When it comes to learning the piano, any instrument, or any skill, there's an essential component.
One that can't be skipped.
One that can't be overlooked.
And that's patience.
I've come to see it as a gateway of sorts. A rite of passage.
Learning the piano isn't something you can cram. It isn't something you can take a few classes and know everything about.
It's a skill that's built up over time.
The frustrating part about learning a new, difficult piece, is that it requires time.
Not only time to learn the notes, the fingerings, the expression, and all that.
But time for the piece to settle. For the magical myelination process to happen in your body, which requires deep practice and sleep.
The cool thing is, every day you come back to the piece, it feels a little easier. That's the exciting part.
The difficult part is having the patience to hold out those days, weeks, months, and years to allow those skills to build.
That doesn't mean it needs to be boring.
But, it does mean we need to learn to enjoy the journey.
And that's what will make the end result all the sweeter.
