It happens occasionally that the piano, typically the source of all our peacefulness and serenity, becomes our main supplier of stress and anxiety instead. Be it when you simply can’t manage to learn a song, just don’t feel like practicing, or can’t get the tempo down and end up looking like a rhythmically-challenged dweeb, when the piano becomes a source of stress, happiness and calm is replaced by despair and gloom.
Behold a handy list we’ve complied for you of the 13 (an appropriately stressful number) most common stresses associated with playing the piano. We created this list based on our very own worries, failures and despair, and we hope you can relate!
1. “I should be improving faster!”
You can always do it faster 😉
2. “If I take a break from piano practice, I’ll have to work harder to make up for lost time.”
This comes down to what your definition of “break” is. Ross and Rachel, anyone?
3. “Practicing piano should be an enjoyable experience, but it’s not!”
Of course you should enjoy what you practice. Ever practiced for an eating contest? #NomHeaven. Studied for a calculus exam? #KillMeNow
4. “I must not look at my hands when I play but I can’t. stop. looking!”
Exhibit A – Ray Charles. Exhibit B – Stevie Wonder. Case.Closed.
5. “Regular piano practicing is next to impossible with my schedule.”
Then Give.Up.Now. Just like a card counter at the blackjack table, you gotta be all in to win!
6. “I’ve studied for years and my rhythm on the piano Is STILL terrible.”
Years?! It took you years of playing to realize you had terrible rhythm? Perhaps rhythm is the least of your problems my friend #TruthHurts
7. “What if I put in all of this time on the piano and it doesn’t pan out?”
What if the world ends tomorrow? What if I win the lottery? What if leprechauns exist and and the world is secretly run by llamas? These are more important questions to be asking.
8. “Practicing means playing a piece over and over. I ain’t got patience for that!”
Well yes, because that’s only like the very definition of the word “practice”. #Facepalm (-_-)
9. “Lessons cost too much.”
Not when your teacher is OnlinePianist 😉
10. “It would take me years to master the piano. I want to be the next Beethoven now!”
Yes. Yes it would. But then again, so does getting a black belt in karate, training for the Olympics, and waiting to see who Ted was going to marry on #HIMYM.
11. “Kids banging on a piano may damage my expensive instrument.”
Especially troublemakers like these.
12. “Reading notation is impossible! Playing by ear is easier!”
The phrase “I can do it with my eyes closed” exists for a reason, yo. #TrueStory
13. “Why do I need to tune my piano if nobody is playing it?”
Hey, if you’re not going to tune it, the piano will not magically tune itself!
So readers, what stresses you out most about playing the piano? Let us know in the comments below!
3 comments
I honestly think it was a mistake to start doing it. I wouldn’t do anything with it in the future, and it does not exactly help with ADHD and Stress…
Definitely, over practice can have negative effects. Similar to muscle training, sleep on it and will develop if your practicing is efficient.
It feels like taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back