common to get bored playing the same song over and over again?

[andy1973]

Most new things I try I get bored with pretty quickly and quit. I've been playing the piano now for over a year and have enjoyed it and found it a nice diversion. But frequently I get discouraged because i get bored playing the same pieces over and over again. And I have to play them over and over again because after a week or two I can't play them as well. And I'm not playing anything so complex...

Auld Lang Syne
Sleeping Beauty Waltz
Star Wars Theme Song
All My Loving
When the Saints Go Marching In
Sheep May Safely Graze
Where Do I Begin
Minuet in G Major
First Noel
America the Beautiful
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Yesterday

And what always happens is the songs sound really cool or really nice when I first start, but it doesn't take long before they just sound... like the same thing over and over again.

I never considered myself musically inclined and was never interested in music in school. I didn't really care for stuff my friends listened to when I was a teenager and didn't really start enjoying music more in my twenties when an older friend turned me on to an oldies station, then I heard the Beatles and bought all their albums (on cassette or CD) within a few months. Before that, I did get into Steve Miller, and the Doors, and misc 80 soft and hard rock.

But really, music never touched me. Still doesn't. I first heard "Sheep May Safely Graze" on a classical station a couple years ago and it really struck me, I thought it was pretty nice.  But I really have a hard time finding music I really really get into. Most of the Mozart music I've heard doesn't impress me at all, and sounds pretty chaotic.

But sometimes I think my visual and auditory senses don't process things quickly enough because my brain's getting in the way.

When I hear or read people talk about music touching them or crying or it being "beautiful..." well once in a while I hear something and think "beautiful," but not too often. I can't imagine though music having an effect on me like that.

I have struggled with depression for a large part of my life, and that's probably part of the problem. I generally have problems experiencing positive emotions I would say. Some people talk about joy as if it's tangible, but I can't remember feeling joy.

So now I've made one topic into two, but maybe they're related.

My mom and aunt say I play pretty well, they are a couple of those people that experience emotions and has a true appreciation for music. I think I have a pretty good sense of timing for a noob. Though often I just sing along in my head as I play, so I really don't think about 1/8 notes or 1/4 notes, etc, I just play along to what's in my head. So bottom line is I guess I'm either a natural who should get a teacher or quit altogether and try to find another interest.

[hfmadopter]

Oh, well you just haven't found Music yet. I mean that in two ways, perhaps in the kind of written notes on the page for one ( the kind of music that really works for you). But Music the entity or energy if you prefer, secondly ( different people view this aspect of Music in different ways, to me it's basically spiritual in nature, to someone who doesn't believe in spirituality it may take on another form but it most certainly exists). It may come to you with more musical experience under your belt. Some say you have fallen in love. That all started happening to me ( what ever you want to call it) after 5 years of accordian lessons and at about 4 years into my piano, FWIW. Which was a long time ago. It first struck when I played a broken A minor chord in a classical piece of music. Just like falling in love, you can't see it, you can't plan for it, it just happens..

[slobone]

To address your first topic, I think we all have had the experience of losing interest in a piece once we've learned how to play it. The best advice I can give you is to put it aside for a while and work on something else. Then, occasionally go back and review your old songs. You might find that you can play them better, and get more out of it, if you've let them rest a while.

As for not getting as much joy out of music as you'd like, remember that playing and listening are two different things. Learning to play the piano is hard work, and it's not always going to make you happy. Sometimes it's just frustrating. The enjoyment comes when you've finally mastered a piece and you can make it sound like music.

I think it would probably help you a lot to get a teacher -- it might even help with the depression. Your attitude to music will change once you know that there's at least one other person who's on your side and wants to help you play better.

[andy1973]

Thanks to you both for the insight and encouragement. I suppose I'll need a working piano before a teacher will want to have me for a student? Last I heard, the hammers need to be replaced on the cheap one I got off Craig's list (even after a tuning doesn't sound quite right; the pro said I can't just have a few replaced -- they all have to). Oh, and the soundboard emits a buzzing vibration-type sound when I hit certain keys in certain combinations. And three strings need replacing.

Hmmm... come to think of it, that could be part of my recent feelings of discouragement.   Spending money I won't have for a year is kind of a drag....

So in the meantime, the only working instrument I have is a Yamaha YPT-230. It sounded fine the first couple months I had it, but unfortunately my ears developed from playing an average of 2 hours a day, and now I much prefer the sound of a real piano.

[hfmadopter]

Thanks to you both for the insight and encouragement. I suppose I'll need a working piano before a teacher will want to have me for a student? Last I heard, the hammers need to be replaced on the cheap one I got off Craig's list (even after a tuning doesn't sound quite right; the pro said I can't just have a few replaced -- they all have to). Oh, and the soundboard emits a buzzing vibration-type sound when I hit certain keys in certain combinations. And three strings need replacing.

I understand your situation. FWIW, it may be worth/ better to go out and buy a fairly decent used piano vs spending money on the one you have. It sounds as though it needs quite a lot and a used piano in good working condition may be less expensive . Or,  have a longer talk with that tech you hired or hire a different one who will work with you. It seems reasonable to me that the hammers may be able to be made to go a bit longer. You obviously need the three strings if they are broken, so do that. the buzzing soundboard is often a crack, A crack doesn't have to be a deal breaker, often a couple of carefully placed wood screws and some white glue can cure that problem ( We found a crack in the soundboard of my grand and repaired in this way more than 25 years ago, I play that piano nearly every day). However, the key to this is finding the tech that will work with you on such details.

[4greatkeyboards]

Don't let boredom happen. Protect the music. Start on something else. Come back to it weeks later. You will make progress FASTER this way on that piece. We can't produce beautiful music we are bored with. It must always sound beautifully to the player.

[andy1973]

Thank you, folks. I'll keep these things in mind.

I have to find out from my piano tech about what it would take to fix the sound board. That's really the deciding factor, I suppose, on whether or not to put money into it to get it fixed up, or ditch it for a good used one.

Re: taking a break, I do notice that my rate of improvement does increase significantly when I take 2 or 3 days off. And the music does sound better.