How to know when you're ready to stop taking piano lessons
How do you know when you’re ready to stop taking piano lessons? This question is one that every pianist has to ask as piano instruction is one of the few educational paths that has no clearly defined end point. Most adult learners take lessons with the idea that they’re going to study with a teacher until they learn how to play the piano. Self-direction is, after all, the ultimate goal of any musical artist—to be capable of taking the guidance we’ve gleaned from our instructors and trust our own understanding and taste—but the routine of lessons can make it difficult to remember that becoming self-directed is a necessary step on our artistic journey.
As with most things related to playing the piano, knowing when to stop taking lessons requires self-examination and a healthy dose of self-honesty. When we’re considering this question it’s helpful to remember that the choice to quit need not be a binary one. We can get “touch up” sessions with master teachers when we need them. We can join a playing group or seek help from fellow pianists. Sometimes we may choose to return to lessons. As a pianist and a former instructor I’ve been on both sides of this question, and in both roles I’ve found that the following questions have provided the self-awareness needed to make an informed choice. Perhaps they will help you decide as well.
Are you tired of playing the piano?
If the answer to this is yes, it is wise to wait a month or two to make sure this feeling isn’t just passing frustration. Are life obligations consuming too much of your time? Are you bored with the music you’re learning? Would a short break from lessons revive your interest in playing? Look for the root of your frustration; it may surprise you. Once you uncover it, if you still want to quit, do so kindly and politely. Who knows? Perhaps you may want to return to lessons with your teacher in the future.
What are your goals?
When you started lessons, what did you hope you’d be able to play on the piano? Have you met these goals? If so, have other goals presented themselves? Is your teacher aware of these goals and do you feel supported in your quest to achieve them? Most importantly, are lessons contributing to reaching your goals or are they just a habit? You may find that you’ve accomplished what you’d hoped to learn at the piano and can move on, or you may discover the motivation to keep striving for something new.
Are you self-motivated?
If you know you want to continue to play the piano, it’s important to assess your ability to stay motivated to practice each day without the routine of playing for an instructor. If this is a challenge and you still wish to quit lessons, consider finding other goals to get you to the piano—for example, playing for family or friends or polishing a song and making a video of it.
Have lessons become more about friendship than guidance?
I’m friends with my most influential instructor, and I count several former students as friends as well. The warm relationship that develops in lessons helps learning, but if you’re spending far more time in your lessons chatting than playing, it may be time to stop lessons and continue to friendship away from the piano. If you want to continue to receive lessons from your friend, discuss ways to set down professional boundaries by keeping personal chitchat out of the studio so that you get the instruction you need.
Are you eager to explore your own ideas?
Whether consciously or unconsciously we each shape the music we present to our teachers in a way we know they’ll like. The delicious truth about self-directed practicing is that we can find our path through the music without worrying about pleasing an instructor. If you’re wanting to explore your own ideas it may be time to be self-directed.
Where can I go if I get stuck?
Once we’ve learned the basics of playing the piano, most lessons become about problem solving and conceptual ideas. Teachers have shortcuts that greatly reduce the amount of struggle many self-directed players encounter. If you choose to quit lessons do you have other piano friends who might be able to give guidance? Is there someone with whom you can receive instruction on an occasional basis? Knowing you have a backup plan can help make self-directed learning easier.
Whether in lessons or not, the goal is the same—to learn to trust ourselves and our musical abilities, which means that we stop thinking like a student and starting thinking like an artist. When we achieve this, we’re self-directed regardless of how much or how little instruction we receive from another.
Photo by Shayan Bemanian, courtesy of UpSplash