When Progress Plateaus

At some point in their piano journey, many students hit a bit of a lull. They might lose interest, avoid working on their lesson assignments at home if at all, and instead spend all their practice time learning pieces from YouTube. If that sounds familiar, don’t worry — it’s more common than you think.

We love that students are inspired to explore music beyond their lesson books, and we encourage it — platforms like YouTube can be a fantastic source of creativity and motivation. But if all their practice time is going into tutorials, and their reading and technique are only developed in lessons, it can sometimes slow down their overall progress and confidence — even though we absolutely value the fun, self-directed exploratory side of learning that tools like YouTube can offer.

The good news is, a dip in motivation doesn’t mean something’s gone wrong — it just means it’s time to try something new. And there are lots of ways we can help together.

What might help:

⏰ Try a different time or day

Sometimes students are just too tired after school, especially after a packed day. A change to a different slot — earlier in the week, or even a slightly earlier time — can often make a real difference in their focus and energy.

👩‍🏫 Consider a different teacher

Every teacher brings something unique to their lessons, and sometimes a different personality or teaching style can reignite a student’s excitement and confidence. A fresh voice can be all it takes to spark new momentum.

🎹 Mix up the group dynamic

Group lessons offer a variety of social and motivational benefits, and thinking about your child's ideal environment can really help. For example, would they benefit from moving to a group with a friend they already know to boost motivation, or might they need to move away from distractions that friends in their current group might create? If your child is younger, it might help to be in a room with older or more advanced students they can aspire to. On the other hand, if they’re already in this situation, moving to a group of similar-aged students might open up more opportunities for games and activities tailored to their level.

📘 Change the books or goals

If your child is bored of their current pieces, let’s try something new! We can also revisit their goals — whether it’s performing, composing, exams, or just learning fun songs — and realign lessons with what they enjoy most.

All these small nuances can make a big difference in your child's engagement and focus, and sometimes it’s simply time for a little switch-up.

What you can do at home:

One of the most powerful things parents can do is keep the focus on effort and progress, rather than on natural ability. When your child works hard and improves, let them hear that. Try something like: “Wow, you’ve practised this loads — listen to how much better it sounds now!” “You really stuck with that tricky bit, and it paid off!” These types of comments help students feel proud of their persistence and resilience — and encourage them to keep going when things get challenging. Try to avoid comments like “You’re just naturally good at this!” as it can make students feel like they shouldn’t struggle, and that talent matters more than effort.

We’re here to help

If you’re noticing a dip in enthusiasm, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Small changes — whether in scheduling, teaching, materials, or group mix — can make a big difference. We're always happy to chat and explore the best options to support your child's musical journey.

Every musician has ups and downs — it’s what we do with the dips that makes all the difference. 💛