You’d think that with the stay-at-home order, I’d be able to get in some consistent practice time on piano, guitar, and recorder. But noooooo. I’ve practiced piano twice. Guitar and recorder not at all.
I wish I could say it’s because of all the writing and artwork I’m doing. But the truth is, I’m barely keeping up with my blog. I’ve made almost no progress on my other writing project (a rewrite of my novel, and a story that might be a short story or a novella or novel, but I’m stuck). The only art I’ve made is my catalog o’ Zentangle® patterns.
I’m finding it difficult to focus these days. The pandemic is one reason. My husband being in the hospital and then a skilled nursing facility is another. Also, by the evening, when I normally practice, I’m toast. I just want to watch TV.
I know that if I sit down at the piano and just play, eventually I’ll focus and everything else will drop away. You know how when you’re in the zone, you’re one with the music? So why is it so hard to walk to the piano, turn on the light, and begin?
What do you do when you’re not feeling motivated to practice? Do you go to your old favorites? Run through your scales? Start that piece you’ve been saving for after you’ve mastered the Pathetique?
I went to the internet and googled How can I motivate myself to practice piano? Three videos popped up, but I hated the voices of the vloggers, so I didn’t finish listening to any of them.
But I also found these articles:
I like the idea of just committing to a short time, like five minutes, and seeing what happens. I think I’ll try that tonight.
Now it’s your turn. What do you do when you don’t want to practice? Or have you been practicing more while stuck at home? Share in the comments below.
ARHtistic License 
Still resting my wrist, so not much more than recording practice sections for my kiddos and trying to play Suzuki Book 2 from memory, but I did give the pianos their lemon oil bath this week!
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No practicing here. But I relate to not being motivated to do much of anything. There’s always something on my mind that I should be doing, but getting up and doing it is another thing. So far I’m staying caught up with dishes and laundry. That’s about it. I’m blaming the non-focus on the pandemic.
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Dishes and laundry have a lot of impact–gold star for you for keeping up with them! ❤
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I’ve been taking advantage of the good weather and trying to build raised beds for a veggie garden. I started feeling ill yesterday morning so I’m spending the days indoors til I’m sure I’m better (besides, hard to get much work done outside when you’re drinking tea every hour to calm the stomach down). But, staying inside means I can re-evaluate and re-start my practice plan.
I need the motivation, too, and I’m definitely gonna give those articles a shot. I’ve been away from these instruments (piano and guitar) so long I’ve lost some ability for sure. On the other hand, maybe I’ve been away long enough to have killed off some bad habits… and after hand-washing like mad the past few weeks, playing with cinder blocks and shovels has abraded my fingerpads enough to where I can play guitar again without it hurting so bad (hee hee).
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I forgot I’ll have to build up my finger callouses again. Boo.
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I know–that’s gotta be the worst part. I tried playing after having to wear gloves and handwash a lot at work for just a few days and all those callouses were gone. Hurt trying to play, so I didn’t do any playing for nearly a month. Now I’ve got enough to get back to it.
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I have been singing some but not practicing the piano. I agree, though, once you start it doesn’t take long to get in the zone!
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I’m like you. In this Pandemic I’ve found it very difficult to write or paint or play piano, or even blog. I went dry for several weeks. I’m trying to pull myself back again, carve out enough time from the day home-schooling to do something that inspires me and gives joy. But by the time I’m through, I just want to sleep, or zone out, No energy or motivation to be creative. Sounds like a lot of us are feeling this way. So maybe it’s okay not to try so hard, to just be.
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