’m guessing people, who don’t ask, just consider it decorative.

As far as play me pianos, they are awesome!
Here are some examples:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_piano
There are several “play me, I’m yours” pianos local to us, and we’ve played the one in the Rome airport as well. My kid is playing actual classical music, I promise. She’s no prodigy, but she’s not unpleasant for 5-10 minutes.

You sound entitled. I don't want to hear your piano practicing or your child's while I'm on vacation. Would you want me to bring in my kid's loud instruments for you to hear. My kid is great at Heavy Metal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s your right and go ahead and play it is there. Personally, I would find it annoying in a spa and think you were looking for attention BUT I’m not musical and don’t play any instrument for enjoyment. I’d never say anything or make any type of face. I’d quietly leave and go elsewhere if I was looking for a quiet spa environment. You have as much to be there and enjoy the amenities as I do.

OP here. I'm actually not after attention, which is why I don't normally play the "play mes," but, my kid really enjoys it. Playing piano is just an activity I really enjoy, so, when away on a vacation I was happy to think I'd have the opportunity. Like I said, I never saw anyone else playing it, so I can see why people wouldn't expect it to be played. It's the sort of resort where they do a tour upon your arrival, and when I saw the piano, I asked. I also left as soon as the people asked, but, they were incredibly rude about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow! Not the reaction I expected. I think the problem at the resort (not the sort of circles I usually run with either... we were guests of my mom) was that it was full of extremely wealthy, extremely used to being catered to people. It was not the only entitled behavior I saw... just the only directed at me. It was a really lovely grand piano, and I never saw anyone else playing it the entire week. I’m guessing people, who don’t ask, just consider it decorative.

As far as play me pianos, they are awesome!
Here are some examples:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_piano
There are several “play me, I’m yours” pianos local to us, and we’ve played the one in the Rome airport as well. My kid is playing actual classical music, I promise. She’s no prodigy, but she’s not unpleasant for 5-10 minutes.

You sound entitled. I don't want to hear your piano practicing or your child's while I'm on vacation. Would you want me to bring in my kid's loud instruments for you to hear. My kid is great at Heavy Metal.

OP here. Now this is the sort of reaction I was expecting more of

[Anonymous]

I think this thread is making the fundamental problem clear: people who don’t play the piano don’t understand any reason for it other than seeking attention. They don’t get that you find it relaxing the way that other people enjoy playing candy crush or sitting in a hot tub.

I’m sure there are some scenarios where you shouldn’t play piano in public, but I think you and your daughter are right to play in the situations you describe.

[Anonymous]

Good to you or good as in she’d be invited to play for the Queen?

I enjoy the piano I play, but I don’t want to hear a “ good for her age” when I’m out to dinner or in a spa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow! Not the reaction I expected. I think the problem at the resort (not the sort of circles I usually run with either... we were guests of my mom) was that it was full of extremely wealthy, extremely used to being catered to people. It was not the only entitled behavior I saw... just the only directed at me. It was a really lovely grand piano, and I never saw anyone else playing it the entire week. I’m guessing people, who don’t ask, just consider it decorative.

As far as play me pianos, they are awesome!
Here are some examples:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_piano
There are several “play me, I’m yours” pianos local to us, and we’ve played the one in the Rome airport as well. My kid is playing actual classical music, I promise. She’s no prodigy, but she’s not unpleasant for 5-10 minutes.

You sound entitled. I don't want to hear your piano practicing or your child's while I'm on vacation. Would you want me to bring in my kid's loud instruments for you to hear. My kid is great at Heavy Metal.

OP here. Now this is the sort of reaction I was expecting more of

Me too! Bravo, pp! You actually exceeded my expectations!

[Anonymous]

No one in my family plays, and we would all really enjoy hearing decently played classical music out in public, including the 10 year old. Thanks for playing!

