Your biggest piano motivators?

[jaggens]

Dear pianists,

It can happen to every pianist, that in some moment the real inner motivation to practise fades.

If it has ever happened to you please give good ideas how to get fresh energy and inspiration to play the piano or tell your interesting story how you came out of this

What could give motivation (has an effect on me)?

1) Listening to great pianists or child prodigies playing the piano.
2) Practising a place with extra relaxing, concentration and attention and taking a lot of time and space to find something new and interesting in a detail or phrase.
3) I listen to my recordings or think about positive events that have happened in my piano-life.

Waiting with interest,
Jaak

[raphaelinparis]

4) doing some housekeeping, especially using the vacuum cleaner. After 30minutes of it I'm dying to go back to the piano. seriously. More generally, doing all sort of "usefull" and boring stuff reminds me how fun it is to play the piano.

[aintgotnorhythm]

Two things do it for me:

1. Finding repertoire that I can get excited about. I have always struggled to find pieces that engage me and still do to a large extent. As a youngster (long ago!) I was completed turned off by much classical and especially Baroque music. I'm not sure why but in the past few months I have suddenly discovered specific works by Bach in particular and Shostakovich to be absolutely captivating. I wish I had realised sooner that pieces that resonate in this way with me are out there, it's just a question of looking for them.

2. Having to learn a piano accompaniment (I'm not asked as often as I would like to accompany someone so when I am asked I make a special effort to prepare!)

[jimbo320]

I find that I get motivated when I'm sitting quietly and music enters my mind. I seem to write melodies in my head then want to recreate it on the keys. Frustrating thing is that sometimes I play some good stuff but soon forget it...

[collectivecolors]

For me, the best motivation is the satisfaction of being able to play a piece well. Other than that, it's mostly just a slight bit boring, even though I still enjoy playing.

[zeusje]

For me I just know that I will always return to the piano, have had some periods where I played less, but I just remember the days that I learnt of the existence of wohltemperierte klavier, and I always get in a good mood again, like a fresh breeze goes through my head.

[smoothsound]

Connect with another human being.  Bring a smile to someones face.  Nothing tops that.  Play for family or friends or strangers, or young people, or old. Try it the next time your lacking energy.

Mitch.

[littlepolaritons]

1) Listening to great pianists or child prodigies playing the piano.

This definitely, especially for a young adult like me started playing piano, I always find the urge to sit in front of the piano and start playing everytime I watch some child playing great pieces on youtube. And then there's the great pianists too like Horowitz and Argerich who inspired me to play a lot.

My friend motivates me too. We started at the same time and we check each other progress from time to time so that no one is slacking lol.

Other than that, I set myself a far away goal too for example I want to be able to play a particular piece (that's ahead of my current skill) in say hopefully 3 months ahead.

I also make it a point to play the piano everyday, even if it's as little as 15 minutes (but usually more than that).

I think the main part is just to find a practice routine that's interesting and not tedious. Once I feel I accomplished something or made progress, I would feel wonderful and that's what keep me going. For example, if I find the pieces I'm practicing starting to get boring, I will start learning another new piece. Then on the next day I could alternate practicing the old pieces and the new one. Also since practicing scales can get a bit boring and tedious, I insert them between playing my pieces.

[faa2010]

My biggest motivations have been listening a piano piece that can really touch my heart, that can make me really feel a range of emotions, and when I finished playing I feel better, as if I expressed what I needed without using words.

Also wanting to improve my technique and piano without someone or something behind and rushing me.

[countrymath]

being one week without practicing, only listening/watching stuff.

Im doing this right now, btw

[ethure]

being one week without practicing, only listening/watching stuff.

Im doing this right now, btw

but won't that disturb your practice? shouldn't we keep it everyday?  : o

[countrymath]

but won't that disturb your practice? shouldn't we keep it everyday?  : o

Well, practicing when I don't want usually will yield nothing. After a one week break, I back to practice much more happy and it yields more

[jmccolley]

My biggest piano motivator is my 11 year old son.  I stopped playing piano regularly when my kids were born (actually before that).  I would play on and off over the years, but would get easily sidetracked, frustrated or bored (or all three).  A couple of weeks ago, I randomly sat down and broke out Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu, and the reaction from my son was absolutely priceless.  I'm sure he's heard me play it before, but this was the first time he actually noticed and was able to appreciate the skill involved.  He came in the room, with jaw dropped wide open, and said "MOM!  I didn't know you could do that!!"  Then he went running into the other room where my older daughter was, and said "DO YOU HEAR MOM!"  She was like yeah, big deal? But anyway, he came back in and sat listening with rapt attention, and then when I was done, he came over and hugged me.  It was one of the top 5 moments of my life, to be sure. 

I have been playing every day since. 

[pianoplayjl]

Usually I listen to rare music, child prodigies or pianists playing music.

[countrymath]

Usually I listen to rare music, child prodigies or pianists playing music.

child prodigies use to demotivate me

[pianoplayjl]

Sometimes other people playing my exam pieces demotivate me.

[stuartberry]

pianoplayjl you should not listen to such people who only criticize others.
Anyways my school teacher is my biggest motivator, who make me to learn piano.
Right now only because of her I have started learning piano...

[pianoplayjl]

I know. It's jsut that they really get into my nerves, no matter how good or bad their playing is.

[slyfox2625]

lol seems like a personal problem only reason child prodigies do that is because of the fact they are a sign of youth and the fact that there so small, but hey you're alot smarter then a child so i used to let it get 2 me, but its not like its a big deal

[m1469]

Dear pianists,

It can happen to every pianist, that in some moment the real inner motivation to practise fades.

If it has ever happened to you please give good ideas how to get fresh energy and inspiration to play the piano or tell your interesting story how you came out of this

Basic philosophy:  Keep playing/play anyway.

Often, times of feeling less motivated are the real opportunity for growth and development, when you're being challenged to use the memory of inspiration and whatever it was built upon, and really "level up" in a whole new way.  Don't miss out, seize the opportunity!  

[dcstudio]

Basic philosophy:  Keep playing/play anyway.

Often, times of feeling less motivated are the real opportunity for growth and development, when you're being challenged to use the memory of inspiration and whatever it was built upon, and really "level up" in a whole new way.  Don't miss out, seize the opportunity!  

you are so cool m1469