“I have learned that playing piano is 10% about your finger and 90% about your mindset. The most important lesson I teach is how to be kind to yourself while you learn.”
Every single student who learns to play the piano will hit a “wall” at some point. It is a very normal part of the journey. This is the moment when the new and exciting feeling of starting lessons wears off, and you realize that learning a composition takes real work. It is also the moment when frustration can build up, and it is the time when most people, both in piano lessons for children and adults in Bristol, are most likely to quit. As a piano teacher, I see my main job as being a guide to help you get over this wall. This blog is my personal advice on how to push through those difficult feelings, overcome frustration, and build a healthy mindset for learning music.
So, Is it Okay to Make Mistakes When I’m Learning?
I want to be very clear about this: it is not just “okay” to make mistakes; it is necessary. As a piano teacher that Bristol parents trust, I see the fear of making a mistake as the single biggest thing that holds a new student back. A mistake is not a failure. It is simply a sign that you have found something you do not know how to do yet, which is the whole point of taking lessons in the first place. A mistake is just information, and in our lessons, we use that information to learn and get better.
This fear of making mistakes is often much stronger in my students who are taking adult piano lessons. When you are an adult, you are used to being good at your job and at your life. It can be very humbling to go back to being a beginner at something and to feel clumsy again. My role as one of the experienced Bristol piano teachers for beginners is to create a safe space in my studio. It is a place where we can laugh at mistakes and learn from them together without any judgment.
But, Why Does My Progress Feel So Slow?
This is the most common question that I hear from students who are in that “stuck” feeling. Learning is not a smooth, straight line that goes up every day; it is a series of steps and flat spots. Here is how to think about it:
The “Plateau” is a Normal Part of Learning
It is very common to feel like you are not making any progress, even if you are practicing every day. This “plateau” is a normal and important part of learning. It is the time when your brain is working hard in the background to organize all the new information that you have been giving it. You are still learning and improving, even when it does not feel like it.
Go Back and Play Your Old Easy Pieces
My favorite trick for when you feel stuck is to go back and play a simple piece that you learned two or three months ago. You will almost certainly be surprised at how much easier it feels to play now. This is the best way to get real proof that you are getting better, and it is a wonderful boost for your confidence on a day when you are feeling frustrated.
Break Down Your Goals into Tiny Pieces
When a new composition feels too big and too hard, the problem is that you are trying to do too much at once. Do not try to learn the whole piece. Just try to learn one single line, or even just one single measure. Your only goal should be to play that one tiny part correctly three times in a row. That is a small and achievable win that helps you build momentum.
You are Learning a New Language
A lot of my students taking beginner piano lessons for adults in Bristol forget that they are learning a whole new language, not just a physical skill. It takes time for your brain to learn to read the notes on the page and then tell your fingers what to do. You must be patient with this process, as it is a lot of work for your mind.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Other People
The fastest way to feel bad about your own progress is to compare yourself to someone else, especially a person you saw on a YouTube video. That person has likely practiced for hundreds or even thousands of hours to make that piece look so easy. The only person you should ever compare yourself is to the person that you were at the piano yesterday.
What Should I Do if My Child Wants to Quit Lessons?
If your child asks to quit their piano lessons for children, my first piece of advice for you is: do not panic. I can tell you that almost every single child who takes lessons will ask to quit at some point. It usually happens right when a new piece gets challenging or when the practice routine starts to feel a bit boring. Your first step should be to have a simple and calm conversation with them to find out the real reason why they want to stop. Are they bored with the music? Are they frustrated with one specific hard part? Are their friends playing outside while they have to practice?
After you talk to your child, the next step is to talk to me, their Bristol piano teacher. We can almost always find a solution to the problem together. Often, the fix is as simple as finding some new and exciting music for them to play, like the theme from their favorite movie or video game. Quitting the moment something gets hard is a bad life lesson, but learning how to find a new way to have fun with it is a great one. We can work together to find that spark again.
Lastly, How Do I Build a Good Learning Mindset?
Learning to play the piano is all about your mindset. Here are a few ways to build a good one that will last for years:
Focus on consistency, Not Time
This is a big one, especially for my piano lessons for beginners. It is much, much better to play for just 10 or 15 minutes every single day than it is to do one giant two-hour practice session on a Saturday. That short daily time builds the connections in your brain more strongly, and as a private piano teacher in Bristol for beginners respects, this is the most common advice I give. It makes practicing a normal part of your day, just like brushing your teeth.
Be Kind to Yourself
This is my most important piece of advice for my students who take piano lessons for adults. You are going to have days where your fingers feel like they do not work, or where you make the same mistake ten times in a row. It is okay. Do not be hard on yourself; just close the piano and agree to try again tomorrow. Beating yourself up does not help you learn.
Reward Yourself for Your Work
You should set small and clear goals for yourself and then give yourself a small reward when you reach them. For example, tell yourself that if you can play the first page of your new piece by the end of the week, you will treat yourself to a nice coffee or a new book. This helps your brain to connect the hard work of practicing with a positive happy feeling.
Remember Your “Why”
On the days when you feel really stuck and frustrated, I want you to stop and think about why you wanted to learn in the first place. Was it to play one specific composition that you love? Was it to have a relaxing hobby just for you? Was it to play music with your family? Remembering your “why” can be the perfect motivation to help you keep going.
Summary
Learning the piano is a marathon, not a sprint, and every student in the world has days where they feel stuck or unmotivated. The way to get better is to be patient with yourself, to be consistent in your playing, and to have a teacher who understands this mental and emotional side of learning music. When you are looking for affordable adult piano lessons near you in Bristol, it is important to find a teacher who supports you as a whole person. If you are looking for a teacher for your piano lessons in Bristol who can help you on this journey then I am here to help.
Sophia McKett 