I Don’t Like It Because It’s Difficult

Students react strongly to the music they’re learning – both positively and negatively. They will give you a variety of reasons for why the love it, or why they hate it.

The reasons to love any piece of music are many, and the given reason is usually honest and heartfelt. But when you plumb down beyond the reasons given why a student dislikes a piece, there is very often the same underlying reason.

I don’t like it because it’s difficult.

Once you understand that all the reasons a student gives are obscuring this truth, it’s clear what the teacher must do: push through, passionately and encouragingly, until what’s difficult becomes easy.

In my experience those pieces often become a student favorites. Provided the teacher legitimately loves the piece, once the frustration is behind them, students find there is much to love.