How I Combat Motivation Loss (As a Musician)

[@amjan]

I took piano lessons as a kid, last time in 1998, and I have just come back to the piano after 23 years. But this time it's all about playing the music that I want to play and expressing myself by improvising and playing my own music for fun. And I love it :)

[@NahreSol]

That's amazing!! Thank you for sharing this!!

[@suefauziyah]

You said exactly what I was going to say, only for me it's been 25 years. I too am drawn this time around to improvising and finding "my own music.". Isn't it wonderful?! Best of luck with your piano playing.

[@amjan]

@@suefauziyah That's great! I've been playing metal and rock on the guitar and drums for the last 20 years, and the piano gives me access to a completely different reportoir and genres of music that I wasn't able to touch on the guitar. That's the most refreshing thing :) Good luck on your piano journey!

[@casey.taylor]

I was born in 1998, 23 years later I am now starting to learn the piano hahaha

[@l.w.paradis2108]

Congratulations! So happy for you!

[@PierrePblais]

This really spoke to me. I played piano at a university level, not soloist level, I did my bachelor in composition and electroacoustics, but Piano was my « secondary instrument » and I was decent, played daily, etc. Then i moved in an appartement where I couldn’t fit my piano so I left it at my mother and basically didn’t play for 4-5 years… I still did music of course, just not piano. Then last year I moved into a new house where I could finally get my piano again. Since then it has been so difficult to get back into it, I get frustrated so easily that I can rarely practice more then 30min in one sitting. I can barely get through the first movement of Beethoven’s pathétique and that was literally my audition piece for uni. I try playing some of the fugues I used to work on with my teacher during that time and my fingers are all over the place… just before watching this video, I was working on Schubert’s impromptu no2, and stopped at the first modulation because… frustrated… :p thanks for the tips, I’ll try and be more patient with myself!

[@mariak1325]

I’m a violinist, but this is honestly so helpful for any musician-thanks for sharing your insight!

[@88franko]

I'm also going to use this video to help me pick up the violin again. I took a whole year hiatus

[@mariak1325]

@@88franko you got this!

[@practicingpotato]

Honestly the "de-rusting" feeling is applicable across all skills, in varying levels, and it can happen in 2 days or in 200 days - I am so familiar with it at this point that I KNOW it is something I just have to be patient with and push through. Personally, it serves as a great motivator for me to consistently practice (whatever skill it may be) - because I don't want to have to spend time "de-rusting" again. With experience, you also get to know the "threshold" of when you're likely to "lose" something (which can be different for everyone) and set up some sort of "rotating prioritization" in the practice routine.

[@NahreSol]

Yes you are right!!

[@ShermanKyle]

I’ve never seen someone cover this topic before, thank you for discussing it! I constantly get in my head when I realize how much better my chops in high school were compared to now, and it takes a while to get over that mental bump. Gonna try these tips for the new year

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! Happy New Year!!

[@CorkyMeadows]

Sherman, I've listened to cassette recordings (I'm 61 now) of myself from high school) and I can't believe the difficulty of music I used to be able to play. It almost like I can't imagine playing that stuff today. This post was so inspiring and actually makes me want to practice again. 🎹

[@chriswhitfill2785]

Relearning is a super underrated part of getting good at something! I feel like people like to focus on the "10,000 hours," but every time I've picked something up again, I've had to reexamine my rote habits, and once the rust is fully off, I'm usually better for the experience.

[@NahreSol]

Yes -- nicely put!! Happy New Year!!

[@nfosse]

Honestly, this is so much more than piano. It’s really any skill that you want to restart after a hiatus. Thank you.

[@riaa3218]

Returning after 18 years - you described my entire situation. Thank you so much for all your tips, so motivating!

[@truthorion9339]

Me too.. returned after 20 year's.. it's really painful to sit infront of the piano and not be able to Play. :( I wish my childhood enthusiasm comes back asap

[@scratchanitch]

Seriously Nahre, from all I've seen from you I can honestly say with your analytical approach, attention to detail, creativity and ability to communicate, you'd make an excellent engineer!

[@marcosabbayou]

I don't know if and when a time will come when I'll be able to start again with piano, I studied about ten years when I was young and now I'm 51. When I sit in front of a piano and try to do the pieces I studied in those days, it's all great frustration and pain... And a strong desire to play them again, one day. Your videos give me beauty and hope, thank you very very much!!!

