Sometimes when you just don't care

[moi_not_toi]

Right now, I'm at a stressful period of my life and Piano to me is quickly becoming a hassle. I love learning new things, but it's starting to dominate my life, and I'm starting to lose the enchanting feeling that you get while playing, it's turning into "just going through the motions".

I don't like that at all.

I'm pretty sure that's happened to everyone, but I'd like to know "How'd you get over"
I mean, should I just take a break for a few weeks just doing whatever (like sightreading, YAY!!!) or should I just suck it up and keep going? Cause, if I do just keep going, I'm afraid I might quit altogether, and I DON'T want that to happen!

Help! I'm DROWNING in sorrow!

[m1469]

Well, of course I can't understand your situation completely, but I can somewhat relate what I think you are going through to my own experiences.  First of all, though, if you really don't want to quit, you won't -- even if you burn yourself out for a time -- because you will eventually do what you want to do anyway (which will be to stick with it).

That being said, I have always found that if I want to be inspired, I can find it almost instantly.  For me, the questions that I am faced with are almost never about whether or not I can actually get inspired over playing the piano, but more, where is it all leading to anyway ?  That will sometimes suck the life right out of me and leave me feeling like I am just going through the motions with anything really.

I felt the most burnt out after school.  But, as I look back at it, I was actually the happiest when I just accepted my feelings regarding the piano and was completely immerssed in the study of it.  So, it's not really about whether or not it dominates one's life, but it's rather about whether or not we are comfortable with this domination and all that is percieved to be involved with it.

Okay.  *sips more red wine* 

Perhaps I will be back later when/if I feel a little less fuzzy ... 

[lagin]

This happens to me periodically, as well.  I call it "burn out."  I generally take a couple weeks, or I'll only practice half as much for one week, see how I feel, and if I feel the same take another week off without touching the piano.  I find that it gives my arms a break, too.  Mainly, though, I go back feeling refreshed, and believe it not, very often my pieces will sound better.  I think this happens because I look at them with a fresh perspective.  Also the "expectation" factor is gone.  When I practice every day I keep expecting myself to improve more and more and more, and it is frusterating if I hit a lull where nothing seems to be happening.   When I come back from a break, I expect to have had a bit of a lapse, and the pressure of doing better and better is momentarily off.  Then I play more relaxed like and my pieces sound really good even after the long break.  

Another thing I noticed, that I alluded to briefly before is that my body gets tired sometimes and I don't even realize it needs a break.  I remember last summer working my butt off to get the first mvmt. of the Pathetique ready for an exam along with a bunch of other pieces and it always seemed to just escape me technically.  The runs were just so hard to nail.  After the exam was over I took a break for a few days.  Then I went back to record my repertoire (just a cheap tape, but I like to have a record of me playing my pieces that I've learned over the years).  And you guessed, it.  Runs - no problem.  My fingers were just exhausted from continuous practicing and needed that small rest and my technique was much cleaner when I returned to the piano.

So I'd say, yes, if you really feel you need a break, then by all means, take one!  If you're worried about getting back at it afterwards, I'd say that, that is less of a worry than potentially burning out completely!!

Also, don't know your circumstances, but I felt like quitting last summer, too.  Piano had lost the charm it once had.  I switched teachers that summer, and now I never want to stop playing!  It's amazing the difference it can make.  Fresh start, more motivation to practice (for the scary new teacher, hehe), most likely new repertoire, new ideas, new perspectives.  I knew how to play the piano last summer and I thought I did an okay job of it, though I was never quite satisfied with how "good" I was.  Now, not only do I know how to play the piano, but I've been taught how to make music and how music "works," and I am satisfied with how I play.  And all's I did was switch teachers.  I thought I knew the basics, but I didn't even know the half of it.  I didn't know that I didn't know until after the switch.  It totally helps that my new teacher doesn't put pressure on me like my old one used to, as well.  If you have pressure from yourself and another person as well, it's enough to push anyone to madness!

Anyways, like I said, I don't know your circumstances, so take it or leave it .  

