In some ways it is the easiest thing in the world to quit when things get tough and it is no different when you are learning to play the piano. It is easy to forget that hard does not mean impossible, hard just means that it is challenging.
I know I am preaching to the converted here, but there are many times in life where circumstances makes things hard, like really hard and we have to find a way to overcome. It takes grit and determination, as well as plenty of resilience to see us through. Well learning to play the piano is the same. Sometimes it gets hard. Even though it was decades ago, I still remember times when I would scream in utter frustration because some piece of music (or portion thereof) was being extremely difficult and failure wasn’t an option and neither was quitting.
Maybe it is because I’m not young anymore, but it seems like our world in general is wanting for everything to be simple an easy all the time. Those of us that aren’t young anymore understand that life can be messy, annoying, challenging and downright infuriating. We know from experience that life can throw huge obstacles in out path and even though we might like to give up, we persevere and somehow get through, often a little wiser for the experience.
Learning to play the piano is a lot like life because it can be difficult and drudgery at times. The end result of putting up with all the various obstacles and difficulties that occur is truly wonderful. I have spent many, many hours at the piano and in some ways, my piano is like an old faithful friend that brings me joy and fun as well as consoling me at difficult times. If it is your heart’s desire to be able to play the piano, then the difficulties that will come, bit it will be worth it in the end.
Experience has taught me over and over again, that when things get hard and challenging when you are learning to play the piano, if you can persist and put up with that uncomfortable feeling of finding something really tough to do, once you have mastered that tough thing, your skill level will have reached a higher level. I know this, not only through my own experience as a piano student many years ago, but I have seen it with every single student I’ve taught over the last 35 years.
So if you find yourself trying something new on the piano and its just not working and you feel like quitting – don’t give up. Persist and you will master whatever has you stuck and you will be a better piano player for it. Something hard only means you are about to hit a new level of proficiency, it is most definitely not the time to quit.