No more inspiration to carry on

[abcdef123]

I started piano because I loved it. But it became a chore rather than something I wanted to do. Now I am continuing to play because it would be a waste not because I love it.

I started piano by teaching myself throught the internet then went for lesson, this year I'll be taking my grade 5 exam (ABRSM)  in September, and the only thing I do is scales then pieces and I'll call it a day.

I used to practice loads of other pieces which I liked after working hard with scales and exam pieces. Then I got lazy and bored so it became only playing scales and pieces everyday. Now I only practice 2-3 times a week (I still take lessons). What i do is to practice all scales then go on to piece, playing each 2-3 times and end practice.

I feel that I am not progressing and losing interest in piano, I wouldn't quit because it would be a waste but it is becoming a boring thing to do for me, just like studying, I do not like it, but I do it for the sake of exams.

I don't know what to do, music doesn't connect to me like before and I am sure the problem is not with the scales and pieces I am doing, before, I was enjoying them, then after practicing, I'd practice my "own" pieces that I like.

Now after some scales and exam pieces, I'll just leave the piano.

[zoecalgary]

Hello. I guess this can happen to anybody. I met a lady yesterday who told me she got to grade 10 piano and then lost all will to play. It made me sad to hear. And reading your post made me sad as well.

I'm about to do my grade 4 exam. It's the first exam I've done and prepared for. It took Alot of work and time. I have limited time to play due to children and other commitments. I had days when I felt nothing was going right. That I was getting worse, etc. So I took a break. Visited friends, went for walks, etc. Then I came back with some renewed energy. I took a 2 month break from exam requirements to do Christmas music. It felt great. I then realized I was improving! But more importantly I was enjoying myself again. When I got too focused on the exam I got stressed out. When I started reminding myself this is a hobby all was well and good again.

Anyway all of this to say maybe you need a break? That's ok. Maybe you need to find new styles of music you would love to try. Something you've never done before. Something to bring the fun back in things.  Maybe you just need a break from exams.   Maybe you need to work with your teacher on things you enjoy.

Just take one day at a time and see how you feel each day. Try to get some fun pieces back into your play time.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Hmmm, have you tried listening to some music that you like?

Maybe perhaps find a piece that you really like and then make that your goal?  That might get you a little motivated?

[jimbo320]

Sounds like it might be time to fly.
Do some original stuff and work on perfecting it.
Works for me!....

[keyofc]

abc,

Music is a language - so if all we do is cram for exams - we lose the freedom that brought us to music in the first place.
Think about learning a different langugage - but not communicating anywhere - just being drilled on the correct pronunciations.  What a bore that would be!

Can I suggest taking a break, like others mentioned, listening to music you love,
and then taking a turn to be creative?
Not for anyone's approval except your own?

[quantum]

I have been in the same position several times.  Thought about quitting and pursuing other career options.  However, what I found would reinvigorate my interest is a stop of routine, an end to the daily grind of practicing.  Rather than quitting piano, I would put it aside for a time and pursue things such as the study of other instruments, composition, listening to music, exploring music that was completely alien to me, and pursuing non-musical interests. 

I have never been a daily practicer, and have found more joy in music by only playing several times a week.  Often I will purposefully avoid any resemblance of routine in my practice schedule, always choosing different times of the day or night. 

The study of multiple instruments is extremely refreshing, as one gets to experience music from an alternative perspective.  I've seen too many people that have been bound by the restrictions of a piano-centric approach to music.  There is far more to learn about music outside of piano. 

As others have said, take a break from piano.  No need to schedule your return as a break works much better if you let it work on its own terms.  The piano will call you back, in the meantime enjoy all you can away from the instrument. 

As for me, I am doing a graduate degree in music.  I don't think I could have gotten this far without periods of rest.  There still times when practice seems a chore, but I don't force it.  A period of rest is so refreshing

[iratior]

My advice is a quote from Louise Hay.  "Give yourself a chance;   you are worth it."  Sometimes it's hard when you meet up with individuals who exude negativity and censure.  Usually these are people who can't make their own musicianship work.  Don't just think of the exams as something to cram for.  Think of them as a gateway to newer, more exciting things.

[roseamelia]

You shouldn't give up just yet. Maybe their is another instrument out their that you haven't found or heard yet.

-Rose

[perpetual_dan]

As well as a break, a change might be good. September is a long way off. Why not look for something in a completely different style to keep it fresh? When I was doing exams I remember getting fairly good at a piece then my teacher would have me back off and work on another, to stop it getting stale.

[abcdef123]

I would want to thank every single one of you for your replies, it has really touched me and it feels awesome when I know that there are people out there that cares. Well mainly, my problem is that I do not play much music as before, I do not want to learn more and explore. I used to listen to Chopin Liszt and many other composers, I loved them. But now I rarely listen to their music, if I did I would be like" oh wow, thats nice I want to learn that piece, it really touches me." But then I wouldn't do it.

