My Piano Dilemma, should I stop?

Hi,

So, I'm 13 years old and I've been plaing piano since I was 7 or 8 years old. I hate classical piano, but I love playing rock on the piano like The Beatles or anything ele but classical. I don't practice classical at all only when my mom threatens me (i'm forced to play classical piano). I also play guitar and I want to be a proffessional rockstar when I'm older. Well, lately my mom said she's gonna quit my classical piano lessons because she's fed up with everything. Whenever she says this I'm kind of glad, but then for some reason I feel really bad that I'm quitting piano since it's been with me for so long i think. I can't decide for myself so i need somebody to give me some tips if I should just quit classical completely and pursue rock piano and guitar, if it's even worth continuing classical at this point. If i quit will this affect me in any way later in my life? Should I still continue for a little while? I need some good advice here, people.

Thanks,

St

By the way, I usually have a low self esteem when I play piano, not only do i dislike it, I dont think I play very well.

I am a piano teacher by profession. Some questions - were you allowed to choose your own (classical) music to play or have you been playing always exam pieces (or big pieces which are too big for you to handle) ??

Sometimes, handling pieces which are 1 level below your standard may help you to regain your love back for piano playing - be it classical music or rock.

So talk to your teacher & try to think which CLASSICAL piece/composer whom you really like & try to find the notes in the library or the internet. Then print or photocopy it & bring it the next time to your class. Suggest to your teacher that you would like to learn those pieces & have him/her to teach you.

Then make a resolution that since you have chosen your pieces, finish it to the end. See if your love for (classical) piano playing will come back.

Try this first before you quit. & also if you are going ahead with my suggestion, tell your mom about it & see what she says. I don't think she will object.

if you give it up you will be like the thousands of people who quit and then regretted it later in life

Try a keyboard. You can do those teach yourself lessons since you already have the training.

Dude, this is your chance. You already have an awesome base to build your own style on. Classics are the most important for piano obviously.
Be like Yngwe Malsteem, Rush, Queen, or Dream Theater, play intense rock music with classical roots.
Don't stop any of it! Each style allows you to play the other styles better, and to have a deeper well of inspiration to draw on.
Party on Wayne! Party on Garth!

WOW thats like exactly what happened to me. i quit because i was learning things i absolutely hated... i mean come on who wants to hear mozart or beethoven at a party. depending on your skill level, i guess you could teach yourself.i played for 6 years as well... and i told my parents theyw ere wasting their money. now i just play for fun.

I'm a bit in the same boat as you.
I don't care for any type of piano at all, but my parents make me.
I just don't have time to practice with schoolwork.
I think you should continue, but only to learn the fundamentals.
Continue for the simple virtue of learning how to read notes and play well. Then, once you've learned everything you need, quit or continue, but start teaching yourself rock piano.

I played classical piano for years. I quite a couple years ago tho, because like you, I hated playing classical piano. I used to take these provincial piano exams and it just sucked. I stopped playing my recital pieces and just bought my own sheet music and played what I wanted to. If you are skilled enough, you can pretty much teach yourself. I know enough that when I play people still go wow....but I really wish I hadn't quit. If you want to be a musician, piano is a great background...stick with it.

haha you sound a lot like me mate. I've played classical piano since I was 10 and I'm now 15 and also got some ambitions of being a professional musician and I like rock the most, particularly Led Zeppelin, Acdc, Hendrix etc, older stuff =P. I taught myself guitar and drums and I'm fairly good at them and love teaching myself but know I wouldn't be able to had I not gained the knowledge I have from playing piano. I also don't particularely like playing classical piano but classical music is the best music for improving your skills so I practice that for my lessons and then get home and play Beatles, queen, billy joel, elton john, and theme music like pirates of the caribbean, stuff that I enjoy playing.
So for advice I'd keep up your classical lessons to get better and practice it often but focus more on stuff you like and teaching yourself to play that stuff well. Good luck, hope in several years time I turn on the radio and hear you rocking it out mate =]

i have learned if you are good at something keep going it may help you later in life. Otherwise i would say keep going man, otherwise man its your choice mine would be keep going.
p.s. i never was able to play the piano so you are lucky

U don't have to quite completly classical music. Nobody can stop u doing that when u have your own instrument, these days the electonic keybaords are very good and u can practice any kinda music u like. Besides classical joining together with rock sounds great

Hey,
I'm already in the scholarships, so don't quit. It can take you far. Please, I'm a good piano player myself, so try harder for yourself. If you want to quit, that's fine. Go with what your heart says. Do something before you get tangled between 13 instruments.

Why not take a break from the classical music for 6 months and see how you feel after that. I am sure you will miss it.

I used to like rock music when I was younger but now I never listen to anything other than classical...there is just so much more in it. It is the true heart of music; everything else is superficial drivel.

You should stop playing piano. Play the instrument what is interesting to you, but your mom.

Continue playing. When you're older you'll learn to appreaciate classical music. Also you should know: any classically trained musician can do any rock stuff with no trouble at all. Don't quit!! I wish I had started piano when I was that young, but as it is I have to start learning now and be behind.

don't quit. it's great that you have some background in piano. im learning classical piano but i used to hate it...somehow i like it now..Anyway, you could try buying pop/rock sheet music that you like playing or you could try playing it by ear.. Considering you want to be a professional rockstar, learning to play it by ear would be a great help in your career. It might be hard at first but once you've got the feel of it it can be really fun.

All the best.

Oh dearie! Look, i've gone through what you have as a musician. If you feel bad just because you're mom would feel bad then you should not be playing the piano as a classical instrument. You should play the piano because you love it and not because your mother is forcing you to play it. You should follow your heart, march to your own drum (but in a polite way!) and not let your mother stop you from accomplishing your dream. If you truly love the piano and wouldn't give it up then I suggest you go on; but if you just keep on persisting with it just for the heck of it then stop. The piano is not about force, it is about the music and passion.

If you think this will help you later on then continue, otherwise I suggest you make up your mind soon. Good luck kiddo!

Never give up & follow your heart.

Who knows? You could be the next Lang Lang!

I don't think you should quit completely, I had this dilemma a year back, and I really wanted to quit just like you. I think you should just take a break from classical music for awhile, but not completely distancing yourself from it, and perhaps try listening to composers like Chopin or Debussy, it might help you enjoy classical music better. Pursuing rock piano and guitar is a good idea as it is your interest, you could try it first, and you can always return to classical music if you feel like it again. Take a little hiatus from classical music and have a breather. (:

If you think you do not enjoy classical, take a break from it.
Instead, try playing rock for some time. You can even try boogie woogie and jazz. You may like it.

But then you still need to work hard, which should be comparatively easy if you like something. After a few months you yourself should feel that you are improving and are playing well. If you don't, it means you need to put in more effort.