When You Feel Like Quitting Piano (And What to Do About It)

I sat at my piano crying at 3pm on a Tuesday.

Proper crying. Not just frustration tears – full sobbing. Over a piano piece. A Beethoven bagatelle I’d been working on for six weeks that I still couldn’t play cleanly. Six weeks of daily practice and I was getting worse, not better. I felt incompetent, stupid, and like I was wasting my time.

I closed the piano lid, walked away, and seriously considered selling it. “I’m not cut out for this. Some people just can’t play piano. I’m one of them. I should quit.”

That was month 18 of my piano journey. I didn’t quit. But I came very close.

If you’re reading this because you’re thinking about quitting piano – you’re not alone. Not even slightly. Every single adult piano learner I know has considered quitting at least once. Most of us multiple times.

This post isn’t about convincing you to continue. It’s about helping you make a clear-headed decision rather than quitting in a moment of emotional distress. Because sometimes quitting IS the right choice. But often it’s not – it’s just a temporary crisis that feels permanent in the moment.

Why Adult Learners Want to Quit

Understanding why you want to quit helps address it:

Reason 1: “I’m Not Making Progress”

What it feels like:

• Practising consistently but not improving
• Stuck on the same pieces for weeks
• Feel like you’ve hit a ceiling
• Wonder if you’re capable of getting better

Reality check:

• Progress isn’t linear – plateaus are normal
• You’re probably improving but can’t see it
• Comparison to unrealistic standards
• Need better progress tracking

Questions to ask:

• How does my playing compare to 6 months ago? (not yesterday)
• Am I tracking progress tangibly?
• Are my expectations realistic?

My experience: Felt stuck month 14-17. Looking back at recordings, I WAS improving. Just couldn’t see it day-to-day.

Reason 2: “I’m Too Old / It’s Too Late”

What it feels like:

• Should have started as a child
• Adult brains can’t learn like children’s
• Will never be “good”
• Wasting time on something impossible

Reality check:

• Adults CAN learn piano (millions do)
• You won’t be a concert pianist – so what?
• “Good” is subjective and personal
• Hobby doesn’t require a professional level

Questions to ask:

• What’s my actual goal? (probably not Carnegie Hall)
• Am I comparing to professionals? (unfair comparison)
• What would “success” look like for me personally?

My thought: I’m a 30-something learning piano. Will I play Rachmaninoff? No. Will I play pieces I love and enjoy making music? Absolutely.

Reason 3: “I Don’t Have Time”

What it feels like:

• Work is overwhelming
• Family needs are constant
• Piano feels like another obligation
• Guilt about not practising enough

Reality check:

• Life circumstances change – temporary vs permanent
• Quality matters more than quantity
• Even 15 minutes daily makes progress
• Hobbies should add to life, not create stress

Questions to ask:

• Is this a temporary busy period or a permanent shift?
• Could I practice less rather than quit entirely?
• Is the pressure self-imposed or an actual time constraint?

My experience: Nearly quit during the house move. It was temporary stress. Glad I didn’t quit.

Reason 4: “It’s Too Frustrating”

What it feels like:

• Constant mistakes despite practice
• Hands won’t do what the brain wants
• Pieces feel impossible
• Nothing is enjoyable anymore

Reality check:

• Might be working on inappropriate pieces (too hard)
• Need a different practice approach
• Temporary frustration doesn’t mean permanent inability
• Everyone experiences this

Questions to ask:

• Are my pieces appropriate for my level?
• Am I practising effectively?
• Is frustration with a specific piece or the piano generally?

My moment: Für Elise middle section destroyed me. I was attempting Grade 5 piece when I was Grade 3. The piece was the problem, not me.

Reason 5: “I’m Not Good Enough”

What it feels like:

• Everyone else plays better
• Sound terrible compared to YouTube videos
• Feel embarrassed to play for others
• Constant negative self-talk

Reality check:

• Social media shows highlights, not reality
• Comparing beginners you to advanced others
• “Good enough” is personal definition
• Self-criticism is normal but not truth

Questions to ask:

• Am I comparing fairly? (my Year 2 to their Year 10?)
• What does “good enough” mean to me?
• Is this inner critic or objective reality?

