--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was trained in classical piano, but it…" description: "\"I was trained in classical piano, but it kind of dawned on me that classical pianists compete for six job openings a year, and the rest of us get to pl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/barbara-kingsolver-200_blue_i-was-trained-in-classical-piano-but-it_446404.png" --- # I was trained in classical piano, but it kind of dawned on… ![“I was trained in classical piano, but it kind of dawned on me that classical pianists compete for six job openings a year, and the rest of us get to play 'Blue Moon' in a hotel lobby.” quote by Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/barbara-kingsolver-200_blue_i-was-trained-in-classical-piano-but-it_446404.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/barbara-kingsolver-200_blue_i-was-trained-in-classical-piano-but-it_446404.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/barbara-kingsolver-200_blue_i-was-trained-in-classical-piano-but-it_446404.png) > “I was trained in classical piano, but it kind of dawned on me that classical pianists compete for six job openings a year, and the rest of us get to play 'Blue Moon' in a hotel lobby.” [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Classical piano careers are limited, leading many musicians to pursue alternative, often less prestigious, performance opportunities. **In simple terms:** Classical piano jobs are scarce; many play elsewhere. Key Takeaway Explore diverse musical paths beyond traditional venues. Themes career challenges music industry artistic adaptation Mood thoughtful inspirational Type career creative When to use this quote - concert halls - hotel lobbies - online streaming - teaching studios Key Concepts employment scarcity genre crossover livelihood strategies Questions to Reflect On - What alternative careers suit trained musicians? - How can classical music become more accessible? A Different Perspective The quote may generalize all classical pianists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Classical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical/) [Dawned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dawned/) [Hotel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hotel/) [Hotel lobby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hotel-lobby/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Openings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openings/) [Pianists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pianists/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Today, Lan Lan is one of my favourite classical pianists… Years ago I had a great admiration for Arthur Rubinstein but I have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-clayderman/today-lan-lan-is-one-of-my-favourite-classical-pianists-years-ago-i/) [Richard Clayderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-clayderman/) > [I was always involved in the arts from a young age. 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And actually, my father sang with the big bands - he sang with Bob Crosby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-tennille/my-mother-did-play-classical-piano-not-that-well-and-actually-my/) [Toni Tennille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-tennille/) > [I took classical piano lessons from the age of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/i-took-classical-piano-lessons-from-the-age-of-five/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [In fact although I have studied in a Conservatory the classical piano, I do not consider myself a classical pianist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-clayderman/in-fact-although-i-have-studied-in-a-conservatory-the-classical-piano/) [Richard Clayderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-clayderman/) > [I started classical piano when I was eight, but I wasn't a virtuoso. I just really liked it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-started-classical-piano-when-i-was-eight-but-i-wasn-t-a-virtuoso-i/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) ## More by Barbara Kingsolver > [“Jesus was a more reliable backer, evidently, less likely to drink himself unconscious or get liver cancer. No wonder people chose Him as their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/jesus-was-a-more-reliable-backer-evidently-less-likely-to-drink/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Now I'm starting to think he wasn't supposed to be my whole life, he was just this doorway to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/now-i-m-starting-to-think-he-wasn-t-supposed-to-be-my-whole-life-he/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Cooking is 80 percent confidence, a skill best acquired starting from when the apron strings wrap around you twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/cooking-is-80-percent-confidence-a-skill-best-acquired-starting-from/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“In Bobby Ogle's version of heaven everyone would wind up in one place, criminals and Muslims included.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/in-bobby-ogle-s-version-of-heaven-everyone-would-wind-up-in-one-place/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Weeds are job security for the gardener.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/weeds-are-job-security-for-the-gardener/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“It's what you do that makes your soul, not the other way around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/it-s-what-you-do-that-makes-your-soul-not-the-other-way-around/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Lusa turned to Crys, her eyes shining. 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