Many of the scions of American piano playing had trouble with alcohol. At school, I remember hidden bottles and little bars inside the official closets. Piano playing is a solitary occupation, and often makes for a solitary life. As much as writers of fiction, pianists have been plagued by (susceptible to? predisposed to?) alcoholism. In some way, intoxication may be a goal of music making -- but chemicals can be a dangerous consort. … [Read more...]