Hi all,I am writing a magazine article on commitment and motivation and am really interested in speaking with those who are learning to play the piano, or are improving their playing. There are many things competing for our time in modern life and, perhaps consequently, despite opportunities that we all encounter to learn or master a skill or language or instrument many of us never focus our energies and commit to excelling at one thing or in one particular area.I would really appreciate the opportunity to hear your thoughts and experiences with this.*What attracted you and continues to attract you to dedicating time to learning the piano?*Do you have a particular goal in mind with your playing? Is there a particular piece you hope to master? Do you enjoy the aspect of self-improvement in and of itself? Is there something that reinforces this commitment to you, like seeing how much family or friends enjoy hearing you play, or being able to learn pieces quicker?*Why do you think other people who start to learn playing the piano lose their motivation, or stall with their progress or cease playing?*How did you develop self-discipline with regards to practicing? Did that motivation originally come from yourself or a teacher or somebody else?*What had maintaining this commitment to the piano taught you? Does this skill translate to other areas of your life? Are you pleased, ambivalent or regretful at all about the time spent to reach your current level of playing the piano? Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas! I really look forward to hearing what you have to say.
How do you remain commited and motivated??
Use willpower.
But isn't willpower a result of love for and interest in the subject? I really don't understand why students would need to be "motivated". I see motivation talk as sly tactics to mask incompetence and blindness for what you need as an individual in those that are supposed to guide you.Example: Thousands fail high school math finals in Montgomery (2 pages)Is it really a coincidence that the one appointed to research the achievement failures is a certain Mr. LOVELESS?
No. Just decide to do something and do it. The decision to do something might be based off loving it. It's not always going to be fun though. Sometimes it sucks. Henc, willpower. Just will yourself to keep working on it.
*What attracted you and continues to attract you to dedicating time to learning the piano?
*Do you have a particular goal in mind with your playing? Is there a particular piece you hope to master? Do you enjoy the aspect of self-improvement in and of itself? Is there something that reinforces this commitment to you, like seeing how much family or friends enjoy hearing you play, or being able to learn pieces quicker?
*Why do you think other people who start to learn playing the piano lose their motivation, or stall with their progress or cease playing?
*How did you develop self-discipline with regards to practicing? Did that motivation originally come from yourself or a teacher or somebody else?
*What had maintaining this commitment to the piano taught you? Does this skill translate to other areas of your life? Are you pleased, ambivalent or regretful at all about the time spent to reach your current level of playing the piano?
at 38yo, started again after decades of interruption, I realized two days ago I will NEVER EVER EVER play the Goldberg variations before I die. I am really thinking to quit.
If that's the only thing you ever want to play, then I guess it might be better to quit...since you will have to play a lot of music to get to the level where it's worth to start on it.But if you can enjoy playing other things as well, then quitting would not seem necessary...would it not be nice to play 100 other wonderful pieces even if you never play the GV?
thanks you all guysi must admit I agree with you, it was more something debate-provoking than a serious thought. But the point is that the journey is very long and tough and at this age time available is what it is, body/mind are what they are, and the GV are really at the top of the repertoire for professional pianists.I am waking up at 6:30 am and playing with headphones before work, then go back in lunchbreak in order to play 30 minutes and then if I can at night again, but having also other stuff to do as everyone else (yoga, movies, theatre, concerts, sports, friends, family) it's really difficult
thanks you all guysi must admit I agree with you, it was more something debate-provoking than a serious thought. But the point is that the journey is very long and tough and at this age time available is what it is, body/mind are what they are, and the GV are really at the top of the repertoire for professional pianists.