[@fivewattworld]

This is great Nahre! Thanks for making it.

[@eerindiraarora6921]

I’ve come back to playing after 40 years. Agree with your points and find some of them useful to keep in mind

[@ihavenolife7773]

Thank you for this! As others have said, this is something I haven't heard anyone talk about, but something I find myself frequently worrying about when it comes to art (whether through music--I studied piano classically/competitively for 11 years--or through other fields, like creative writing). It never seems just as easy as 'just get back into it' for me. Sometimes I feel so paralyzed or get so easily discouraged (maybe in part because I've attached my own past proficiency to my self-worth, even if I can logically recognize how that can be unhealthy, haha.) I really liked your tips on starting small, with tangible goals (rather than proficiency goals, necessarily). Sometimes starting up again is the hardest part, but even just shooting for 5 minutes/1 measure/etc. a day forces me to engage with the subject again rather than avoiding it out of fear of failure/inadequacy.

[@LeRainbow]

I've recently returned to playing piano ( well, since August last year ) having had a 15 year break. My old piano teacher always made me warm up which is what stuck with me, I always use hanon - the amount of strength I have gotten back in my 4th and 5th fingers is incredible just practicing slowly slowly a couple minutes a day. Very, very rewarding!! The tip of learning a bar a day of a piece is a great idea, will give it a try. Your videos definately helped me keep my motivation up for daily practise!

[@NahreSol]

Wow - amazing!! Thank you for sharing!! Happy New Year!!

[@LeRainbow]

I actually took the advice to heart and began learning a bar a day of Schubert - Moments Musicaux No. 3 and today I was able to play every note from beginning to end. 11 Days and I can even make out the melody. My fourth and fifth fingers have, through this daily excercise, gained incredible independence. Chopins Op. 48 No. 1 is getting much! easier now, too. If you read this I wish you all the best, you're awesome! :)

[@justpassingby3175]

Not relearning the piano, but learning it as a second instrument. Really humbling experience, really hard to not feel self-conscious. The amount of beautiful music for piano is a nice motivation though. Your videos helps a lot as well :)

[@NahreSol]

Thank you !! I understand the feeling of learning as a second instrument -- I've been wanting to do that with guitar... Happy New Year!!

[@Chopin-Etudes-Cosplay]

TO ANYONE WHO’S DISCOURAGED OR SHY ABOUT RETURNING TO PIANO AFTER A LONG BREAK - I took almost 10 YEARS OFF from piano, and now I am better than when I was young! (see the video in my channel; for 10 years I only knew how to play an easy Chopin waltz!). I’m still improving my technique, in my 30s. THE HUMAN BODY IS AMAZING AND YOU’RE CAPABLE OF MORE THAN YOU REALIZE! But it does require a lot of commitment and patience, which can be harder as an adult. Ease up to it as Nahre says, and it’s more important to play regularly than playing many hours in one sitting.

[@3340steve]

Thank you for posting this. My idea is stop judging at all. Start PLAY time . Play before noon . This is important. Afternoon you will be too tired. Your ideas and playing is excellent.

[@sangjunjunlee5034]

I stopped learning the piano late 80s. Now I returned to the piano and started uploading videos. What motivated me was my mom who lives alone in Korea and wants to watch my playing the piano. 나래씨 어머님과 함께 즐거운 시간 보내시는 모습 너무 부러웠어요. 저는 서부에 있는데, 한국에 계신 어머니께 해드릴 수 있는 것을 피아노로 찼았답니다..

[@williamgreen1512]

I think theres something in " why you stopped " in the first place , be it injury , general time restrictions or more in the way of inspiration !. I'm currently going through one of these but i remind myself constantly that all tools , come from the human hand origionally and although the piano is a perfect example of this , it's also an " instrument " . Therefore it is unquestionably combined with emotion , expression and feeling , as such there is a balance that's needed between the reasons for the tool and the application , of instrument .

[@8beef4u]

I think it’s important to emphasize breaks in pieces as well. Often times, if I feel like I’m plateauing in learning a piece, I’ll take a few weeks off of it and focus on other works. I find I improve in playing the piece I was struggling with once I give my brain and hands a reset.

