What do you do when you're in a "slump"?

[krystellle]

I wonder if anyone else has this problem.  If I don't have a concert or recital to work for, I have no ambition.  I mean, I might start something up with great fervor and ambition, but I'm not stimulated enought to finish it.  I started that compound time thing and was really serious about re-working on a Beethoven sonata, Scarbo, blah blah blah - but I fizzled out.  Because I have nothing to aim for.  It's a drag.   

[lostinidlewonder]

Work for the glory of music first, don't be bothered to serve the people. We naturally work harder when there are deadlines and time restrictions, when we are open with our time we can easily flounder about, especially with music!

If you need deadlines why don't you organize free concerts in your community? The local church, community groups, social clubs, schools, busking in town etc. I can understand that some people cannot work very well without something to work towards, it can be a little like grasping air when one says learn music for the joy of music! But really we need to find that personal joy we have when we learn music, it has nothing to do with performing for others although that can be part of it we should ultimately be a personal emotional connection. We should feel that irresistible force wanting to be close and close to that ultimate freedom in playing, where we can take away the technical challenges and merely flow with the music and bask in the beauty. It energizes us and breaths life into us, it is a strong force of balance in our every day life, a ritual of praise and glory of sound. It can be a force of remembrance, we can bring back to life those that have left us and relive emotions that we have experience that cannot be expressed in words.

[krystellle]

Wow!  That was really inspirational.  I envy you so much.  I feel like clutz in comparison to you.  You are absolutely right, of course.  I think right now I will just read and read and read - I've been gifted with a good sight-reading ability and I should put it to use.  Instead of perfecting and memorizing for a concert, I will just make a "ritual of praise and glory of sound"!
Thank you so much.

[phillip21]

I wonder if anyone else has this problem.  If I don't have a concert or recital to work for, I have no ambition.  I mean, I might start something up with great fervor and ambition, but I'm not stimulated enought to finish it.  I started that compound time thing and was really serious about re-working on a Beethoven sonata, Scarbo, blah blah blah - but I fizzled out.  Because I have nothing to aim for.  It's a drag.   

One thing you could do (which I did myself) is set up your own YouTube channel and work on pieces to video yourself playing and upload to that.  Then, in perfecting pieces for that, you will have something to work for in the slack times, and you will get (hopefully) lots of viewers who might never get the chance to see you play live.

[krystellle]

great idea!  Thanks.

[oxy60]

Been there, done that.

When you back off don't loose your skills. You want to be ready to spring into action when the time comes. You might think of yourself as a player on the bench, always ready to step in.

Music is an odd sort of work, like playing soccer. You never know when you will be needed.

I made the mistake of backing off way too much and it has taken quite a while to return to former skills. I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

[go12_3]

I think it's normal to get into the "slumps"...  I do also.  I try to learn new pieces that are difficult and challenging, and then have pieces that are easy to play through.  Playing the piano or any instrument does require work in order to feel competent with technique and so forth.  Try playing something for enjoyment and not the required pieces you need to learn on occasion.  It's good to progress but sometimes it's good to feel the joy of playing something fun like jazz.  We get so caught up in a routine to practice that we end up missing how much we can enjoy playing the piano.  Play with your eyes closed then the slumps will disappear!  xD   Try diverse ways to approach a piece, like playing with your right or left hand only.  Or play through a passage 10 times but play each time differently. 

[krystellle]

How right you are about that "routine"!  I have to get back to playing just for the sake of playing and appreciate the joy it gives.

[pianoplayjl]

I'm always in a slump. when I'm in a slump I usually practice less. NOrmally, my piano grade cycle goes like this: for the frist 2-3 months in a new grade I'm really enthusiastic about learning. The next 2-3 months transition into a slump. the slump usally lasts 4-5 months. The last month or so I break out of my slump and start practicing like ballistic, making the most of the time I have.

[oxy60]

"Remember remember the 5th of November.
The gunpowder treason plot.
I know of no reason
of why the Gunpowder plot
should ever be forgot."

I thought I knew my history pretty well but I have never heard of this. Please enlighten!
   

[pianoplayjl]

Shouldn't you be posting this in like what's on your mind right now that kind of thread? anyway, it's just some random !@#$ that me and my friend were talking about and I was interested. we were talking about V for Vendetta which the poem features heavily. The 5th of November actually refers to the day Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London but to no avail.so hence the rhyme. Really, it's just random stuff that makes me like a turd but I like that rhyme so that's why its my signature.

[forgottenbooks]

I play because I like to, whether I have an audience or not.

[krystellle]

I play because I like to, whether I have an audience or not.

Words of wisdom. 

[akasimone]

Just want to drop a quick note of thanks to all the above posters--I too found your comments inspirational.  Not exactly things I've never told myself before, but somehow it's a lot more convincing coming from someone else

[pianoplayjl]

Think of all the positive stuff that I did while playing the piano.