I don't think its because of my exams, I feel very relaxed, I have all 3 pieces, scales ready to go, I practice less than 40 mins (2-3times a week).
Used to play for hours without stopping, learning many many new pieces but now its become a different  story.
Taking a break isn't really a good idea because I am not working hard, the main problem is that I have stopped loving the piano as how I did and yes, classical music will be my favourite and my only and I don't like any other types of music. I have tried guitar, thats the only instrument I liked but didn't carry on after a lesson or 2 as piano was where I belonged to.
Could everyone give me some advice? also I have started my first day in a tertiary school and I won't be home until mid-late afternoon or evening(rarely). But honestly, that isn't an excuse for me to not play. I wonder what I should be practicing or how it shuld be done and I feel no pull from the piano that calls out to me, telling me to play. I don't know if I am lazy or losing interest

[db05]

Inspiration is different for everyone. A change of air does wonders, besides that I can't get any more specific.

Calling yourself lazy helps nothing. How can someone try to be more industrious? That often backfires, making the person even more tired. So let's stick with "losing interest" in the piano. What else are you interested in? Music has so many applications, you don't have to be at a high level in classical piano to play most popular music. If you can compose, improvise, orchestrate or teach that would be a plus. Have you studied music history, theory and musical forms?

Or maybe do something not related to music. Could be anything. Just do something other than beat yourself up. Learning music improves the learning of other things, and that also goes the other way. The concentration needed to read books, for instance. Or coordination in playing sports. Keep busy with healthy pastimes. You said you're going to school, sometimes that gets stressful and you have to make time for yourself.

[pytheamateur]

As someone has already suggested, try listening to some piano music that is played in concert.  Exam pieces are not always the best music; often they are picked simply because there are nothing better written for that level. I can imagine it being quite boring if all you play are exam pieces and scales.

There was a time when most of the pieces I study with my teacher consisted of Czerny studies and exam pieces.  They were not interesting and I did not have a piece that I felt happy to play to others.  I started playing pop tunes and Richard Clayderman in my free time; it was not so bad; I think they actually improved my sight reading. 

But there had always been proper pieces in the piano repertoire that I'd like to perform and dreamt to be able to play one day, but I was simply not advanced enough then.  I'm so glad I did not give up; now I could at least play a couple of pieces of the piano repertoire.

When listening to music, pick a style that you particularly like: do you like slow romantic music, or fiery virtuoustic music? If after listening to works by Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninov etc and you are still not touched in the least, then perhaps you really have lost interest in the piano.

[jayeckz]

Now I am continuing to play because it would be a waste not because I love it.

I feel that I am not progressing and losing interest in piano, I wouldn't quit because it would be a waste but it is becoming a boring thing to do for me, just like studying, I do not like it, but I do it for the sake of exams.

You trolling?

Let me get this straight:

1) You don't enjoy piano
2) You're playing the piano for exams? (what?!?!)
3) You're not quitting because it would be a waste?

Although I'm not familiar with ABRSM, I strongly believe that these exams should mainly be treated as a means to assess one's playing.  Scoring a 100/95/whatever score or passing exams is an extremely superficial goal.  For example, think of school.  Some students (I was one of them) are misguided by the system to think that getting a 1600 on your SAT and getting straight As are goals in themselves and completely miss the real point of school--to learn.  I feel that you may have this mentality towards music.

I just hope ABRSM is nothing like NYSSMA.  When I took the NYSSMA level 6 exam I absolutely hated playing the piano and was forced by my parents to learn piano.  I spent an entire year just preparing for the NYSSMA exam and easily scored a 100 (this was when I couldn't read bass clef and when my playing was ear achingly bad).  My teacher taught me how to score 100 on the exam instead of teaching me music and how to play the piano.

The following comment might end up ostracizing me from these forums, but I strongly suggest you quit.

If you don't enjoy doing it, don't do it.  You are wasting time you can spend doing other things.

[deego]

i would say you need a different approach to like your instrument again. have you tried playing something very different from the music you are currently playing? sometimes one needs to change direction when there is a dead end. maybe even change the style?


vs. farmerama

[zoecalgary]

To the OP, I am getting the feeling you are quite young. And as such you feel like you might need permission to stop playing or taking a different approach with your piano studies. If that is the case you should talk with your parents, instructor, school counsellor, etc., and explain to the how you are feeling so they can help you work through this.

In response to some of your comments:

- you feel quitting would be a waste for all the time you put in. I can understand that but remember this is a hobby and people change hobbies all the time. People are always changing their interests as they grow and try new things and their needs change over time.  (I took about 5 years of lessons as a teenager and stopped. Was that bad? No. It was time for other things for me and when I came to learn piano20+ years later all I learned then came back to me and helped me take a kick start at something new!)

- you are confident in your exam readiness. That's great! Use that confidence to help you decide next steps for you!

- consider how you may feel if you did stop playing. Would you be happy? Im guessing not because you are agonizing over the decision. Many here have suggested you simply take a break. Think about this as space to let you sort things out. It doesn't need to be so final a decision as you think!

- changing hobbies and passion are normal through the course of a lifetime. You are not a failure for wanting to switch gears and put piano behind you for now. You don't know that your passion and enjoyment for playing doesn't come alive again tomorrow, next week, next year, or even 10 or 20 years later. Either way it's ok.

Please go and talk with somebody you can trust and can help you work through things. You sound quite distressed and unable to make a decision you should be able to make for yourself. There is no good or bad decision by the way. Just a decision to help you move past this and be happy again.

Good luck!!

[keyofc]

Zoe,
Good advice!

Maybe the OP was born to do something else and will fall back on this later in life.
If the piano doesn't 'call you back' like someone said, it's a good chance something else is waiting for your attention as we all have different gifts.