I find that listening to other pianists play pieces I am working on inspires me to practice/play them, even when I was starting to lose motivation to work on them.
Robert, thank you for all of your advice. Today I auditioned for a piano lounge gig and got it! I had to touch up tune the piano before I could audition, it was that bad. Then I was told by the lady who does the hiring that she will pay me 1/3 less than what she initially promised. I wore my Hawaiian shirt and kept it casual. I've been practicing my 4$$ off. Sometimes fear (of failure) is a great motivator.
When it's difficult to be motivated, I choose something easy and new, or existing tunes that that I love and can change my mood for the better. I only work hard at the time of day when I am most awake, and when I am motivated to do so. I always look for ways to get some sort of achievement, however small, so I can tell myself that I am actually improving. Yes don't beat yourself up attitude really is everything. We are all motivated differently, but music is not a competition for me, and I don't care if there are others that play much better than me. There always will be.. but I enjoy it and that is not something to ever give up.
If I am working hard and long on multiple Mozart sonatas, when the brain reaches the maximum saturation point, I play something I already know by Beethoven, Brahms, or another composer. If I have practiced so much that the brain rebels against any more practice, then it't time to go to the kitchen and cook a proper meal and uncork a fine vintage. After a few hours (and a couple of glasses of noble red liquid), I can return to the piano and play some shorter pieces than the full length sonatas I'm working on.
Very refreshing to hear a fellow teacher say the words 'if you practice correctly it's hard work'. Sometimes everybody just expects fun all the time, but it's fun to work hard too! Great tips for shaking it up and getting motivated again!
Focusing too much on goals and results can also sometimes get in the way of simply staying engaged in the process for no other reason than the process itself. I find this especially true when reaching a plateau, which inevitably happens on the road to any kind of mastery. You then have to work on your mindset and let go of expectations, at least for the moment. A simple shift in perspective can be immensely freeing.
This is perfect for me. I've been stuck on the same pieces for over a month, and just feel stuck making the same mistakes on songs I'm not really excited about learning. It seems like all the songs I want to play are still a bit above my current skill level. I'm just anticipating the time when I'll be able to play music I really like.
I usually have a piece I want to play that is a bit over my current level that I have to take measure by measure to learn it. At the same time I am working of 1-2 pieces that are at my current level. The secret is shopping around for arrangements that still sound very beautiful despite being easier to play. I would quickly lose motivation if I was only practicing music I wasn’t happy with.
I have a tutor that helps me work through and pick more challenging pieces. He pays attention to my interests and what would be beneficial for my skill level.
Excellent video and it has really starting me thinking about the subtle way I tend to beat myself up about practice habits. and how to make some positive changes. Thanks so much for posting this video.
My degenerative disc disease acts up every couple years and can be Badly painful, hard to do anything , including my piano practice. I feel I lose so much in those days, usually, weeks of down time , but it ends up being ok . I listen to a lot of music during those times, watch videos like yours ! And practice my sight reading , when I get back I am more than ready !
Robert, sure enjoy your insightful & helpful videos. I play a full size piano accordion, and when learning something new or challenging(playing all the notes), at the end of my practice, I will reward myself by just playing the top single(melody) notes, to now "fluidly" play the song & enjoy the essence of the song....
Some people feel learning an instrument has become repetitive exercises. They don't enjoy the repertoire assigned by the teacher. Back to the fundamental question whether we enjoy the pieces we're playing and we're making progress. The learning process is always frustrating. Many years ago at a gathering 3 kids sat in front of a piano with a 1-page sheet at a low-intermediate level. For more than 1 hour none of them was able to figure out the piece. If you're not making progress, your motivation decreases.
I'm experiencing some existential dread, practicing the Appassionata Sonata, and a Scriabin Etude opus 8.12. My left hand's finger technique is weak, so I'm intentionally learning pieces that challenge it to get stronger.
I think some aspects of a routine are helpful and some not. But making practice unpleasant is counterproductive. It’s ok to experiment to find out what works for you.
Hey Robert! I have a quick question that maybe you could answer. Recently I've been learning ragtime piano, but I keep running out of energy halfway through each piece due to the large chords, jumps, and high tempo. What could I do to not get tired so easily?
There's a school of thought that states that the fear of failing or quitting is enough to keep working at the issue. That's where I'm at with piano. The fear of failure or quitting is the overriding motivation to keep trying to learn to play. The reason for this in my case is that I'm in my 60's, so time to achieve some respectable competency (Grade 5 upwards) is less available to me than it would have been starting out in my teens or 30's. I realise I'll never achieve Grade 8, in order to play some of the most desirable pieces I like (e.g. Ligeti's, L'escalier du diable - "The Devil's Staircase"), with what little time I have left. Fortunately, Robert and some other online piano teachers are great motivators.
Very relatable and the struggle is real sometimes to find the motivation to practice
I find that listening to other pianists play pieces I am working on inspires me to practice/play them, even when I was starting to lose motivation to work on them.
Robert, thank you for all of your advice. Today I auditioned for a piano lounge gig and got it! I had to touch up tune the piano before I could audition, it was that bad. Then I was told by the lady who does the hiring that she will pay me 1/3 less than what she initially promised. I wore my Hawaiian shirt and kept it casual. I've been practicing my 4$$ off. Sometimes fear (of failure) is a great motivator.
