Adults who take piano lessons: how do you motivate yourself to practice regularly?

Question

I sat down at the piano to practice tonight for the first time in a couple of weeks and I was happy that it felt good to be practicing. Nevertheless, it's still hard to psych myself into actually sitting down at the piano, even though I enjoy it. It seems like there are so many other ways to spend my time. How do you handle this?

By the way, I take piano for personal enrichment; I'm not a music major or anything.

Answer 1

First of all, pat yourself on the back for going for something you really love. Being a music student no matter what the instrument takes a lot of hard work, but the rewards you reap are well worth the effort. Your ability to play piano is something no one will ever be able to take from you. My grandmother played piano well into her 90's!

When you sit down at a practice session remember that your teacher's goals do not need to be met on day #1. If she/he has assigned you, for example, the first page of a new piece, break it down into smaller sections.
Day #1 First 2 lines hands apart. After you have successfully compelted this task, go onto the next piece.
Day #2 First 2 lines hands together at a slow tempo. Last 2 lines hands apart.
Day #3 First page hands together. (4 lines) Play slowly.
Day #4 Work up the tempo on the first page.
Day #5 Add dynamics and some beautiful expression.
Day #6 Polish!
Day #7 Take the day off, you've earned it! (Or if yo're excited, try another line of music not assigned to surprise your teacher! As your teacher sees your hard work week after week, he/she will work harder for you as well.)

A few more tips:
Always warm up first: Use your scales, chords, arpeggios, etc to warm up your fingers. Just as an athlete warms up before the big game, so should you before "tackling" your pieces.
Leave some time at the end of your practice session for your favorite pieces. Reviewing past, favorite pieces is very important, and can be counted as practice time. Another good thing to do after you've practiced your assignments it to improvise around the keyboard. This is very useful tool in learning.

Also, be upfront with your teacher. There will always be pieces he/she expects you to learn, but if yuo would like more variety in your repertoire, say so.

These daily goals may or may not aplpy to your music. But whether you are a beginner or advanced student it is important that you set small goals for yourself each day. By the end of the week you'll be 100% prepared for your lesson.

Good luck to you!

Answer 2

I took lessons when I was about 9 for about a year and a half. I quit taking lessons after about a year and a half, but after lessons continued practicing almost every day and now I rock. I think the better you get the more addicting the piano is. If I ever need to kill time I play piano cuz an hour can go by like that!

Answer 3

Make a poster on your computer that reads: "No practicing =no success" post it right in front of your piano, post it in the bathroom, post it in your locker at school. wether you practice or not, time is flying by and won't stop for anyone. So immagine five years down the road after not practicing, you still feel guilty that you aren't getting anywhere, BUT you are five years older!! If on the contrary, you give yourself 15 minutes to an hour a day, in that same five years you will be so far into giving yourself one of the most wonderful gifts you could ever want. Playing music is so rewarding and fulfilling, don't rob yourself of this

Answer 4

My mom made me take piano lessons when I was about 10 and I hated it. I quit after about 6 months.

But when I was about 14 I started listening to music with lots of keyboard music (like Depeche Mode, etc) and I became interested. I taught myself to play by figuring out how to play songs that I actually liked (and ones that my friends would be impressed by.) That was the key for me. As I got better I learned the chords and correct fingering and I really became good. I did the same thing with the guitar.

The tip... If you like any type of music in general (especially something that has heavy piano presence) get the sheet music for it and learn that. Something like "Coldplay" would be really good and most of their stuff is fairly easy.

Learn the chords gradually. Learn the scales for finger reflexes and then practice songs you like.

Finally, just keep after it. It's boring at first but if you practice after about a year it'll become very fun. I can sit down and play piano (or guitar) for hours and it's more fun than just about any other hobby I can imagine.

Answer 5

I've been a piano teacher for several years, and have taught several adults during that time. I would say that the greatest motivator for my students is learning a new piece that they've always wanted to learn.

When you're listening to the radio or watching television, and a song comes on that you really like, write it down, then go and look for it at the music store or online.

Some of my students like songs from movies or television, like the theme song from "Harry Potter", or the theme from "Star Wars". You can even find the music for commercials, like the Dr Pepper song, or a jingle for Burger King. It's fun to play that stuff.

You can also look for advanced classical pieces that have been arranged for beginning or intermediate pianists.

There really is a lot of fun music out there. Just check it out!

Answer 6

I started playing at a young age, but this was willingly. It wasn't my parents. I started loving it. I don't know what you are feeling by saying it's hard or you could be better things because I really got into it. I just want to say that when you learn it well then it is worth it. For I did have hard times, but I kept by eyes on the prise as the saying goes.

Answer 7

Basically the love for something or whatever you do would urge you to do it good and enjoy it so let yourself love the piano and you'll see that you would love to practice with it.Good luck.

Answer 8

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