[@pingvin9658]

In my case, I quit piano after a short time as a child, not because I didn’t like it but because I was self-conscious and frustrated that I wasn’t able to immediately sound like I knew I “should” sound. But last year I decided to just take that first step and bought a keyboard. (Of course a keyboard is not going to give the same experience as an acoustic piano, but I can stumble and blunder every evening with headphones on without disturbing anyone else in the house.) In part I was encouraged by some of the exercises that you had shared earlier. So, thank you Nahre, and happy new year - it’s a wonderful time when we have kind and generous people like you sharing not only your talent but also your experience and inspiration.

[@ruscular]

I been away from the saxophone for almost 30 years and I was first chair in High School band, and played several other instrument, a year ago I started up the wind synth midi player with the sax fingering. I played a lot of easy songs, and pick a difficult song and master one measure at a time. I am more than halfway thru the song. I was a bodybuilder and lift weight the same way in devoting at least 15 minute into the workout, and if I am inspire to go for an hour which happens often. So the 15 minute contract deal for myself is really just to get me going and play. I think the 15 minute is a warmup transition to really focus and push what you have further. I find what you said is working for me, even with a different instrument. Oh, I didn't have to learn the fingering, I think many years playing the air saxophone in my head when I heard a song kept my knowledge of the fingering. Some people do air guitar, but I did air saxophone and was actually thinking about the note I would play.

[@ace.of.space.]

this is very helpful because I get really frustrated and depressed when trying to relearn piano. It's tied up in insecurities of my youth. Having the discerning ear of an adult with musical experience but not the skill makes me too hard on myself.

[@NahreSol]

So glad it's useful - keep at it -!! Thank you and Happy New Year!!

[@KarlRKaiser]

As someone who's lapsed many times over the years, I would say that the brain is surprisingly adept at re-acquiring its past memories (including "motor skills"). One needs to be patient, but significant progress can come within weeks of resumption of regular practice.

[@NahreSol]

Yes, exactly!!

[@Packbat]

A friend of mine gave me a small two-octave MIDI controller keyboard last year after I'd spent ten-twelve years playing the piano as a kid and then eighteen years forgetting about it completely. One day, having spent a while messing around with it, I tried to play a D-mixolydian scale on it ... and accidentally played D-major. Those neural pathways might be overgrown, but once they've been worn in, they don't just disappear.

[@KarlRKaiser]

@@Packbat One somewhat amusing feature of the brain's memory is that when we resume playing we will also tend to make the same mistakes we used to make. So this is an opportunity to carefully train the brain not to remember *those* .

[@christophergetchell6490]

I did something like this with guitar where I took about 5 years off when I felt uninspired, frustrated, and got really busy. It was actually a fortunate break because I went from being more of a hard rock/metal type of guitar to more of an acoustic/clean jazzy style. I felt the rust for a couple of years, now I'm leaps and bounds beyond where I ever was, even if I've lost some of the speed I used to have.

[@elarielo]

I was feeling really burned out after a really intense semester, didn't play piano for more than a month. Watched this video, and then spent a full hour playing. Thanks a lot, Nahre! This was the push I needed right now.

[@Sean-p5w]

I've been on an 11-month break without piano. I was planning on getting back to it this month. This was so helpful. Thank You!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you back!!! Happy New Year!!

[@keramxela]

Never had any lessons, but felt this desire since I was a little kid to play the piano. Almost 7 years ago I got myself a digital piano and was just fooling around in the beginning, then I learned all the basic chords, later I followed some tutorials and for several months now I began to learn simple pieces via sheet music. Still I just have very few theory knowledge and could never play a piece I've never heard before cause I don't know what all the other symbols on the sheet mean, but that's okay. It was never my intention to be a professional. I just wanted to play the piano for myself cause I always loved the sound of that instrument and I knew it would make me happy to play the music I like myself. And maaaaaan did I had some really bad times where I was so frustrated cause I felt so limited and stopped playing for months every now and then, but something always brought me back to the piano. You just gotta keep going. If you really love something you will come back to it anyway and after every crisis you will have learned something new and you get better and better. O, and thank you Nahre for just existing, for sharing your music and thoughts with us. I really like your pieces. You're truly an inspiration.