[opus10no2]

I've said it before, practicing is living for tomorrow, spending time investing in a future goal. It is in the nature of this to get bummed out when everything is all work and no play.

One thing I must assert though is that at no point should there ever be a day without at least some practice to maintain skills.
Structure a minimum daily routine of *work*, and do more than that if you feel capable on that day, and leave the rest to just playing for fun, or nothing to do with piano at all.

You'll be grateful for your own discipline later on, because there's nothing worse than a decline in abilities.

[mycrabface]

Right now, I'm at a stressful period of my life and Piano to me is quickly becoming a hassle. I love learning new things, but it's starting to dominate my life, and I'm starting to lose the enchanting feeling that you get while playing, it's turning into "just going through the motions".

I don't like that at all.

I'm pretty sure that's happened to everyone, but I'd like to know "How'd you get over"
I mean, should I just take a break for a few weeks just doing whatever (like sightreading, YAY!!!) or should I just suck it up and keep going? Cause, if I do just keep going, I'm afraid I might quit altogether, and I DON'T want that to happen!

Help! I'm DROWNING in sorrow!

Then don't touch the piano for 6 months

[lagin]

Also, my teacher (who was a provincial finalist, won tons of festivals, and got 94% on her performer's diploma) told me that sometimes before a competition if she felt prepared, but sort of burnt out, she would take the week off.  Obviously it didn't hurt her any . 

[Bob]

Rest.

Play a piece you like.  Or play something new and different.

I suppose taking a break away from piano is possible.  I don't like the idea of that.  Instead... just play through scales, etc. -- technical stuff that doesn't require any engagement -- just to keep your physical piano self alive.

[moi_not_toi]

Then don't touch the piano for 6 months

you're kidding, right?
I could NEVER do that! It's just that, well, since I'm going to double major in piano performance and creative writing (minor??? dunno) after I go to tech school and get a REAL degree in graphic arts, I'm just expecting too much from myself, and with my teacher pushing and Pushing and PUSHING me to do better, I just feel like she's pushing me over the cliff "only to fall upon the rocks before the undulating waves bearing the swarthy cloth of Theseus' sail" *lets out the infamous "fainting sigh" in mockery of melodrama*.

Yeah, my life feels like a soap opera right now, and I just don't have the passion for it like I used to. For instance: tonight I had piano lessons, I had to play two duets with this girl (it sucks major, because neither of us are quite good at it, and we have to play it Sat.) and while she's sitting there being the Lang Lang I usually am (we both tend to let our bodies move to the music like we're on Vogue), I sit there like Horowitz, barely moving anything but my hands.

Then again, I just got back from drammie awards (best actor in Laugh I nearly went to Miami! 2007 woot woot!!!!) and it was depressing because it's my first and the teacher's last (even only knowing her a year, I'm still nearly brought to tears).

So yeah.
Sigh.

[meli]

I know how you feel. Sometimes, stress can be a real downer as it might affect your motivation. I get burned out too, trying to be perfectionistic and play a passage well, aim to learn a lot of pieces, perfect a specific technique .. the list goes on and on. Why not take a break, I mean not from music of course!  but what you normally play at the piano. Do something else e.g. improvise, or play Jazz, or easy stuff.  I notice when I get stressed with perfecting something, like a challenging passage in Brahms F Minor Sonata or a Beethoven Sonata etc.. I just play pieces from grade 2-3 books. You'd be surprised how simple and beautiful the melodies are in Schumann 's Album for the Young! That was like a breath of fresh air. I guess what I am trying to say is if you are stressed, don't do things at the piano that might increase it! Play pieces that will put you in a relaxed and joyful state of mind. Isn't that the purpose of playing? Hope this makes sense!

[amelialw]

i take a week of once in a while too so that my passion for music does not get burned out if i can't do that for a week, then i do it for 2 or 3 days and i feel refreshed and ready to go again. maybe u should'nt do so much at the same time. I doing my ARCT this year and im not going to music school till next year in sept so i don't get too stressed