What to do when I have to learn a piece I really don't like? Am I being selfish?

[zezhyrule]

First off, it's not that I don't like this piece, it's just that I don't ... like it in a way that makes me want to learn it? If that makes sense. It's nice to listen to but it's not something I'm interested in playing.

The piece is fairly popular, it's the Polka from Shostakovich's L'Age D'or ballet arranged for solo piano. It's only two minutes long and it's not that difficult technically.

Every time I sit down and start working through passages to memorize, I just can't focus. My mind keeps drifting off and wanting to work on the Bach and Schubert pieces I'm also learning. Since I don't like it all that much I don't want to perform it and so I don't want it in my repertoire. I keep telling myself that, which makes me put it off for later, and I end up not practising it at all.

As for why I'm learning it... My teacher loves this piece and her daughter does ballet so she's really gotten into that stuff recently. I'm learning it for an upcoming "Humor" festival where students around the area play "humorous" pieces for a judge and then at a recital. I don't want to sound lazy or selfish by saying something like, "I don't like this piece you picked so I'm not going to learn it or participate in this festival!" or anything like that. I've brought up that I don't like it with her and she told me all these great little things she hears in it and that it's a lot deeper than I think. So I went with it and decided to start working on it much more. Except now it's two days before my next lesson and I've hardly spent 30 minutes with it. What should I do now? How do you get motivated when you're playing a piece you don't like all that much?

Thanks a lot! (sorry for rambling, it's late)

[kevin69]

Why do you play piano?
For your enjoyment or that of your teacher?

There is too much great music that you'll love and enjoy playing to waste your time with
music that you have no feeling for. At best, you'll play it with no feeling but technically accurately.
If you are going to play without feeling, you might as well play Hanon.

You are the one paying for the lessons, and in the recital.
Be true to yourself and play a piece that moves you.

[cometear]

You play to enjoy yourself. Why learn pieces that detract from that enjoyment? Instead of learning something you don't enjoy pick something else that can substitute. Never forget the reason we play. It shouldn't be to win competitions or be a great pianist (although they may contribute) but our love for music.

[andrewkoay]

You know you can always communicate this with your teacher, it is much more productive, and I'm sure your teacher will understand you (being a teacher myself).

[kalirren]

You know, most classical musicians are not soloists.  Most classical musicians have to learn to play stuff they don't like, because they're not choosing the repertoire, others are.

Learning to work on pieces you don't like is valuable for your musical growth.  It separates passion from industry, and forces you to learn to work well.

[cabbynum]

I recently had a similar situation with my teacher.
I got too nervous to talk to her about it so I emailed her.
I made a case for why I didn't want to learn a certain Beethoven sonata and I laid out a few others is love to learn and told her I was open to other suggestions.
She picked the one I love the most and the one that was the hardest on the list op.57
But it all worked out.

[j_menz]

As for why I'm learning it... My teacher loves this piece and her daughter does ballet so she's really gotten into that stuff recently. I'm learning it for an upcoming "Humor" festival where students around the area play "humorous" pieces for a judge and then at a recital.

Discuss with your teacher. If you aren't learning it as a way to develop some aspect of your playing (where there may be different considerations that apply), there's no point in doing it if you don't enjoy it. That is particularly true if you are learning it as a competition piece. How are you going to impress if the piece doesn't impress you?

Your teacher should be used to students having different tastes.

[Bob]

Suck it up and learn it.  You might like it later.

Just treat it as shaping sound.  Don't focus on whether you like the piece or not.  At some point someone might pay you to play a piece and it won't be your favorite.

The sooner you learn it, the sooner you can leave it.  What else can you get out of it?  Is there technique to be gained?  Is something about it you do like?  Can you pinpoint what you don't like?  Do you not like the style, etc., or do you not like it because you can't play it?  Is it slow?  Doesn't sound like your personality? 

Can you learn to fake it?  Act the piece out even if you don't like it? 


I wouldn't drop it.  Just push through it.  Get something useful out of it.

[pianoplunker]

First off, it's not that I don't like this piece, it's just that I don't ... like it in a way that makes me want to learn it? If that makes sense. It's nice to listen to but it's not something I'm interested in playing.

The piece is fairly popular, it's the Polka from Shostakovich's L'Age D'or ballet arranged for solo piano. It's only two minutes long and it's not that difficult technically.

Every time I sit down and start working through passages to memorize, I just can't focus. My mind keeps drifting off and wanting to work on the Bach and Schubert pieces I'm also learning. Since I don't like it all that much I don't want to perform it and so I don't want it in my repertoire. I keep telling myself that, which makes me put it off for later, and I end up not practising it at all.

As for why I'm learning it... My teacher loves this piece and her daughter does ballet so she's really gotten into that stuff recently. I'm learning it for an upcoming "Humor" festival where students around the area play "humorous" pieces for a judge and then at a recital. I don't want to sound lazy or selfish by saying something like, "I don't like this piece you picked so I'm not going to learn it or participate in this festival!" or anything like that. I've brought up that I don't like it with her and she told me all these great little things she hears in it and that it's a lot deeper than I think. So I went with it and decided to start working on it much more. Except now it's two days before my next lesson and I've hardly spent 30 minutes with it. What should I do now? How do you get motivated when you're playing a piece you don't like all that much?

Thanks a lot! (sorry for rambling, it's late)

Ok, so you tell your teacher how inspired you are by Bach and Schubert and that is why you didnt practice the shostakovich as much. Completely within reason. But as far as playing pieces you dont care for, it is a good excersize and an opportunity to look at your practice habits and your ability to do requests. Dont worry, Bach and Schubert will always be available for you. Have a sense of humor and play as funny as you can. If you have to , imagine someone is paying you to play at this humor fest. Take control, be a master of humorous piano. Dont cry, laugh