Musical Motivation
Over the summer, I decided to take a break from piano lessons. After ten years of lessons, it was nice to take a break. Instead of learning new pieces every week, I took the opportunity to revisit some of the music I had learned and forgotten - to try to build a bit of a repertoire.
I was quite happy at first - I practiced when I felt like it and I brought two old pieces up to snuff. But there was a downside.
I thought I could continue on my own for a while and probably make decent progress, but without the motivation of a weekly lesson, I find myself less inclined to practice. I find myself putting practice off "until tomorrow."
It's not that I don't want to practice - it's not a chore, it's actually something I enjoy. But it seems like other time burglars - cardio classes, dinner preparation, drinks with friends, etc - were keeping me from getting in some good solid playing time.
Well, this past weekend, things started to turn around. <Fingers crossed>. I was able to get in some solid practice on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - and even started learning some brand new pieces!
There are a few reasons I was able to find the time:
- Weekend travels - more frequent in the summer and fall - have come to an end. I don't think we'll be traveling again until the new year.
- Mom and George have gone back to Arizona, so that's one less draw on my social schedule.
- Junkii is in the middle of a correspondence course, so he's busy evenings with study, leaving me to my own devices.
- I've got no new video games to distract me.
