Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Motivation: what can be done to keep yourself motivated??

Scare myself about an upcoming event.

scare??? O.o?? hmm....I will try.

Well, I meant I just keep thinking about a certain goal or commitment that I have, and what the consequences might be if I fail to make that goal or commitment. (i.e. humiliation, self-hatred and disgust, and disappointment.)

That usually motivates me real quick!

Yes I know the feeling. Working against a deadline can really get your butt in gear!

Well actually, the infamous Curtis teacher Isabelle Vengerova used fear (a lot of it) to motivate her students, and judging from her students, Barber, Lukas Foss, Leonard Bernstein, Gary Graffman to name a few, it was extremely effective. That is, if you disregard the many students seen running from her studio, crying... I wish I had a teacher like that (I think) because I can easily get by my lessons with my teacher without practicing and she won't even notice. I still find it in myself to be lazy even with something (like my eastman audition in three days) coming up.... Stinks.

In all the years I have played the piano one thing stands out, that is I have never run out of motivation. I have been denied the opportunity to play many times in life and that is bad for me.

I was in the RAF at the end of the war and went to Singapore then to Burma and back to Singapore, (Changi before it became a civilian aerodrome.)

So all in all, apart from playing a bit in a deserted concert hall in Burma I had to wait until I got back home and was released from the RAF.

I had to then spend my money I received on my demob to buy another piano because when my parents moved they sold the piano,

I then got married at 26 in 1954 and got a new upright piano for a wedding present. So from then on I practiced and played regularly and still do.

I think it is really sad to see people that reached grade 5 or more and then lost interest in the piano, now that puzzles me. I know we don't need to read music to play jazz and that is my style. But I often long to play classical. But cannot and I'm too immersed in jazz to change and start learning to read.

I think it's difficult to advise people that loose motivation I would think that tis is only a short lapse and you will soon be back in the groove.

By the way I still have some old 78 records I bought in Singapore in 1947/8.

I also met some of the nicest girls ever, over there.

Alan

I treat it like a leisure to play piano cos I am not studying in a college or whatever music school. It's just a piano center to learn something extra. Well...I know its real bad and sometimes I feel laid back and like no goal or something.

Schumann: Wow.humiliation, self-hatred and disgust, and disappointment. Thanks for these words. hmm...I will keep it in my mind.

op30no3: I also wish to have a teacher like this! Making things extra interesting and boosting our spirit to drive the extra miles. I really hate the feeling of laziness but it tends to happen at times. Maybe this is just the way of life.

Hello Alan, I almost miss your post, lucky I posted and got your post on page two. I didn't notice page 2 at first hehe :p

Yeah, this is the feeling I have for myself several years after I quited lesson and practice lesser as time goes by. In my subconscious mind, I always feel music in me, remembering how I used to play and my fingers move to the music. Man...this is causing me pain especially to my heart over the years. Until recently, I decided, yes, I must go back, I cannot leave my music hanging without any use. I still dono what I will end up with, but I would like to enjoy every moment I have with my piano and music.
Many of my friends, sister and relative, all quitted piano and never spend time to play again. I haven't seen anyone really excel themself in piano and with the low population in this field it is really disappointing. I don't want to get influenced by this kind of thinking and discouragement. I dono what kind of heart or mindset should I accustom myself to in order to ground my determination as well as at the same time motivating myself to go on with what I have to do now.

"balance,..."

I have never once fallen off of the bench... so I think I graduate to step two! :p

I feel that it's imperitive to constantly get in lots of practice because with my learning it is a unusual way but one hours practice equals a certain amount of improvement in ability. So I know it's worth the time spent and I usually end up with a great deal of happiness.

I may assure you all that it is not a drudge but a craving for the music. A challenge and a soulful experience.

If you fail to get that responce then you are in the wrong art form.

Alan

Do what I did 3 days ago,

Join the PW practice club log,
resolve to catch up with LisztAddict by gaining on him by a little everyday.

You'll stay motivated for the next couple of years!



--c5

Swingal: "I may assure you all that it is not a drudge but a craving for the music. A challenge and a soulful experience." THanks, I will take it as a challenge to myself. Just omit the drudging, NO more of this"

Cerulean: Practice Club?? Where is it? LisztAddict? O.o?

You can find it here

Perhaps it may seem a little extreme but if I find I am slacking or not being chock full of motivation I will take rather desperate measures.
Organize sheet music, move around furniture, refrain from any news media for a week—something drastic and then I am sure to practice and be very very very concentrated on the task at hand because then I have a *need* to play the piano rather than simply an obligation.

Or, perhaps a whole lot easier: wait.

Thanks pilgrim: So I will treat like its a need to practice ^_~* good! "It's A Need. Not Obligation" =)

My teacher has a unique, disapproving "look" when things are not going well - enough to scare Attila the Hun...

Auntie Lynn: Disapproving Look! (-_-)' hehe....

I have to agree, Matt. That book IS extremely valuable. I'm quite a bit older than you, and fall into the category of those who learned thumb-under, for example. It can be relearned, but may take some effort.

You're in an enviable position because you're still at an age whereat you're able to memorize as much as possible and learn good technique early on. I'm glad that you found that book.

Gerg: Hello, how are you? well, I don't think age matters...we have equal ability. Keep it up! Don't Give Up! ^_~* All the best!

Its embarassing to say that I haven't start to read it yet. sigH!...maybe tonight I will start with at least a page =P

Cheers! ^_^*

I am usually self-motivated to practise the piano for whatever time im supposed to. On occasional bad days,ill usually wait till i feel better so i sometimes might end up practising even till 12 midnight. Learning a new piece that is challenging usually gives me motivation, one thing that fits really well,is that my teacher is able to read my mind,so she will give me a new piece when she knows that I need it or once in a while, i will make a request ,myself and she will evaluate.