[@JosephKosowski]

What a great video! I’ve gone through periods of time of not playing and this really resonated with me. I found myself going “huh!” and “mmmm hmmm” over and over while watching. I really love the excerpt tip. It’s how I started learning L’Isle Joyeuse. I LOVED listening to it but I told myself it was too difficult and beyond my ability level and it never even occurred to me to try to attempt to learn it. BUT, I decided there was no harm in just learning that cool little riff in measures 25 and 27. This was a really hard thing to give myself permission to do, for a few reasons. I can be a bit too much of a perfectionist, and I really fall into the trap of “all or nothing at all” type thinking a lot of the time. I’ve tried embracing more of a “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good” mindset, but it takes constant effort and reminding myself to overcome it. “All or nothing at all,” while a great jazz standard, is not a great way to approach everything in life. And it would have prevented me from learning any of L’Isle Joyeuse had I not for some reason decided it was ok to learn only three measures of the piece. Also, despite the fact that I went to music school for French horn performance and know full-well what an “excerpt” is, I never transferred that idea to the piano. The reason we (wind players especially) learn and practice excepts just seemed obvious, but doing that with piano pieces never even occurred to me. It just seemed oddly sacrilegious, like you’d be breaking some kind of unwritten rule to learn some but not all of a piece. So somehow I decided that I didn’t care anymore about this strange unwritten rule in my head and it would be ok to learn three measures of a piece that was above my ability level. Well, like you said, once I learned those measures, and really focused on them and playing them well, I decided I could probably learn more of the piece. As of now I’ve learned about half of it and I think I can learn the rest! Thanks for another great, inspiring video!

[@noyd4172]

Have been unable to use my piano setup for over a year now, and while I've been practicing guitar more and more and improving my skills and voice on that instrument, I worry about returning. This video, especially coming from a musician and composer I admire and knowing that you've taken a similar amount of time off is very encouraging. Something interesting about this time away is that it's made me hunger for classical music in a way I never have before, Glenn Gould and Brad Mehldau have become regular parts of my listening cycle. You're the best at communicating how to think like a good musician in addition to playing like one.

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! I hope you return to the piano in due time!! I appreciate your comment :) Happy New Year!!

[@none5020]

This video might just be the single-handed most important video that I needed to see in all of KZbin, thank you!!! I will use all of these tips.

[@kupopoporo4447]

Oh man, I felt that, when you talked about the disappointment and frustration you experience, when picking it back up. I started playing the piano when I was 6 and had 10 years of very strict piano lessons. I got private lessons by a woman, who seemed to be the embodiment of an Asian music teacher for me as a German child. She always used to get angry at me and tell me that I wasn't playing good enough or not practicing enough. Sooner or later I developed similar thoughts, now being angry at myself and always criticizing myself. I stopped playing the piano and after a 5 year break I really want to start playing again but these thoughts are just so difficult to manage

[@NahreSol]

Thank you for sharing!! Happy New Year!!

[@zamadeapio9]

This is so helpful. I've been wanting to start singing again but it feels so daunting for me as a big picture thinker. You have some good ideas for breaking things down into workable pieces and just STARTING. Thank you!!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you back!! Happy New Year!!

[@Vintagestep]

I've been avoiding music for two years(not completely, akwardly enough I managed to release my first track in the middle of this) in part because there's ..stuff.. that needs to be adressed. I lost my job and I can't afford lessons at the moment, I was sure I'd be able to keep going on my own because the path was clear, I know what I needed to practice, what repertoire I wanted to develop... but it affected me emotionally and I have been unable to get back, but I can't let that ship get further and your tips will really help, so thank you! And this is me just verbalizing all of this to try to push myself to it a bit more if possible haha

[@guyb7005]

This video is so timely- great suggestions for the start of the year!! I always admire the professional maturity you have in your outlook, poise and advice - well ahead of your years! I also love the playful humour you put in producing such videos (sprinkler harp was my forté). Now to put this plan into action. -- Best wishes for 2022 Nahre!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your words -- thank you!! Happy New Year!!

[@CorkyMeadows]

Thank you so much. I so needed to watch this. I am feeling such guilt for letting all of the free pandemic time I had go to waste. I should have been practicing and I wasn't. I feel better after watching this video. I will get back to work. Thank you so much.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

you can do it! It’s never too late. Hope you got started again!

[@elevate-academic-club]

Nahre's point about reasoning and acceptance definitely resonates with me the most. Dealing with the reality of unrealized potential from childhood was a major struggle in attempting to return to piano during my early adult years. But it was a greater pain to be in a space where a piano was available for open playing and to lack confidence in playing anything that would push me over the edge. In similar fashion to the point about the benefits of learning excerpts, setting a goal to re-master all of my favorite childhood pieces really helped me regain that confidence. Committing even the littlest amount of time consistently every day brought it all back much sooner than I thought. Never underestimate the power of muscle memory!

