Dealing with Discouragement

4 Minute Read

I want to talk about something really important that often gets completely ignored in the jazz world: Discouragement.

If you are just starting out, a few years in, or even decades deep — chances are you have felt discouraged about your playing at different times. 

Maybe you have sat down at the piano and thought, “What’s the point? I’ll never sound like the players I admire/the greats.”

Maybe you have even taken a long break from jazz — or kept going through the motions, but the joy and motivation have faded.

If that’s you, I get it and have been there more than a few times. You’re not alone!

I once read a quote from an online jazz piano forum that hit me hard:

“I kind of quit jazz for a while… I love listening to it, but I don’t know if I love the process of playing it. I hear so many great musicians that I don’t feel like I’m relevant.”

That hits deep. And even if most people would never say it out loud, I believe many have felt that same way.

Maybe you’re feeling that way RIGHT NOW.

Let’s break down why this happens — and more importantly, what you can do about it:

Why Discouragement Happens

1. The Invisible Timeline

We place very high expectations on ourselves. We get inspired and think, “If I work hard, I should sound amazing in a year or two.”

But jazz doesn’t work like that. The learning curve is steep, and the timeline rarely goes the way we imagined.

2. Comparing Yourself to Decades of Experience

Many pros have been playing for decades. They may have started young, had the beset teachers, and/or grew up and lived in very musical household.

When we compare our year 1 or year 5 to their year 20 or more… we are not being fair to ourselves.

But the brain doesn’t care. It just says: “They will always be better. I suck.”

3. Lack of Tangible Progress

In jazz — especially improvisation — you can practice for months and still feel stuck or like you haven’t improved at all (completely normal!)

You may have occasional breakthroughs and little wins here and there: a great line, a better solo. But they’re fleeting and easy to forget.

Especially when life gets stressful, it’s hard to remember that you have improved.

4. The Inner Downward Spiral

Thoughts like, “Am I wasting my time?” or “Did I start too late?” creep in.

You love this music, but the fear that you’ll never be good enough or have enough time can feel totally overwhelming.

5. Transformation is Slow

Deep musical growth takes time — often many, many years. The people who make it are not always the most talented.

They are the ones who stay in the game the longest. They are in it for the long haul. They show up consistently — even when it feels pointless.

Five Ways to Handle Discouragement

Here are five reminders if you’re feeling stuck. Keep these close and remind yourself regularly:

1. Stop comparing your path to someone else’s highlight reel.  You don’t know what their life looks like or what they’ve sacrificed.  Comparison will kill your motivation faster than anything else.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

2. Document your progress.  Record yourself every few months.  You’ll forget how far you’ve come unless you have proof.

3. Don’t wait for motivation — build a routine.  There will be weeks when you don’t feel like practicing. That’s normal.  Stick to your system and a routine.

Progress comes from consistency, not inspiration.

4. Find your joy in the process.  Love transcribing? Do that. Love composing? Focus there.  Lean into the parts that motivate and inspire you most— they’ll carry you further.

5. You are not irrelevant.  You don’t need to be a prodigy.  You have something to say — it just takes time to learn how to say it.

Final Thoughts

Jazz is HARD. But it’s also deeply rewarding — if you hang in there long enough to see it bloom!

If you love the sound, the feeling, the expression, then stay with it.

Take breaks when needed. Shift your goals. But don’t give up just because you haven’t “arrived.”

None of us ever fully arrive. I can tell you firsthand after 15 years into it myself, that it really is all about the journey, not the destination.

Be more curious about process rather than product.

If you’re feeling low, here’s one thing to do right now:

Play something simple, that just feels good. Not flashy. Not hard.

Play it with feeling — and remind yourself why you started all of this in the first place.

Your value as a musician isn’t tied to speed, complexity, or social media likes.

It’s about expressing something honest and real to yourself.

So if you’re discouraged, that’s okay. It means you care.

You’re not broken. You’re growing!

Stick with it — you’re further along than you think.

And the best part is, if you just stick with it you will keep getting better and better over time!

What has been your biggest challenge in jazz piano? What are you discouraged with right now? Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear your experience!

And if you want more jazz piano tips, make sure to check out my FREE 8-page Practice Structuring Guide. follow the 6 Steps for organizing and structuring your practice to avoid frustration, overwhelm and burnout!