How many times have we been in a car, driving a half and hour or more, or even on a road trip, a kid will ask the age old question of “Are we there yet?” and we the adults try and give a satisfactory answer. These answers can range from “we’ve only just left” to “we’re almost there”or even diverting attention away from the question and trying to refocus the child onto something else that will occupy their brain and ease their boredom. My own experience, which I think would be common, is that in my head I’m answering that question with the answer of “we’ll get there, when we get there”.
So what’s this got to do with helping people to learn to play the piano in their retirement? I’m so glad that you asked. The question of “are we there yet?” is often asked by many piano students, whether they are kids or adults. This may surprise you but this question of “are we there yet?” is actually asked in different ways, by adults more than kids, or at least in my experience anyway. Like the child in the back seat of the car who is getting bored or frustrated or anxious or even just plain hungry, adults ask this question when they are frustrated or anxious and sometimes when they are bored with what they are learning.
If you are bored or frustrated or anxious and you have a piano teacher, then I suggest that you have a frank discussion with them because they can and are very willing to help. In fact, part of the reason you are paying them is to help you through the various challenges and difficulties that can arise when you are learning to play the piano.
If you are trying to learn through an online course or piecing together information from various websites and You Tube, then the task of dealing with frustration, anxiety or boredom is tougher to deal with by yourself. Although just because it is tougher, it does not make it impossible.
If you are feeling frustrated then you should work out as specifically as you possibly can what it is that you are finding frustrating – is it a particular piece of music? Are you having trouble with your timing? Are you not pleased with the amount of progress that you are making? It really could be a number of things, but whatever it is, be solution orientated and work out a way of improving your specific issues.
If the problem is boredom, then the answer might mean to try a new piece of music that isn’t particularly challenging, something that you can quickly and easily learn, before returning to what you were learning before. Maybe the solution is that what you are learning isn’t really the most suitable for your skill and /or your taste, so maybe you need to go in a different direction. It’s hard to cover all possibilities in one article.
If the problem is that you are anxious whether you have enough talent or skill, the answer is yes. Yes you have enough talent and as long as you keep going and keep practicing, you will end up with enough skill.
So to get back to the original question of “are we there yet?”, the simple answer is – you’ll get there, when you get there and in the meantime, sit back, enjoy the ride.