[@steve0ms]

I love how you can apply all of this advice to other aspects of life as well - super helpful, thanks!

[@levirphillips]

Love these tips. On excerpts: One day I was determined to learn something new after feeling a bit stuck, then managed to read and play my way (slowly!) through "You Got a Friend in Me" - it helped a lot knowing the tune already and playing it was immediately fun. Now I can play it from memory and sing along to the first verse!

[@NahreSol]

Sweet! Thank you!! Happy New Year!!

[@josepgre]

I finished formal piano education at music school and then proceeded some years trying to work as a pianist somehow. In the end I quit and went for another career. I was practicing 8 h a day for like 4/5 years. It has been about 20 years without playing and I’m loving the excerpts idea. I’ll give it a try. My problem is that I don’t have the time to work a full piece… I love your channel.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

wow! I hope you get back into playing -- inspiring story! I understand the time element though.

[@cannibale101]

I feel so seen right now, thank you!!! I've picked it up again last fall after evolving pretty fast on my own like 15 years ago, and I've been feeling this discomfort for months now... Like I'm still in a catching up phase. The fact that I actually understand music and can write it much better than play it is really frustrating - but you're right, it does come back :)

[@sheiringhoddoucy1804]

I came back to piano a couple years ago after about 15 years off. Talk about humbling. I could barely remember how to read bass clef. But I stuck it out because I was really motivated to learn pieces that I really loved and that were probably above my skill level. I followed some version of these tips, and am a much better student now than in my teen years. And a much better player (eventually). Thanks for this great video!

[@karinvasu3005]

this is so useful for relearning a skill in general !! all these principles and tips can be applied to other things honestly

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! Happy New Year!!

[@yasuyasu1188]

All the tips you introduced are something I slowly implemented when I started relearning piano last year. Although I have attempted before that but failed to continue. Definitely coming up with a plan and sticking to it is the hardest part so restarting a piano journal helped immensely.

[@NahreSol]

Oh sweet!! Happy New Year!!

[@la_pirata_la_perla_negra]

Life saver really, I'm just getting back to practicing, studying music full time and the blockage and feeling incompetent is super real ☠️, this tutorial helped a lot to find ideas to overcome it !! Thanks so much for sharing!!

[@rhizomefriend]

This is something I'm super avoidant of so having someone address it through a video and seeing all the other people sharing the struggle is really helpful! Being frustrated with something that used to feel like second nature is a terrible feeling - thank you Nahre!

[@RolandHuettmann]

Good points. Good questions. I hope for many more people to rediscover the joy such instrument as the piano will provide -- much beyond what any passive enjoyment can give.

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!

[@tullyparker]

I love this video. As someone trying to get back into piano, the practical examples are lifesaving.

[@jylqz]

I learned piano for 11 years in total, but I had 2 big breaks, first in middle school (4 years break), 2nd after university (11 years break). I came back to piano when COVID happened, and won't let it go again. It was hard every time I tried to come back to practicing, but I appreciate this journey. I think if I had put this 11 years of learning in 1 consecutive period, I might be able to save time, but it wouldn't be the same. At different age, I have different perspectives, and learn things differently.

[@holzy4565]

Thanks Nahre! Recovering from Covid and have taken a couple of weeks off; and now that I’m recovered, it feels a little daunting to sit back down at the piano. Looking forward to giving this a shot!

[@NahreSol]

Glad you recovered okay -- sorry you had to go through that and take time off! Happy New Year!!

[@MrFiddler1959]

Thank you for this video! I retired last year from teaching elementary classroom music and decided that it was time to re-learn the piano. I had enough lessons as a kid I could boom-chick my way through anything kids would be singing, which was a useful skill, but ultimately not musically satisfying. (There are only so many times you can accompany arachnid precipitation and tales of larcenous pre-adolescents breaking and entering ursine domiciles.) Since retiring I’ve had about a year and a half of lessons and am coming to understand the instrument in a whole new and much more nuanced way. Cello, by the way, was my major instrument through all my music ed degrees; one of my favorite kinds of music-making was playing chamber music. I say “was” because I have been blessed by Arthrodite, Goddess of Joints That Hurt When It Rains, so I haven’t been able to hold a bow for more than about 20 minutes. Fortunately this does not seem to be too much of an obstacle at the piano (at least for now) and I’m excited by the possibility of being able to play old chamber favorites, but this time from the piano bench. Your comments about letting go of the frustration of past expectations are right on the mark. My teacher has found more accessible movements (similar to your advice) from the literature that hopefully I’ll be able to play soon with other adult students (pandemic conditions permitting).

