How to Play Music You Hate

By Anne Sullivan 

I don’t like starting a blog post with such a negative title, but I might as well admit it; sometimes we have to play music we just don’t like. You can probably instantly bring to mind that one piece of music you really can’t stand. Maybe it’s a piece you have to play in orchestra or one your teacher has asked you to learn. You have to play it, and so you sigh, maybe grit your teeth a little, and prepare to endure – oops, I mean, practice – it.

Just because you love music doesn’t mean you like all music. I love lots of kinds of music myself, but I definitely have favorites and I’m sure you do too.

So what do you do when you have to practice and perform that piece that sets your teeth on edge? I think there are three things to consider: responsibility, opportunity, and strategies.

Responsibility

Responsibility can sometimes feel like the “grit your teeth and bear it” part. Obviously it means you need to practice and prepare properly whether you like the piece or not. Why? Because you have an obligation to the music itself. Being a musician isn’t a part-time gig; either you are one, or you aren’t. And musicians honor their craft by honoring the music.

Opportunity

Turning the situation around to look for the opportunity in it can create positive energy around your practice, even if you don’t like what you have to practice. Can you bring something new to the piece? Will this be a chance to work on a technical skill? Maybe you could use this as a note reading or rhythm exercise, or a memorization project, something that will further your musicianship skills. Sometimes having a challenge goal beyond just learning a piece can motivate you even when the music itself doesn’t.

Strategies

So what can you actually DO to make your practice more interesting despite not being interested in the music?

• Make it a technical drill. You might as well get some benefit from it.
• Pretend you’re someone else. If you were (insert famous musician name here) how would you practice and play this?
• Practice it in crazy ways. For instance, try turning it into a cowboy ballad with a swinging accompaniment rhythm. Or tame that super perky piece by playing it in minor. Change up the tempo, the dynamics, anything you like.
• Find one thing you like about it: one chord, one measure, the introduction, the ending, any one thing. And enjoy that moment when you get there.
• Find one interesting fact that relates to the piece and connect with the piece that way.
• Practice it first, so all your practice after that seems even more enjoyable.

One last important tip: if your teacher has assigned you a piece that you really don’t like, don’t be afraid to let her know. There may be another piece that would be suitable from her point of view that you would like better. It doesn’t hurt to ask!