When it's difficult to be motivated, I choose something easy and new, or existing tunes that that I love and can change my mood for the better. I only work hard at the time of day when I am most awake, and when I am motivated to do so. I always look for ways to get some sort of achievement, however small, so I can tell myself that I am actually improving. Yes don't beat yourself up attitude really is everything. We are all motivated differently, but music is not a competition for me, and I don't care if there are others that play much better than me. There always will be.. but I enjoy it and that is not something to ever give up.
If I am working hard and long on multiple Mozart sonatas, when the brain reaches the maximum saturation point, I play something I already know by Beethoven, Brahms, or another composer. If I have practiced so much that the brain rebels against any more practice, then it't time to go to the kitchen and cook a proper meal and uncork a fine vintage. After a few hours (and a couple of glasses of noble red liquid), I can return to the piano and play some shorter pieces than the full length sonatas I'm working on.
Very refreshing to hear a fellow teacher say the words 'if you practice correctly it's hard work'. Sometimes everybody just expects fun all the time, but it's fun to work hard too! Great tips for shaking it up and getting motivated again!
Excellent lesson. Thanks
Focusing too much on goals and results can also sometimes get in the way of simply staying engaged in the process for no other reason than the process itself. I find this especially true when reaching a plateau, which inevitably happens on the road to any kind of mastery. You then have to work on your mindset and let go of expectations, at least for the moment. A simple shift in perspective can be immensely freeing.
This is wonderful advice, for piano and life.
This is perfect for me. I've been stuck on the same pieces for over a month, and just feel stuck making the same mistakes on songs I'm not really excited about learning. It seems like all the songs I want to play are still a bit above my current skill level. I'm just anticipating the time when I'll be able to play music I really like.
I usually have a piece I want to play that is a bit over my current level that I have to take measure by measure to learn it. At the same time I am working of 1-2 pieces that are at my current level. The secret is shopping around for arrangements that still sound very beautiful despite being easier to play. I would quickly lose motivation if I was only practicing music I wasn’t happy with.
I have a tutor that helps me work through and pick more challenging pieces. He pays attention to my interests and what would be beneficial for my skill level.
Excellent video and it has really starting me thinking about the subtle way I tend to beat myself up about practice habits. and how to make some positive changes. Thanks so much for posting this video.
Absolutely solid advice. Useless to approach practice from the point of view of a guilt trip. No p[rogress can ever be made that way.
My degenerative disc disease acts up every couple years and can be Badly painful, hard to do anything , including my piano practice. I feel I lose so much in those days, usually, weeks of down time , but it ends up being ok . I listen to a lot of music during those times, watch videos like yours ! And practice my sight reading , when I get back I am more than ready !
Great Advise Robert 👍👍👍
How about a 3rd way; just put it off till tomorrow?
👍Cool stock clips to tell this advise. • Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
Of course, I easily 'got religion' when I had an upcoming lesson or recital. That had a way of focusing my practice!
Robert, sure enjoy your insightful & helpful videos. I play a full size piano accordion, and when learning something new or challenging(playing all the notes), at the end of my practice, I will reward myself by just playing the top single(melody) notes, to now "fluidly" play the song & enjoy the essence of the song....
I NEEDED this!
I've found that buying a new music book will invigorate my enthusiasm for the piano if I'm in a lull.
Some people feel learning an instrument has become repetitive exercises. They don't enjoy the repertoire assigned by the teacher. Back to the fundamental question whether we enjoy the pieces we're playing and we're making progress. The learning process is always frustrating.
Many years ago at a gathering 3 kids sat in front of a piano with a 1-page sheet at a low-intermediate level. For more than 1 hour none of them was able to figure out the piece. If you're not making progress, your motivation decreases.
I'm experiencing some existential dread, practicing the Appassionata Sonata, and a Scriabin Etude opus 8.12. My left hand's finger technique is weak, so I'm intentionally learning pieces that challenge it to get stronger.
I think some aspects of a routine are helpful and some not. But making practice unpleasant is counterproductive. It’s ok to experiment to find out what works for you.
Hey Robert! I have a quick question that maybe you could answer. Recently I've been learning ragtime piano, but I keep running out of energy halfway through each piece due to the large chords, jumps, and high tempo. What could I do to not get tired so easily?
Lions play through as fast as possible with no timing or pedal when that happens. It helps focus if you don't do it all the time.
he really said "touch some grass"
We all knew Robert was down. Seems like an Indica strain kinda guy.
Awareness of your senses really helps with music.
I lost it at the "friends" part, where do I hire one?
There's a school of thought that states that the fear of failing or quitting is enough to keep working at the issue.
That's where I'm at with piano. The fear of failure or quitting is the overriding motivation to keep trying to learn to play.
The reason for this in my case is that I'm in my 60's, so time to achieve some respectable competency (Grade 5 upwards) is less available to me than it would have been starting out in my teens or 30's.
I realise I'll never achieve Grade 8, in order to play some of the most desirable pieces I like (e.g. Ligeti's, L'escalier du diable - "The Devil's Staircase"), with what little time I have left.
Fortunately, Robert and some other online piano teachers are great motivators.
If you don’t like practising the piano any more -or another different thing- it is probably because the time to leave is now.
Good advise