[@jacktinney]

The one thing in life I’ve never even thought about taking a break from

[@grahamkey8496]

I've returned to classical piano playing after 30 years of playing rock and blues piano. After the first few months I felt I was plateauing and losing enthusiasm, until I re-learned the following - yes, it really does make a huge difference doing scales and exercises every day, whatever it is you wish to master.

[@hoggiekwon]

This is not a music lesson. It’s a life lesson!!!!!!

[@renthehag]

I’m 32, and I haven’t seriously played for about ten years. Part of it is that I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a little over a year ago after having hand pain for a few years. But the other part was grief. The professor I was studying piano with for my music major died in 2011 shortly after I had to quit going to college. The loss was so huge, I couldn’t see past it, and I just… I walked away. I feel like I’ve thrown away so much time, but I’m not gonna let it discourage me, and I want to make my teacher proud by making the most of whatever time I have left with my hands while they’re still able to somewhat play. And when I can’t do that, I’ll focus more on composing. I won’t give up music. I won’t.

[@ChrisLA7X]

I restarted playing one year ago after four years off -- I'm appreciating it a lot more. Love the videos as always, and this was super helpful!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! Congrats on restarting!!

[@lauromunoz4692]

Nahre Sol, Thank you. I am a guitarist/musician. I have been playing for over 30 years. I find you videos informative and inspiring. Thank you, L. Albert Jackson Munoz

[@wojtekpiwowarczykpersonal]

Thanks Nahre! I’ve been trying to get back into drawing and exactly that feeling of knowing I use to do it very well and now I lost it was really hard to overcome. I will try your methods and hopefully in few months I’ll be able to share wit you how I got the skills back :)

[@mythun6735]

Thank you for the video Nahre! I've had to take the last 6+ months of piano off for cancer treatment and this should help me get back into things once I finish up next month :)

[@NahreSol]

I wish you the most speedy and thorough recovery through this!! Sending you hugs from California...

[@tombajoras]

This is fantastic! I've taken a two-year break from playing in order to focus on composing, and now it's time to get back to the piano. Thank you for this very empowering advice!

[@MuñozFerreyro]

Been a guitarist for 30 years, received lessons at a professional music school here in Mexico, but failed to see myself playing Falla, Albéniz, or Ponce at concert halls; on the contrary, I wanted to play the Beatles and at the same time improvise and get to know that language of jazz. Nowadays, I reckon I have a lot of theory being re-organized and I'm taking new concepts in. Your tips are encouraging and give some structure, which sometimes I find most difficult to attach to... Mr Thomas Echols suggested watching this video of yours and I have to wholeheartedly say "thank you so much", Nahre. Greetings from Mexico.

[@ronrobins3513]

There are great...I want to I mean I going to get back to playing keyboard/guitar after years of playing small midi controllers just entering in midi data. Not really playing. I miss it soooo much. It’s so satisfying and a major way that I communicate and one of my favorite forms of expression. All this time away has felt like I’ve been missing a limb. It’s gonna be a good year THANK YOU 🙏🏾 🙏🏾

[@flackon3283]

Just wanted to say thanks for this. I studied music, and lost my mojo for it soon afterwards. A few years later, I'd broken my wrist, so the thought of coming back to the piano has been daunting. Thoroughly appreciate you breaking it down so understandably :)

[@batlin]

Somehow I used to come back feeling more relaxed and fluent when returning to piano classes after a summer break. I think it helps you generalise some of the skills you had learned in very specific contexts before.

[@gabriel_ohland]

That was amazing Nahre, as a aspiring full-time musician passing through ups and downs I must say that I can't even describe in words how valuable your videos are to me. Love from Brazil!

[@TylerLeeJones]

i've actually spent 2021 practicing more than i ever have but i still walked away from this with great advice for my practicing moving forward, awesome job 👍

[@suefauziyah]

Helpful tips. Thank you! I'm coming back to piano after 25 years away, and loving it. The biggest motivator for me is playing music that I love. Also, thanks to advances in technology I can get immediate access to most any piece of music that strikes my fancy -- download the music, watch recordings of virtuosos playing it, all without leaving my living room. Couldn't do that 25 years ago...

