I understand what you're going through, MW. I decided, rather late, that I wanted the piano to be my profession and I've made many many sacrifices in my attempt to realize this goal. However, if one agrees to embrace the sacrifices and work to a certain level, these sacrifices will be replaced by the joy and the freedom that the piano can bring. At its best, a piano career can take certainly take you around the world, you are not a "slave" to the piano, because the hours you spend will be making music, not technique, and you will have time to find a balance between music and your other interests. Of course, this is every pianists dream, but if we dont work with this in mind, whats the point? Yes, it is often daunting, frustrating, maddening work, but I always know that it's never drudgery, it's work that I love, and I couldn't imagine spending my time in a more worthy and satisfying way. This is how it should be. If playing the piano creates more harm to your person than fulfillment, maybe a step should be taken back from the piano and the life of the piano. Maybe you should assess just how much you love it aside from all the difficulties it provides. And yes, as you say, I hardly ever feel entirely satisfied and always feel I could sound better. I don't necessarily think this should be a negative problem for the aspiring pianist. It should, conversly make one more motivated to work harder. A pianists path toward musical perfection (and thus hard work) never reaches an ultimate end, and only by completely embracing this process will the pianist play the piano and not let the piano play the pianist, so to speak. The question is, which path to chose....this is what I had to decide; dillitante, or professional?
Topic: Got bored of piano?