Unlocking Piano Motivation: Tips for Players and Teachers

Supporting Your Piano Pathway
Written by Andrew Eales

The question of motivation is one of the most important for all piano players and teachers, and turns out not to be a straightforward one.

• Why do we love the piano?
• How do we fan that flame and keep it alight?
• What motivates us to practise, play, and perform?
• How do we help to motivate others?

Psychologists and educators talk about different types of motivation, which can help us understand the various factors that drive us, and which will enthuse others.

Here on Pianodao, there are many articles to unpack this vital subject in plain English, including in-depth advice, motivational encouragement, and reflections on how to discover more joy at the piano.

START HERE!
The following article unpacks some of the basic psychological terms associated with an understanding of motivation, and will help you understand the various ways in which we are all motivated, external and internal:

The Pianist’s Motivations

Intrinsic and Extrinsic motivation are like Yin and Yang – we need a happy balance of both…

GET MOTIVATED…
These articles provide fuel to fire your enthusiasm:

What Can You Play?

Getting the right balance between work and play at the piano is a sure way to stay motivated, foster musical enjoyment, stave off frustration, and develop confidence as the true musicians that we no doubt want to be and can be…

Do Grade Exams Motivate?

What part do the Grade exams play in fostering positive motivation? Do they provide the impetus and framework needed for musical achievement, or do they distract from more important goals?

THE JOY OF PLAYING
Should piano learning and practice be “fun”? These articles explore the links between a playful approach to learning, and an effective one…

Putting the PLAY back into Playing the Piano

Are you bored by method-book teaching, disappointed by the exam system, and perplexed to find that piano isn’t proving more fulfilling? If so, then this radical new manifesto for piano education in the 21st Century is for you!

True Fun at the piano

Perhaps at the start of this new year, we can agree that True Fun at the piano is something we players and teachers can, and should, all highly prize…

The Landscape of Play

In every moment of every piano lesson, we continually encounter forks in the path ahead. Where shall we go next?

Humility and Wonder in Play

Approaching our piano journey with a spirit of PLAY, a doorway opens to the greater respect for music that it undeniably deserves, and in doing so we can find greater contentment at the piano…

The Playful Piano Teacher

As teachers, “working in a playful, relaxed manner” not only creates the fruitful environment in which our pupils will succeed, but also the one in which our own careers, personal growth and lives can prosper.

Playing the Piano “For Fun”?

Playing “for fun” is a phrase with different connotations for different teachers. But given the pressure that families are under in today’s society, it’s hardly surprising that parents and adult learners often hope learning an instrument can be a contrast and antidote to other, more obviously stressful activities.

DIGGING DEEPER
Here are some articles which probe specific aspects of motivation as it impacts us as piano players and teachers:

Why do we play the piano?

The question of why we play the piano would seem to be both an obvious one to ask and an easy one to answer. And yet it rarely is…

In this article I consider four “types” of player, while recognising that most of us combine aspects of most or all…

The Gamification of Musical Learning

In what has been hailed as the “Ludic (play-centric) Century”. we can see growing evidence of gamification in music education. In this article I consider the transformative impact this may be having, for better or worse…

Making Peace with your Inner Musician

To what extent do ‘results’ cause anxiety in your life? How do we make peace with our inner musician?

The Pianist’s Resolution

The start of any new year or season is for many a time for making resolutions: for ambition, grit and determination. But what are the ingredients of perseverance which will foster that success?

THE FERMATA SERIES
These shorter reflections offer a quick motivational boost:

Developing an interest

By providing a rich and enjoyable learning experience that stimulates their curiosity, positively celebrates their development, and fosters their ability to express themselves through their piano playing, we can offer learners the best opportunity to develop a lifelong love of music.