[@fwancisgewawd]

I appreciate the suggestion of choosing and completing an excerpt. Accomplishing a whole piece is overwhelming especially for a beginner and could be frustrating and eventually demotivating. Lately, I have enjoyed playing riffs of songs that I know.

[@andrewc9643]

as someone who took 10 years off, and has been back at it for 2 years.. THIS IS GREAT! thank you, as always.

[@tomhenderson6673]

I spent a few weeks away from my instruments this winter, after having built good habits in 2021. This really helped me get through getting back to it. Thank you!

[@patlilburn5251]

Hi Bobby! Once again, nice work, and once again concepts whose usefulness isn’t confined to piano or even music! But it’s a pleasure to see “music stuff” explained and done so well.

[@salazin466]

I love your channel =) I used to take lessons as a child. I got up to gr 9 RCM but stopped when I got to high school. The last year or so I’ve been getting into playing again, with a goal to learn Chopin’s Ballade no. 4, and work up towards an ARCT. I loved the idea of taking an excerpt from a piece, jumped into the Liebestraume passage and have been working on the rest of the piece now. It’s such a great idea to “guilt” your brain into just finishing the rest of the piece haha.

[@coldbumby]

I really love these more lessons/wisdom type videos from your channel!

[@kerawelt2008]

You are a terrific teacher and motivator. Many thanks !

[@C-Mantradevi-Kircher]

Oh, thank you for this inspiring video! I've been there... restarting playing the piano after 30 years (INDEED 😮). It took me 1,5 years and the gentle and consistent support of a wise teacher until my earlier knowledge came back as a more reliable foundation... and now I am happily flowing and growing again! My God, it was a ride with a lot of fears ans tears on my side, mainly because of my disappointment, feeling of helplessness and frustration in front of the piano...and I can well imagine your tips would have worked for me, too 💝✌... so I wish to all of you that you'll keep going gently and consistently! It is absolutely worth it. 💗 And a big shoutout to all the great music teachers in the world!!!! 🙏🏻❣

[@Gurumurthyify]

Delightful and eminently sensible! Chunking down and using exercises really takes the pressure off having to play a whole piece without fault (or else you’ve “failed”).

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! Happy New Year!!

[@brandonlim7186]

I used to write songs all the time, but not sure what happen in 2011, I have no stories to write. None. Feel so sad until today. Going to start write something again, just anything. Thank you for the video. It's inspiring.

[@djspacewhale]

I took piano lessons as a kid and played in high school band, but I've been relearning recently so I can teach my friend - this video is great!

[@-Carlisle-]

Just started making my way through your Chopin Etude variations warmup book! This is part of my attempt to get over this motivational hump, along with sightreading. Focusing on things I haven't practiced as much as other things helps, because I'm not struggling with something I used to do ALL the time

[@mageprometheus]

Thank you. I swapped piano for bass guitar in 2000. Now I'm too old to gig it's time to switch back for retirement. Love and light.

[@NahreSol]

Smooth move to bass guitar!! Maybe I will join you :) haha Happy New Year!!

[@ty_hens]

Derusting with classical hand exercises, scales and easier curriculum is a perfect way to feel progression and success simultaneously.

[@NahreSol]

Yes exactly!!

[@Stick-a-fork-in-Gmorks-tort]

Sprinkler harp virtuoso here. All jokes aside I think this can work with picking up spoken and sign languages again. Happy 2022 Nahre.

[@mattliu2129]

It's crazy. I just picked it up yesterday and this video pops up. I can't play the Black Keys and Revolutionary fluently any more and it was really frustrating. Thank you Sol for this awesome video to cheer me up. Very useful!!!

[@Wisdomsaves]

Haven’t watched your channel in a while great to be back

[@hugod327]

0:32 yes I definitely agree. It can even be even less than a year, x month's long break. Happened to me and honestly I agree 100 percent with you . It is annoying. Especially if you do another break afterwards

[@JayGrapherBKK]

didnt get to play violin in 2021 and all of these tips just sounds perfect as well :D though still wanting to learn the piano after even longer break these steps does make it feel more possible.

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!! I hope you get back to the violin and piano!! Happy New Year!!

[@eugeneplaysclarinet]

The quality of your videos keeps getting better! Thanks for the helpful advice for me and my friends/students!

