I have been playing for more than 10 years, I've taken lessons for most of that time. This will be my second break from lessons (the first was when we first moved to the US from Japan, and I had a 6 month break). I'm a grad student and this is my last semester before prelims, things are getting hectic... so I know it's the right choice, but it's making me feel sad. I hope I'll be able to start taking lessons again in the summer... or after prelims...

In the meantime, I'm going to try to maintain my practice schedule and keeping working on new music. (Although I've taken some of the harder pieces off the "pieces to play next" list). And maybe I can work on polishing up some repertoire that's gotten rusty, and then I can play that during my study breaks...

Anyway, wish me luck. I don't want to get out of the habit of playing regularly, that would be a sacrifice I don't think I can bare to make.

Hi ShiroKuro,
Sounds like you have a good plan to keep up with your playing.
I've had to take many breaks from lesson for various reasons (money, time etc.) although I haven't been playing as long as you have. Now, I'm finally at the point where I have the time and money and fortunately I have a terrific teacher.
Good luck with your studies and hopefully you'll get back to your lessons soon !

I am a grad student too, and just want to send you a lot och good luck wishes both for the piano playing and the prelims! I am just finnihing up my licentiate thesis, which is commonly done midways to the dissertation here. It's a long time since I posted, since I had to put the pino on hold due to the studies. However, I still take flute lessons (though every other week) and practice regurarly. I have noticed that the more hectic the studies/work is, the more imporant it is for my mental health to do music every day. It just helps in handling the stress and keeping a perspective. Graduate studies can be very intense.

>so I know it's the right choice, but it's making me feel sad. frown I hope I'll be able to start taking lessons again in the summer... or after prelims...

Yes it's probably a good choice. Don't worry, making a fresh start every now and then is good to refresh your ears (yes, your hands will suffer a bit but ears are more important)

Shiro - remember you've still got the best teacher there at all times: yourself! The "other" teacher is only there for a very small fraction of the time you spend at the piano, and most learning is self-initiated and largely self-directed anyway - and with all your time invested so far and knowledge and experience acquired and skill developed and instilled you should have little problem "teaching yourself", at least for the short term in your scaled-back piano study program...

Good luck with all of your pursuits and hoping to hear you play in the ABF Recitals!

Trap

6 months or so may FEEL like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it's actually quite short! I understand the sad feeling, but just think how great it will be when you can start back up - and I bet it takes you a very short time to get right back to where you were. You have an excellent reason for a short hiatus.

Great point! Take out the "I want to accomplish" part of piano and just do the "I love playing this song" part and not only will you not lose many of your piano skills but you can also help your state of mind. Even if it's just a few minutes a day.

Thanks for all the comments everyone.

I'm definitely not taking a break from playing! I may or may not be practicing new material, but I'll definitely play.

It's just that having a weekly lesson has been such a part of my routine that not only is it a bit of a shock to give it up, but it does have the potential to allow me to slip up in my routine and fall out of the habit of playing. Actually, as part of a way to prevent that, I've started writing a "p" on the calendar whenever I practice or play. Then if I go more than a few days without any piano-time, I can make sure to put it in so that three days away from the piano doesn't turn into more than that!

Anyway, thanks for the moral support!!

Good luck with your studies; no one can ride more than one horse at a time (with a few exeptions in circus, of course), so it's a wise decision first to finish the postgrad and then returning to piano with a new stock of energy.

Good luck with your studies!

ShiroKuro
Good for you balancing your energy needs. Just keep playing for enjoyment and after that degree is handed to you you'll probably put some challenging pieces back on the list. What's your area of study?

That six months or so is going to shoot by fast.

Maybe you need to use bright red stars rather than a "p" to denote a practice--better visual reward with the star.

Keep in touch and let us know how things are going for you. Play a happy tune every once in a while - we will "celebrate" when you graduate.