What is "true" progress?

[Bob]

If I play a piece the same way as I always have, I'm not really happy.  I don't consider it true progress?

What do you consider real progress and how do you get that?

If I've learned a standard piece, that's ok.  It's another standard piece.

If I've developed more technique, great.  I've got more to work with.

If I just play a piece and don't improve in any way, I wonder if I've just wasted my time.  The only real thing is that I've continued at my present level of skill.  Not bad, but not really progress either.

[pianistimo]

to have progress, i think you have to expand your vision.  to do this, for me, sort of requires a jump start with a professional teacher.  it's scary to invest a lot of money if you think you might be an average pianist, but to me, the last three semesters with a university prof. has been well worth the money.  besides, it's cheaper through a university than private lessons.  and, you have the opportunity to hear music at the school.

being able to go to concerts on a regular basis really has expanded my expectations for myself.  especially, the occasional concerts of your own professor.  you can see what their own vision is by how they play.  at the lower levels, it seems like the focus is on technique.  as you climb a little bit (unfortunately i'm retrogressing with this dumb leg)  you get past the 'wall' of some techniques that were difficult for you and can start to focus on many more things at once.

i tend to be a sort of person that was too perfectionistic.   now, i see that you have to go through a lot of repertoire, come back to it (rework it), and maybe by the third time you relearn (replay) it you have a better idea of what you want others to hear.  the first time i learn a piece, it's basically for me.  the second time, for family.  and the third time, possibly for an audience.  kind of like marinading. 

also, with my teacher, i learned to work my brain harder.  i would sort of go on autopilot.  but, this is not good.  as you get older, you actually have great capacity for learning, it's just we get lazy.  when you start making yourself actuate progress in technique, listening for sounds, clean pedalling, experimentation with the same sorts of things that possibly the composer was - you start feeling a closer connection with the composer.  like reading a letter the first, second, and third time.  you start reading between the lines.  giving inflection.  pausing.  stating.  rephrasing.  reworking.  finding an enlightening spot or a climax and trying to get the right proportions between the sections so that it makes sense when you get to the high points and also to the last pages.   sometimes a performer does a great job at the high point, but the ending is blah.  maybe it's like acting - because you do have to practice, but when you perform you exaggerate even a bit more.