How do I acquire motivation?

[nomis]

It's been almost four years since I first picked up the piano properly and learnt the easy part of Fur Elise within two days. And now, it's been quite a few months since I have learnt a new piece.

After I passed my grade 8 ABRSM exam, it appears that my piano teacher has no more interest in me. Fair enough, I'm getting lessons for free and she's got many other pupils taking many grades etc. Also, it appears that I am becoming bored of practising and find it increasingly frustrating to gain any motivation to increase my repertoire, as a larger repertoire you have, the more enjoyable piano playing is. I am constantly frustrated by my lack of progress, and I find memorisation a chore and is becoming increasingly difficult, so that it gets to the point when I do not want to learn the piece anymore.

So, how do I acquire the motivation I once had in my early days of learning back? Also, how can I use my practise sessions more effectively so that I can memorise the maximum amount in the shortest time possible? I would like to have a 10 hour repertoire some day, but with the progress I am making and my age (I'm 18), it doesn't seem possible.

[thierry13]

If your teacher as no more interest in you, find a new one that will be challenging and will inspire you, give you new pieces and motivate you. No one else than your teacher and you can motivate yourself. Of course, giving performances and getting good critics are a source of motivation !  And your age does'nt import at all, you're pretty young in fact  ! By teacher's teacher when she were at university ( Claude Savard) began playing at 17, and became a concert pianist and a university teacher! So you see that the fact you're 18 does'nt change anything ! 

[Daevren]

Listening to music?

[steinwayguy]

Listen to a recording of Vladimir Horowitz's Rachmaninoff Third (not as good as Cliburn, imo, but more inspiring).

or Claude Frank's Schubert Posthumous B-flat D.960

[ted]

Quite frankly, if I weren't motivated I wouldn't bother. Try gardening or sports or something you enjoy more. My music has always been such a joy that motivation has never been relevant for me.

[nomis]

Ted: I find motivation to practise a chore, not actual playing, as it is very enjoyable.

[Nana_Ama]

Play pieces that your really like (even if they are below your level) for ahwile.  Then try composing, or maybe try playing a concerto you really like.  Have lots of performances, that should force you to have motivation. 

[bachmaninov]

Attent Contests and Competitions to challenge yourself... simple as that

[pianobabe56]

I agree that you should attend competitions and recitals- not necessarily play in them, just go to listen. I'm so competitive, that for me, hearing how well other people my age play is very motivating.

[lostinidlewonder]

Post in a newspaper for piano partner and do some duets with them. It is always good to work with someone, you both will motivate one another. There are also music groups at universities/college which meet weekly, people get together to share their music on all instruments.

Do small private concerts, or public ones, whatever you think you can manage, if you only play for yourself you need to have self motivation. Not all of us are like that, a lot of us get our motivation to work through other people, which is not bad at all, we are here in this world for one another afterall.

Also its important to always keep listening to music, because that itself keeps you musically healthy. Make lists of pieces you would like to learn, get the sheet music for all of these pieces even if you aren't going to learn them or they are beyond your ability. You can always section out the music and make it more presentable(color, commentary, highlight groups etc), anyone can do that you need no physical ability to play piano for that. One this is done you are already closer to learning your music. Rather than starting at black and white notes, this preparation increases efficiency in learning your music, and hopefully creates some inspiration to start learning them in some way.

But I really can't stress how important it is sometimes to have music buddy(-y +ies) lol, someone who you can share your musical journey with and whom you can learn from and teach.

[nomis]

Thanks a lot for the advice people, especially you lostinidlewonder for the substantial reply.

[quasimodo]

Bet $ 10 000 that you will play Rachmaninoff's sonata N.2 at performance level in 2 months  ...

[thierry13]

Breakneck but doable thing with a lot of practice a day