A musician’s study is guaranteed to have high points and low points. While serious study is, by its nature, challenging, feeling discouraged or “burned out” from the effort is not uncommon. Taking months or even years away from one’s training is a valuable and important consideration; however, it is usually unnecessary.

 

If you wish to improve, but it is becoming more difficult for you to grit your teeth and do as your instructor demands, then it may be useful to remember that the work does not have to be fun, just interesting and personal. Music is a holistic study. The likelihood that something which is non-musical, and which you also deeply enjoy, overlaps with some aspect of your practice is quite high. 

 

Viewing music through the lens of something equally if not more enjoyable is an eye-opening experience. A dancer, for example, may observe how similar the body awareness required of piano playing is to that required of dancing. A reader may observe the architecture of story mirrored in their repertoire. A scientifically-minded person may start to notice how different energies tend to balance one another in great music. (All of these are important, by the way.)

 

Communicate to your instructor any concerns about your musical journey. If you have questions specifically about this column, please email me at: thomas@samusicacademy.com.