How to "love" a piece that is forced on you and stresses you out?

[Bob]

That's pretty much it. 

I got a piece.  I'm stuck with it.  I'm not watering it down any.  So I hack away at it night after night.  A lot more work than I expected.  I end up stressed and get tensed up just thinking about it.  Even now.

But I get it done.  Not perfect, but probably good enough.

But the piece isn't a stressed sounding piece.  It's more light and happy.  But I'm not light and happy after working on it.  It seesm to have absorbed the stress.

How do I get the stress out of the piece?  To remove that association.  I'm sure it's possible.  I can't drop the piece though.  Not for very long.  A few days.  But I would like to not have negative feeling toward the piece.

Make sense?  Is that possible?

[quantum]

Been there.

Maybe try to have a different perspective of the piece.  Try not to see it from your eyes, but from a point of view which suits the piece.

Maybe sort of like an actor being in character which is very different from their own personality. 

[gerryjay]

Maybe sort of like an actor being in character which is very different from their own personality. 

interesting approach, quantum. occurs me that there are techniques to control this "personification" (excuse me but i really don't know what the right word for that is); actors use such techniques all the time. perhaps something in that line could help.

[Bob]

Yes, I have to go back to this piece.  I'm thinking maybe I can more into it.  Or at least take it more ... haha... more as a front on attack.  Just deal with it systematically.  That's still not the piece, but it's a heck of lot better than being angry about it.

[point of grace]

i usually sing the melody .. dont know why
but sometimes work (sometimes...)
anyway... good point

[lostinidlewonder]

You can never love a piece you don't like.

Playing music should first and foremost be for your enjoyment, it is horrible when you have to learn things which are required from you from teachers, schools, performances or competitions that you dislike.

Every piece will help us develop into the better musician we strive to become, so nothing is wasted in that department when learning pieces you dislike. Horowitz said "Music is emotion, controlled emotion." So even when we deal with things which cause negative emotion within us, we must also learn to control this. After all, life itself is not filled with niceties and beautiful feelings all the time.

[pies]

which piece