[@quiltedquavers]

thank you, i really needed this. took a break from piano and i felt like i lost so much progress. my self-worth should not be dependent upon my musical ability or lack thereof!

[@MarcG7424]

As a guitarist who didn't touch my instrument for 2 years I can attest to the de rusting process being real my fingers on my fretting hand and wrist on my strumming hand seem to hurt more now than when I was a beginner. Thanks for posting this

[@radhakrishnacollier7137]

I personally wanted to develop the habit of considering everything I wanna learn/improve as something new to me at all times! For me it's just a matter of you becoming more comfortable in playing your instrument and being able to learn how to enjoy your learning process.

[@cymbalspecialist]

Hi Happy! Your guidance is very relevant and helpful. The key moment is starting, right? I've written a lot about this. Sometimes we may feel the need to arrange everything first and all conditions must be perfect before beginning a meaningful and challenging endeavor. The best thing to do is just start, as you said, and threads will reveal themselves. We simply pull them to see where they will lead. But also as you said, select work that is within our reach and realize that the discomfort is normal but to keep going.

[@Tausami]

I take breaks from playing on purpose every once in a while. It's actually really useful for improving your technique. You lose your good habits, but also your bad ones, and then when you come back, if you're very very careful starting out, you can remember your good habits while forgetting the bad ones

[@Tausami]

This was an absolutely wild lesson I learned in college. I came for my first private lesson with the classical guitar professor, and we were talking about how I was mostly self taught and I'd really given myself some bad habits because I didn't have a teacher to correct them, and his first homework assignment to me was to not pick up my guitar for two weeks. Seemed insane, but it worked

[@Tausami]

The trick is just to be so rigorous, when you restart, that it's unbearable. I literally move in slow motion, for a while, trying to get perfectly smooth movements while not activating any unnecessary muscles even a little. Then, slowly, you loosen up the rigor until you're just playing again, and suddenly the instrument is easier than it's ever been. It's kind of a magical feeling.

[@truthorion9339]

I totally relate to this I was in 6th standard when I first touched my Casio sa-21 keyboard keys. I joined a class for a month, and my class used to publish a song on a newspaper on Saturday and I used to be so overwhelmed to learn it. I used to cut it and paste on my music notebook. Later after 2 year's i played my first song on my own and then it was just me and my keyboard, i even started performing in temples and event's. Then 10th exam happened, diploma, engineering,life, my keyboard brock and i left it. Always thought when I get my keyboard I'll play all day and night long I got a keyboard last year but the motivation faded. I don't know why but I have everything in my lap but not that enthusiasm as a kid to Play. I hope to be full time pianist, and sooner or later I'll do it. We all will do what we love. Thank you for the video and motivation Nahre Ma'am:) Love from India ☺️

I love you, thank you for existing

[@countvlad8845]

I'm 68 and got COVID last year which gave me fever, pneumonia, tinnitus, hallucinogenic dreams, mind fog, anxiety, and depression. I thought I was going to die or kill myself. I lost myself, all my interests, even music. However, I forced myself to play guitar and, eventually, I got my old self back. What helped get me back together and functioning again was that I decided to do my Grade 10 in classical guitar at the Royal Conservatory (I have Grade 8). I cannot say enough about a discipline that helps you mentally, physically, and spiritually. Music can be a wonderful therapy. Focusing on it gives you a goal, provides beauty, and takes your mind off yourself. My wife also got COVID but she had some bodily aches and symptoms like the cold. For me, it was a life-or-death situation. I still think COVID is a bioweapon and I am glad to be alive.

[@Cognazzo95]

Thank you for these suggestions. I've been struggling to the point of depression to get back to a practice regiment.

[@Marianopiano]

Thank you so much for talking about this! I'm recovering from an injury and it's been a year and I've been so frustrated over not being able to play what I used to. This made me feel better and I'm definitely going to try this out!

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

I’m so sorry to hear about your injury! Have you been able to practice now?! good luck!

[@EricMLopez]

Thank you for a very timely and actionable video, Nahre! After a long hiatus, I recently returned to the kazoo and was shocked at how aquiver my tone had gotten. I will try to move forward with these tips in mind!

[@mrfranksan]

These are great ideas for recommitting and progress in a multitude of skills and habits.

[@juliecaron7569]

That's exactly my problem! Thank you so much for addressing it with a variety of tips!