Reason 6: “Life Is Too Stressful”

What it feels like:

• Work pressure overwhelming
• Family demands constant
• Health issues
• Piano one thing too many

Reality check:

• Sometimes life genuinely requires dropping things
• Taking break is different from quitting
• Stress is temporary (usually)
• Can return when circumstances improve

Questions to ask:

• Is this a temporary crisis or a permanent change?
• Could I reduce practice rather than quit?
• What would losing piano cost emotionally?

The 48-Hour Rule

Here’s my most important advice:

Don’t Quit in the Moment

The rule: When you feel like quitting, wait 48 hours before deciding.

Why it works:

• Emotions are temporary
• Perspective changes with time
• Distance provides clarity
• Prevents regrettable decisions

What to do in those 48 hours:

• Step away from piano
• Don’t practice
• Don’t make decisions
• Let emotions settle

My experience: Every time I’ve wanted to quit, waiting 48 hours changed perspective. Never quit at end of waiting period.

The One-Week Extension

If still want to quit after 48 hours:

• Commit to one more week
• Practice with lowered expectations
• Try different pieces
• Then reassess

Why it works:

• Motivation often returns within a week
• Gives strategies time to work
• Prevents hasty decisions

The One-Month Break Option

If the crisis is genuine:

• Take a month completely off
• No guilt, no piano
• Deliberately miss it
• Return if and when ready

Why it works:

• Distance creates appreciation
• Break is different from quitting
• Can return refreshed
• Many people do return

Questions to Ask Yourself

Work through these honestly:

About Your Goals

Why did I start piano?

• Still relevant?
• Achieved?
• Need adjusting?

What do I actually want from piano?

• To play specific pieces?
• General enjoyment?
• Social connection?
• Personal challenge?

Are my expectations realistic?

• Professional level (unrealistic for most adults)
• Enjoyment and moderate skill (realistic)

About Current Situation

Is this temporary frustration or fundamental mismatch?

• Bad day/week/month vs genuine dislike
• Specific problem vs everything

What specifically is wrong?

• Is progress too slow?
• Pieces too hard/easy/boring?
• Practice feels like an obligation?
• No time/energy?

Can that specific problem be addressed?

• Change pieces?
• Adjust practice routine?
• Lower expectations?
• Find community?

About Alternatives

What would I do with the practice time instead?

• Another hobby?
• Nothing specific? (might regret quitting)
• Something genuinely more fulfilling?

Would I miss piano if I quit?

• Honestly assess
• Imagine life without it
• Trust gut feeling

Could I reduce rather than quit?

• Practice less frequently?
• Less ambitious goals?
• Just for enjoyment, no pressure?

Strategies to Try Before Quitting

If you’ve identified specific problems:

If Progress Feels Slow

Try:

• Track progress tangibly (recordings, repertoire list)
• Review progress over 6 months, not 6 days
• Adjust expectations about timeframes
• Celebrate small wins explicitly

Give it: 2-3 months

If Pieces Feel Too Hard

Try:

• Drop to easier pieces temporarily
• Learn something you already know well (confidence)
• Break the difficult piece into tiny sections
• Get teacher input on the appropriate level

Give it: 1-2 months

If Practice Feels Like Obligation

Try:

• Remove all goals temporarily
• Play only what you enjoy
• Lower practice frequency (3 days/week instead of 6)
• Give yourself permission to skip days
• Vary practice content

Give it: 2-4 weeks

If Comparing to Others

Try:

• Stop watching YouTube piano videos
• Leave social media piano groups temporarily
• Focus only on your own progress
• Find adult learner community (not prodigies)

Give it: 1 month

If Life Is Too Stressful

Try:

• Reduce practice to 10-15 minutes
• Only maintenance, no new learning
• Or take a deliberate break (1-4 weeks)
• Return when life calms

Give it: Until circumstances improve

If You’re Isolated

Try:

• Find online community (Reddit, Facebook groups)
• Join a local adult learner group
• Get a teacher (even occasional lessons)
• Play for friends/family

Give it: 1-2 months

Signs It Might Actually Be Time to Quit

Sometimes quitting IS the right choice:

