The Unexpected Benefits of Strategic Summer Rest...And Why You Shouldn't Take the Whole Break Off
As a piano teacher (and player) with over 30 years under my belt, I've learned one surprising truth:
Sometimes the best thing for your playing is...nothing at all.
😳 That's right, strategic rest periods can actually supercharge your musical development in some delightfully unexpected ways.
However, before you start planning an extended summer siesta away from the keys, let me qualify that: Taking the entire summer off is generally not advisable, as it can lead to loss of hard-earned skills and muscle memory.
The sweet spot lies in peppering your summer with intermittent breaks and respites from your usual rigorous practice schedule. Hitting that ideal work-rest ratio unlocks benefits like:
Your Brain Sorts It All Out
When you're constantly cramming new information into your noggin, your poor brain can get overwhelmed. Short breaks give it a chance to process and solidify what you've learned.
Your Body Recovers
Playing piano is a shockingly physical pursuit. All that tension from gripping the keys and contorting into strange positions can really take a toll. Periodic rest allows those micro-tears in your muscles to repair fully.
Your Motivation Renews If you've ever felt yourself dragging through mindless practice routines, you've hit a motivation dip. Powering through can lead to burnout. But stepping away, even briefly, often rekindles that spark and makes you excited to play again.
Your Perspective Resets It's easy to get bogged down in the technical minutiae of practicing. A break provides mental breathing room to remember your "why" - that wide-eyed love for just making music.
Your Creative Juices Flow Patterns at the piano can become engrained ruts. A little psychological distance disrupts those patterns, allowing novel interpretations and ideas to emerge.
So by all means, take that beach vacation and veg out in front of the latest hot video game. Just don't abandon your piano for the entire summer break. A few well-timed respites woven into your practice schedule can renew your body, mind, and creative spirit for the fresh musical challenges ahead.