Overcoming the Plateau: How Taking a Break Affects Your Musical Progress

I’m by no means a virtuoso, but I’ve spent my life immersed in music, playing various instruments, and observing the learning process of many beginners. I’ve experienced periods where I wouldn’t touch my instrument for weeks and others where I practiced regularly for six hours daily. Regardless of these variances, my experiences and observations have led me to reflect on the common belief that taking a break from your musical pursuits can help or hinder your progress. Specifically, I have pondered whether a short break could be beneficial during times when you feel you're stuck.

The Myth of the Plateau

Often, when musicians find themselves in a phase where they feel like they are not making progress, they think about taking time off—they wonder if a short break can help renew their energy and enthusiasm. However, my firsthand experience and observations suggest that taking a break is not necessarily the best approach to overcome this plateau. Instead, the key to improvement lies in persistence and consistent practice.

Why Taking Time Off Might Not Be the Answer

When someone is in the learning phase of mastering an instrument, they may experience a period where they feel like they're not making any progress. This is a common experience that can be unsettling. As I often share with my youngsters and newcomers who start playing, this feeling of stagnation is a natural part of the learning process.

What I have observed is that this feeling is often misinterpreted by new learners as a sign that they will never progress. As a result, many musical instruments remain unused, gathering dust in teenagers’ rooms simply because they have not been properly warned about this phase. They confuse the sensation of 'not progressing' with 'never progressing'.

Fixing the Plateau with Continued Practice

Instead of taking a break, I recommend that you continue to play the same difficult pieces or exercises that you find challenging. By maintaining a consistent practice routine, you are giving your brain the time it needs to digest and internalize the new information. During this period, you may experience times where it feels like you are not progressing, but this is a necessary phase in the learning process.

The key to overcoming a plateau is not downtime, but perseverance. Keep working on those difficult chords or passages, and eventually, they will become easier. As you continue to practice the same material, your fingers will develop muscle memory, and you will start to see progress.

Embracing the Plateau

It’s important to understand that the plateau is not a failure but a part of the learning journey. When you reach this phase, it’s a sign that you are pushing your limits, and you are about to make significant progress. The longer you can maintain this mindset, the more you can push through the rough spots and emerge more skilled and knowledgeable.

Conclusion

My experience as a musician leads me to conclude that taking a break is not the solution when you find yourself plateaued. Instead, continued practice and perseverance are the keys to overcoming this phase. So, when you feel stuck, don’t hesitate to keep playing the challenging parts. With time and dedication, you will overcome the plateau and reach new heights in your musical journey.