08/30/2019
A great article from Piano Picnic
Negative self-talk:
I always assumed that confidence would appear once I was a good enough pianist...
But the bar for ‘good enough’ has always moved higher as I’ve improved.
I’ve had musician friends, who I consider to be super talented, confess to struggling with the same negative self-talk.
We ALL do it.
~
We can hear 99 compliments but the 1 non-enthused reaction is what sticks in our minds.
All the accomplishments, milestones & compliments can’t convince you you’re enough if you don’t believe it yourself.
~
As a teacher, I know that every single student that I have had is amazing, no matter what their level.
They're all uniquely amazing at different things: some are amazingly disciplined / eternally enthusiastic/natural improvisers / incredible dexterity / keen composers / technical-wizards / some just love to learn…
Why then, as students of the piano and of life, can’t we recognize the same things in ourselves?
~Wherever you are at as a pianist, you’re already amazing.
~Whatever you’ve learned to play? It’s incredible.
~Whatever you already know about music? Brilliant.
Why? Because everything you can do now, you couldn’t do before and you worked at it because you desired to pursue something you enjoy. Not because it earns you money, or status, or accolades, but because it makes you feel good.
✴️That is no average thing. That is an achievement worth celebrating.
~You deserve to feel confident for where you are as a pianist, right now.