Consider Quitting If:

Physical issues:

• Developing pain that doesn’t resolve
• Injury from playing
• Medical advice to stop
• Physical limitations make playing harmful

Genuine dislike:

• Consistently dread practice (not just bad days)
• No joy or satisfaction ever
• Piano creates anxiety, not enjoyment
• Continued only from guilt/obligation

Life circumstances:

• Permanent major life change
• Genuinely no time or energy
• Other priorities are more important
• Financial necessity (can’t maintain piano)

Goal mismatch:

• Wanted to be professional (unrealistic as an adult starter)
• Realise you don’t actually enjoy it
• Only started for others, not yourself

DON’T Quit Just Because:

• Having a bad week
• One piece is frustrating
• Progress feels slow temporarily
• Plateau period
• Comparison to others
• Temporary life stress

The difference: Genuine reasons are ongoing and fundamental. Bad reasons are temporary and addressable.

My Personal Quit Moments

Full transparency about my close calls:

Month 6: First Major Frustration

Trigger: Couldn’t play a simple piece cleanly after weeks of practice

Why I didn’t quit: I realised the piece was too hard for my level. Dropped to easier pieces. Frustration resolved.

Lesson: Sometimes the piece is the problem, not the piano.

Month 14: The Plateau

Trigger: No visible progress for months. Felt stuck and hopeless.

Why I didn’t quit: Tracked progress tangibly – recordings showed improvement I couldn’t feel. Pushed through. Broke through month 17.

Lesson: Plateaus are temporary. Evidence contradicts feeling.

Month 22: Life Stress

Trigger: House move, work crisis, piano felt like a burden.

Why I didn’t quit: Took a 3-week complete break. Returned when life settled. Motivation returned.

Lesson: Breaks aren’t quitting. Can always return.

Month 28: Comparison Crash

Trigger: Watched a child prodigy video. Felt completely inadequate.

Why I didn’t quit: Stopped watching comparison content. Focused on own journey. Reconnected with why I play.

Lesson: Comparison is toxic. Your own journey is what matters.

Month 34: “What’s the Point?”

Trigger: Existential crisis about the piano’s purpose.

Why I didn’t quit: Remembered specific joyful moments. Recalled pieces I can now play that once seemed impossible. Reconnected with love of music.

Lesson: Purpose beyond progress. Joy of making music.

What If You Do Quit?

Quitting isn’t failure. Sometimes it’s the right choice.

If You Decide to Quit

Options:

• Permanent quit (sell piano, move on)
• Extended break (keep piano, might return)
• Reduce but don’t quit (play occasionally for enjoyment)

No judgment: Your life, your choice. Hobbies should serve you, not vice versa.

Many People Return

Common pattern:

• Quit after 6-18 months
• Miss piano after several months
• Return with a fresh perspective
• Continue long-term

This is normal: Sometimes a break provides clarity and renewed motivation.

Even a Short Piano Journey Has Value

What you gained:

• Musical knowledge
• New skill development
• Challenge undertaken
• Experience of learning

Not wasted time: Even if you quit, you experienced and learned things.

Final Thoughts

Feeling like quitting is normal. Universal, even. Every adult learner experiences it.

The question isn’t “should I never want to quit?” It’s “what do I do when I want to quit?”

Wait. Breathe. Give it time. Address specific problems. Try strategies. Connect with the community. Remember why you started.

And if after all that, you still want to quit – quit. It’s okay. Piano isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine.

But don’t quit in a moment of emotional crisis. Don’t quit because of temporary frustration. Don’t quit because of a bad week or difficult piece or plateau.

Give yourself time. Try strategies. See if it passes.

Because often – more often than you’d think – it does pass. Motivation returns. Breakthroughs happen. Joy comes back.

And in a year, you’ll be so glad you didn’t quit.

I nearly quit five times. I’m glad I didn’t. Playing piano has genuinely enriched my life. The frustration was temporary. The skill and joy are lasting.

Give it another week. Just one more week.

Then decide.

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Related Posts:

• Staying Motivated as an Adult Piano Learner
• Overcoming Practice Plateaus
• Dealing with Frustration and Self-Criticism