[Anonymous]

I had a roommate who played violin. She was like, getting her degree in violin or something. She practiced at home all the time. If I was watching tv I'd just close my door, but if I was listening to music when she started playing I'd turn it off and listen to her.

It wasn't really my kind of music, but I had a couple of favorite songs that I'd clap for.

[Anonymous]

you were fine in all instances OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s your right and go ahead and play it is there. Personally, I would find it annoying in a spa and think you were looking for attention BUT I’m not musical and don’t play any instrument for enjoyment. I’d never say anything or make any type of face. I’d quietly leave and go elsewhere if I was looking for a quiet spa environment. You have as much to be there and enjoy the amenities as I do.

OP said it was a "spa-like resort" but I don't think the piano was in the actual spa. I assume she was someplace like Greenbrier or Salamander. I was picturing the piano in one of the lounge rooms off the lobby, like the library. Assuming that's the case, OP, you're fine to play. Anyone looking for quiet can get up and go elsewhere. If I've misunderstood and the piano was in the actual spa (which would be weird), I do think it would be somewhat inconsiderate to play.

The "play me pianos" are fine

[Anonymous]

I suppose that what you could have done, after the second rebuff, is to put a sign up on the piano announcing that "Susie Q will be performing here at 4 p.m.; All guests are welcome to attend." Pick some time that is convenient for you to "perform". See what happens.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes. It’s a giant resort centered around a spa. Piano was in a room two removed from the main check in desk.

And cute idea, PP, but I was definitely /not/ interested in performing!

[Anonymous]

OP, you might enjoy reading this article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/pearls-before-breakfast-can-one-of-the-nations-great-musicians-cut-through-the-fog-of-a-dc-rush-hour-lets-find-out/2014/09/23/8a6d46da-4331-11e4-b47c-f5889e061e5f_story.html?utm_term=.226d7e65ef43

It's about a famous violinist who performed in the DC subway.

[Anonymous]

I love the piano (as in, I learn myself, my kids learn, and we listen to piano music for enjoyment) and I think it's obnoxious for someone to walk into a room and play a piano just because it's there when that means the people who were already in the room need to change what they were doing. If it's a huge room and the piano is in a far corner away from the place where people are sitting, and it's background music for them but they don't need to change their volume or be distracted from their conversation, no problem. But if they need to talk louder to talk over you, or they're distracted from their conversation, or you (as you indicated in your OP) seriously expect THEM to get up and move to another place..... that's totally obnoxious.

It's a resort. You're supposed to relax and unwind. But not when it takes away from others' ability to relax and unwind. Would you like it if someone brought along their bagpipes, just because that's their favorite thing to do at 5am? I mean seriously. You're expected to have consideration for other people.

And as for when people are supposed to play it, and why a resort may have it in the lodge area, I'd say there are 3 options:
1. If you're the first person/party in the room and you choose to play
2. If there's a professional event going on (and they book out the room)
3. If the room gets to be filled with only your party and you all decide to play some music together

You can't seriously expect people to move to another room even though there are other places to talk. That's beyond obnoxious.

As for your kid playing at a "play me" piano, I think it's fine to play one or maybe two pieces if she can play them relatively well. Unless the majority of people are clapping and cheering of course and calling for more. But generally, if she's playing for 5 minutes or longer then that's too long. Nobody wants to be forced to listen to your kid's music practice, even if she isn't terrible at it. Basically, once again, you should think about the people around you and whether they'd see it as a minor annoyance or a major annoyance. And even people who play and/or love piano would find it annoying to need to talk over one.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I wouldn’t expect people to move. But, I would expect that if you choose to sit in the room with the piano meant for guests to play (as there are literally dozens of other options) you shouldn’t be put out when people play it. I guess if I sat in the bagpipe area (at the highland game?) Id have to deal with people bringing their pipes. Otherwise I’m not sure the analogy holds. Again, it’s a lovely type of leasure equipment provided by the resort for use of guests. I guess I’m not seeing the real difference between this and my treadmill example.

But, I did come here for different opinions!