I've come to enjoy sports and fitness analogies these days. Ironic, given that sports are the piano teacher's arch nemesis.
But the analogies can't be beat.
Here's an example.
A top-three reason why students and parents decide to quit piano lessons is because they don't feel like practicing. And after all, if they're paying for lessons, they should be enjoying it. Otherwise, what's the point?
So if they're not enthused about practicing, they decide something's wrong and pull out.
But...let's look at a fitness analogy.
By definition, exercising is uncomfortable. But there's no question about the benefits of exercise. And that everyone needs to do it, or suffer consequences later.
That doesn't change the fact that it's uncomfortable. So, it's unrealistic for even professional athletes to be excited about exercise all the time.
But they do it anyway. And that's why they're awesome.
It's the same thing with music. There are days we just don't feel like it. And that's okay. The key is learning how to cope with that and do it anyway.
Learning to push through.
Building the "do it even when I don't feel like it" muscle.
Because that metaphorical muscle is how some of the greatest work on the planet was created. Books, screenplays, arts, music, inventions, everything around you.
Because the artists and creators kept going. Every. Single. Day.
Even when they didn't feel like it.