Burned out

[belvoce]

Playing piano has always been a wonderful activity for me. However, I have faced a few setbacks in piano lately, and am feeling burned out, thus losing my interest in playing and learning new pieces. Should I just ignore how I feel keep playing regardless about how I feel about it, or should I give it a break. I don't want to just quit playing, but I'm not sure what to do about it either.

[jr11]

I think everyone who has spent a a number of years in the practice routine has felt this way.

If time is a problem, you need to do some priorization. In my last year high school, I had a full load of homework, a job, a car, a girlfriend, other social activities, and 3 hrs/day practice required for grade 10 RCT. Something had to go, and as music was not a university or career goal, it was b-bye piano lessons. No problem, I picked right back up on it 20 years later, without much catch-up needed. Your priorities may be different.

Another thing you can do is try a different instrument for a while, or perhaps a little freer genre, such as jazz or rock. Classically-trained rock musicians are greatly valued, as long as they can play by ear. If you can play piano, you may find the basics of guitar and wind instruments easy to grasp. Lots of classical musicians look down their noses at rock, but it is free and easy, and FUN.

It seems true that if you want to acheive success in the field of classical music (or any music for that matter) you need to do it while you're young. If not, and you are miserable playing classical piano and have no firm musical goals other than recreational playing, there is no shame in giving it a rest for a while. Start by taking a month or two off and see if you miss it.

The one bit of advice I would give is NEVER sell your piano. It will always be there, waiting for you.

[JeffL]

You don't tell us what the extent of your ambition is or the sort of setbacks you have faced.
There are many times when I feel that the last thing I want to do is practise the piano, so a career as an international concert-pianist was obviously not meant for me! However I've played over twenty different concertos in my time and am still asked to do several recital programmes a year for various small societies so all the hard work has not been wasted and music has been a constant pleasure in my life.
I hope you get over this fit of the doldrums and begin to enjoy playing again, but without knowing more details of what has caused you to feel this way,  nobody, surely, can give you very useful advice.

[JeffL]

I am sorry if my previous posting seemed to dismiss the advice given by JR11-it wasn't my intention to do so. What I should have said, perhaps, is that without knowing the circumstances which have lead to the current state of affairs nobody could hope to suggest any specific remedies.

[mugsi]

Hello. I came across your forum when I was looking to reignite my own passion for playing the piano and was wondering if you still feel the same now. I know you posted this a long time ago but maybe the time passed has helped you?

[m1469]

Well, I agree that probably most people who have been at it for years and who have had their nose to the grindstone, have experienced burnout more than once.  Actually, in a way, it almost means you're doing your job correctly because it means you're pushing yourself to your limits!  So, the idea that if you experience burnout that it means you're not meant to have a career in it (other reasons for not having a career, aside), is in my opinion not true.

I've definitely experienced it, and aside from whatever kind of career pianist I am, fundamentally I am somebody who considers myself to deeply love it, to be deeply, deeply passionate over it, and who wants to learn for the rest of my life.  I certainly don't always feel that way in the moment, though!  

I think that the bottom line of what I have decided (for now anyway), is that burnout is not JUST a matter of having had too much, so it's not just that a break is needed (though it is actually needed sometimes).  What I think we call burnout is actually just a matter of forgetting why we are doing it, basically.  So, the remedy is in finding that reason (even though you'll eventually need to grow beyond that, too).  Sometimes that involves deep, deep soul searching and spiritual growth ... sometimes you won't find that answer until you actually truly grow into it as a person, musician, and pianist.  I think though, that if you start to find yourself bothering to search your soul over it, that would lead you to eventually finding your answer, and you can just be assured that you'll find an answer and keep plugging along in your practicing until it comes!  Sometimes you find it simply and naturally in a break, though!  

[ionian_tinnear]

I recently had my worst case of burn-out.  I had been working in semi-pro musical theatre for about 15 yrs, doing up to 14 productions a year (but usually 6 to 8 ).  It stopped being fun, and didn't pay enough to consider a 'job'.  When I realized that it was not music that wasn't fun, but the environment of theatres, I stopped.

Since, I've bought my antique steinway, and 'rediscovered' just playing classical piano again.  Between having time to work on what I want to play, and the cool instrument, it's reignited me.  I'll likely do musical theatre again, but not nearly as intensely.

So my advice, if this is advice, is to consider what part of what you're doing is burning you out.  Is there something else you can try?  Was there something else that fueled your passion that's now missing?  Maybe a trip to Tahiti would help!    A little rest and recreation can do wonders.

[countrymath]

I'm burned out right now because of my routine. I can sey that I am deep in love with music as much asm1469is. I study (not practice) all day, but i feel like learning nothing. Im a self-taught ADHD musician.


I decided to take a break for one week to reorganize myself and get out of my "little hole". I can't stand keep practicing pieces that I dont want to play. I'm really thinking on focus on creating my own music, by improvising and composing. Composition is good because you dont need to have a piano all the time with you. A cheap USB powered controlled is enought.

Take a break and listen to a lot of music. Search for a hobbie that returns you something, like painting, fishing, etc...

Hope you get better

[oxy60]

Actually it depends what caused the burnout. If you just want your life back from endless rehearsals and performances that's one thing. But if you're tired of playing that's another.

The one thing you shouldn't do is to completely stop. You've trained yourself very well and you do something that not everyone can do. Very few people outside of our circle understand how difficult it is to do what we do. You don't want to loose the mechanical ability. It will take a LONG time to get it back.

While you're thinking about what to do next, play about 30 minutes every day. Choose stuff you can play well and don't try to learn anything new.

You'll get some ideas soon about a path. At least you won't loose your ability while you contemplate.

[arturgajewski]

I seem to have these periods of different interests. For couple of months its photography, then I get thrilled about programming and leave the photography out. Then I get anxious about starting to play piano and programming becomes quiet hobby. And when I have that temporary lost of interest toward something I have

Don't panic if you feel like not playing piano or if you feel you have lost interest in it. Like somebody already mentioned, don't sell your piano. There will be day when you sit down in front of your piano, close your eyes, take a deep breath and start playing. Then, you'll find the love for the piano again.

[mugsi]

Also, woo. 7 year old thread.

[m1469]

Also, woo. 7 year old thread.

Yet, endlessly applicable.