u/EngHokie

Despite the fact that many write pieces for instruments they don't necessarily play, do you think your writing (ability, level, etc.) is comparable to your playing ability for whatever instrument you play?

Do you even play an instrument at all?

Background: Hobbyist pianist here 👋. I had lessons really young but haven't had any since age 9. I've been self taught on-and-off since.

Some pieces I've learned, and the tempos I've heard them interpreted as are not what is written in score. What determines when a performer chooses to play a piece more rubato?

Example: performances of Chopin's Op. 13, Prelude No.13 don't play the eighth notes straight. Why is that? (Not that they don't sound good or better in my opinion)

I am a hobbyist pianist, and I've known how to play piano since I was 6. Even young, I was able to learn songs without having sheet music to the point that I can't learn music without a recording with it. I try to strengthen my sight reading, but when I play pieces before listening to a recording, rhythms are off and accidentals are wrong. The piece sounds foreign to what should actually be played. When I play the recording and hear where my mistakes are, I Instantly got it. It's memorized and I rarely need to reference the music again.

TL;DR: Why can't I read as well even though I've been able to read for a long time? I can play more complex pieces by ear, but reading them is a major chore. Do I need to start reading easier passages? Thanks in advance for advice.