I haven't been on the forums for a while. I was made redundant just before Xmas but because I had been there for so long I had to work out my notice period of 12 weeks.

Leading up to Xmas I was very busy and finding it increasingly difficult to practise, then I with all the turmoil of trying to find a new job I haven't had the time to practice. I have also been extremely tired so haven't been in the right frame of mind to practice and now have no motivation to practice!

On the bright side I have 2 weeks til I finish work (no job but mainly down to my choice) and am hoping to sit down and practice eevery morning after the kids have gone to school. I am hoping my enthusiasm will be rekindled.

I am sure some of you have had issues that have affected your enthusiasm, it would be nice to hear some of them and give me some hope.

I feel it would be a great tragedy to give up and it makes me sad (not due to amazing skill but love and a passion for music! ) but I still can't motivate myself!

Thanks

Sorry to hear all this, but it could be the start of something amazing!

Well, I think you pretty much know my story over the past two and a half years...Assault->...broken vertebra -> ...PTSD -> Depression -> self harm-> hopelessness..equals absolutely no inclination to practice piano, singing or continue with OU studies.

However, after some sessions with a brilliant counsellor, and now a Psychotherapist, (plus some terrific support from friends both on and off this forum ) I feel I am slowly but surely coming out the 'other side'. I am getting a plan together for my future, which includes lots of practice, finally getting my grade 8 in piano and theory, a part time job and a few students to back it all up. I still have to take things carefully as I'm prone to days when I hate myself and the world in general, but I recognise I'm getting better.

Whatever you do, don't give up. The future's bright...the future's orange music!

I am very sorry to hear this Mini_mo but I think it is quite understandable that all the trauma of redundancy has left you too tired (probably emotionally tired) to practise. And once you get out of the habit it requires a bit of energy to get back. Work frequently gets in the way of my practice... and quite often because it's so emotionally draining (everything is a bit uncertain...) rather than long or unsociable hours.


This sounds like a good plan. I hope you don't have to find another job too quickly (but hope you do when you need it!). A bit of a break could be just the thing you need to get back to music, then music can do the rest...

DC, you are quite an inspiration, I must say. I don't know the details of your story as I came to the Forums after the worst of it ... and you'd never know you'd been through such a dreadful time.

Good luck Mini_mo!

Hi Mini Mo. Having met you I thought you were probably one of the least likely people I know to suffer from lack of motivation to play! But when circumstances change I guess we can all go through a difficult patch.

The only practical thing I find helps me at such times is to spend a while only playing music I know well rather than worrying about improving and learning new stuff. I also force myself to play for at least a few minutes every day. At the very least, it stops things from going backwards and keeps me in the habit of daily playing just for enjoyment.

Hope you pick it up again soon, not least because many of us shall wish to hear you playing at a future forum event!

Best wishes,

Jon

I noticed you hadn't been on for a while, hoped you were OK. Sorry to hear about your redundancy..

I can't tell you whether a break from music or more music right now would be better for you - only you can do that - but I just wanted to add that a common fear that people have when they are wondering whether to take a break is that they will lose all their technique and ability. I wanted to say that while it is true that some ability will be lost, it is easily regained with the right motivation.

If you feel you need a break now then I think it's OK to have one if not taking one will only make you more stressed? I really don't want to come across as telling you what to do, I just wanted to offer the alternative point of view that sometimes we do need a break and to not be too worried about loss of technique.

My motivation kicked in again after seven years of no music - because that is how long it took me to sort the rest of my life out (I did have to deal with moving countries and changing jobs multiple times so that's why it took that long). I also did spend the five years in university overdoing it a bit with music so I think I needed a really long break.

How about listening to music that you love? That is often a great motivator for me.

If you have always had the love and passion for music, it is still there. It might be buried under piles of other stuff right now, but it's not gone forever - it'll come back when you have some breathing room.

All the best with whatever you decide. I too would love to hear you play again at a forum event.

Hi Mini_mo

I was thinking of you earlier on today and was going to e-mail you. I have a feeling that when you have actually stopped working and have had a little bit of time to relax, and are no longer using excess energy to try and keep going in a job that you know you have to leave soon, you will probably have renewed energy and find your motivation again.

I don't actually have a story as such to tell but can only offer support, along with your other musical friends, when you need it.

Do take care.

hello mini_mo,

i had a bad time 5 years back. my mom was diagnosed with cancer just as i was about to take my final sax exam. at the time i was playing for 3 orchestras, having lessons every other day, playing for the local concert band. it just became to much in the end. so i packed everything into the cases and forgot about it all.

on a happier note my mom is now in remission, i took the final exam and have now taken on oboe

it was hard though. at one point i felt i'd missed aspects of family life because i was playing so much. but my lovely boyfriend has really helped with this

Hey mini_mo

Don't make my mistake and put playing the piano on the back burner for 22 years ... then realize (probably too late) that is the only thing that you are

a. good at, and
b. enjoy more than almost anything else

I didn't know this at all sorry DC - makes my issue seem trivial!

Thank you everyone for your comments and experiences. It really does help to know that I am not the only one struggling out there.

At one point I was looking at working full time I got very down as I knew that I would not have any hope of practicing what with doing mum duties as well. I even thought that it would be better in the long run to totally stop piano instead of the frustration of trying to do practice on the odd occasion, but now that I will hopefully be freelancing (and if it takes a while to get going then it will do me a favour ). As long as I bring in some money

Cheers

Have you started to play again?

All the best, and hope that freelancing opportunities are stable and lucrative, and that the uncertainties are minimal. When Mr. Ears and I faced a crunch about 18 months ago, all I could see was the wall in front of us, yet my road opened up in a totally different and unexpected direction.

Good luck with your new direction.

I was doing a two-year part-time post graduate degree and struggling. In the second year I decided to stop playing and stop lessons until I had finished my degree. I have to be honest and say that I barely thought about music for that whole year!

The day my results came out I started playing again. To begin with it was only a couple of days a week and it took quite some time to catch up to where I had been before but now I'm in full swing and playing in an orchestra.

It's still only my hobby but taking a break wasn't all that bad. Now my career comes first but I fit in practice when I can but I enjoy it hugely.

Good luck with your freelancing