Bad Days

[peckdec]

This is my first topic here so hello all!

I've been playing piano actively for a little over year now. First I had significant progress almost every day, which I think is common when starting a new instrument. I practice about 2-3 hours per day. Now what frustrates me, is that my progress seems to go on cycles and not linearly. There may be 2 or 3 days when I'm progressing and playing feels wonderful, but then there usually comes a bad day or two and it feels like all my work has been wasted. It feels like I have to start near the point where I was before the good days. Is this common to other pianist also? Or do I just have bad learning methods? I'm completely self taught hence asking here.

[peterjmathis]

I heard this called the curse of the intermediate, though it wasn't used in relation to piano. Basically, you're right about beginners making huge progress everyday and the flip side of that is feeling like you aren't progressing now that you have a lot more skill.

Think of it this way: when you were first starting, even just a little progress might mean literally doubling your skill, because of how low your skill level was. But now you can make that same amount of progress in a session (or a lot more, even) and it just won't be like doubling the amount of skill because of how much you already know. Now that's just a drop in the ocean.

All I can say is to keep going and try to not to worry about the bad days (difficult, I know). I will say that it helps to start practice off on a good note (no pun intended) if possible -- play something you know well and enjoy playing. Also try to think about the things that you can play now that you couldn't before -- it's easy to lose sight of how much you've already accomplished when you're stuck on that one tough piece/section  

[peckdec]

Thanks for your comforting reply!

I guess I'll just have to monitor progress within weeks or months and not days.

[anna_crusis]

This is my first topic here so hello all!

I've been playing piano actively for a little over year now. First I had significant progress almost every day, which I think is common when starting a new instrument. I practice about 2-3 hours per day. Now what frustrates me, is that my progress seems to go on cycles and not linearly. There may be 2 or 3 days when I'm progressing and playing feels wonderful, but then there usually comes a bad day or two and it feels like all my work has been wasted. It feels like I have to start near the point where I was before the good days. Is this common to other pianist also? Or do I just have bad learning methods? I'm completely self taught hence asking here.

Your state of mind can seriously interfere with the learning process. Which is why I always practice in the morning, while my mind is perfectly clear. The quality of my evening practice is always heavily influenced by what has happened that day.

[csharp_minor]

I practice about 2-3 hours per day. Now what frustrates me, is that my progress seems to go on cycles and not linearly. There may be 2 or 3 days when I'm progressing and playing feels wonderful, but then there usually comes a bad day or two and it feels like all my work has been wasted.

Aggghhhh! that happens to me too I know what you mean!

It seems to happen when I get towards finishing off the pieces I have been working on, either the ones on my own of with my teacher. When I'm at the stage of learning some brand new pieces while finishing off the ones I have played to death, I seem to get lazy or lack concentration to start on the new pieces or sort out something from the old ones.  

Also when I feel quite depressed etc there can be a few days when I can't think straight and so good pratice comes to a halt, or sometimes I fool around on the piano improvising instead of learning . This usually seems to clear up in the end though. Just glad I'm not a proper music student!

[banana-]

In my experience 'bad' days are caused by having low energy, for instance on an evening after a long day of school or work. Even if I warm up thoroughly, I never get that comfortable feeling on those evenings. Even a few big mugs of coffee or energy drink won't help. In my opinion, if you are still in the mood for piano even if you're tired, keep those sessions to stuff like theory / learning new music / scales / slow play / or they might get counterproductive. Or just skip the session, and try again the next day when you have more energy. Besides having low energy, there will also be random days when you just suck, like is the case in every other instrument or sport.

[roseli]

hi, I know how you feel, I just passed the easy part of learning the piano and I'm starting the hard musics. and there are thing i can't do when practicing, for example, I never practice in the same day I had my lesson, because in the end that hour is so intensive with the things I learn and the problems I fix, that when I get home my brain is a mess.
during the other days I practice a music for like an hour and then half an hour to scales and exercises, when I end that I will go do something else so that I can rest and have time to process everything I just practiced, when I go play again in the of the day or something I notice some improvement and I can star to practice the music again.
I think that the person who wrote this article have some good tips here: https://www.soundfeelings.com/free/piano_myths.htm

[peckdec]

Thanks for replies. I now think it's wise to keep a day off if things start to go bad. I noticed that sleeping too little ruins practicing which suggests also that it's a matter of concentration and energy, and not actual skill level.

[sitbon09]

Thanks for your post.  Firstly I think your being extremely hard on yourself and need to step back a little to assess the problem.  2-3 hours practice a day?  Is this necessary?  Why?   Given your relatively new to the piano I suggest practicing in three 20 minute sessions.  In the morning, afternoon and at night.  Effective practice is about your mind more than anything and framing what you want to do and get from a session.  I try to break my practice into working on a set number of bars, first hands separate then together with a focus on playing the correct notes.

It also sounds like practicing is becoming a chore rather than something enjoyable.  What is mentally going on do you think?

Andrew

[wildman]

This is my first topic here so hello all!

I've been playing piano actively for a little over year now. First I had significant progress almost every day, which I think is common when starting a new instrument. I practice about 2-3 hours per day. Now what frustrates me, is that my progress seems to go on cycles and not linearly. There may be 2 or 3 days when I'm progressing and playing feels wonderful, but then there usually comes a bad day or two and it feels like all my work has been wasted. It feels like I have to start near the point where I was before the good days. Is this common to other pianist also? Or do I just have bad learning methods? I'm completely self taught hence asking here.

Well, as a beginner, I can say that you shouldn't boss yourself on progress. Just keep playing.
Also, maybe you can ask your teacher (if you have).