When Your Piano Student Gets Stuck (And 8 Things You Can Do About It)

Do you ever have a season where piano lessons seem to be going well… and then suddenly, your piano student is stuck?

For no reason at all, they come to a screeching halt in learning. Music becomes a struggle, they seem unmotivated, and you go weeks without making any real progress.

It’s frustrating. For them and for you.

These metaphorical “brick walls” in piano lessons are weird, often unpredictable, and can make both student and teacher feel like they’re just spinning their wheels.

If you’re like me, you want to get your student out of that “stuck” zone as quickly as possible.

I have some ideas that have worked for me when this happens. But before we talk about how to fix it, we need to start with something important:

Find the Root of Why Your Piano Student Is Stuck

Before you can work on solutions, you have to ask yourself the big question: why is your student stuck in the first place?

There are so many possible reasons, but here are some of the most common ones I’ve seen:

Lack of Piano Practice

This one is the most obvious, but also one of the biggest culprits.

A student who doesn’t practice struggles to remember concepts, which means every lesson feels like starting over. Then they get frustrated because they don’t feel successful, which makes them not want to practice even more. And the cycle repeats.

If you can help them break free from that loop, you can get them back on track.

Emotional Trauma

Sometimes, something is going on at home or school that has absolutely nothing to do with piano but affects their ability to concentrate and engage.

And here’s the hard part: you won’t always know what it is.

Legally, you can’t (and shouldn’t) try to counsel your students, but you can be an encouraging, stable presence. If you suspect something is happening, a little extra grace and flexibility can go a long way.

Learning Disabilities

We all have students we suspect might have ADHD, dyslexia, or another learning difference.

It’s not our job to diagnose, but if you notice patterns—like struggling to focus, difficulty retaining concepts, or trouble following multi-step directions—you can adjust your teaching methods to better support them.

Health Problems

I can personally relate to this one. I’ve dealt with chronic illnesses, and there have been times when my ability to play piano was completely affected by how I was feeling physically.

Not all students will be open about their health struggles, but even small things like headaches, stomach aches, allergies, or hormonal changes can make a huge impact on their ability to focus and perform.

Sometimes, all it takes is paying attention and offering a little understanding.

Boredom

Yep, sometimes the problem is simple: they’re bored.

If they’re playing pieces that are too easy, they might be disengaged. If they’re playing pieces that don’t interest them, they might not be motivated.

A student who is bored doesn’t always say they’re bored—they just start acting like they don’t care.

Confusion

This one sneaks up on students.

Sometimes, they’re stuck simply because they don’t understand something. Maybe they’re too shy to ask for help. Maybe they don’t even realize they’re confused.

If you notice a student suddenly hitting a wall, it’s worth asking:

"Hey, does this part make sense to you?"

Sometimes, just giving them space to admit they’re confused can get them unstuck.

It’s Too Hard

Some students genuinely reach a point where the music advances too quickly for them.

I see this a lot with Level 1 students who breeze through the Primer book, only to hit a wall when the next book introduces too many new concepts at once.

When that happens, it’s easy for them to feel overwhelmed and start shutting down.

8 Ideas for When Your Piano Student Is Stuck

Once you figure out (or at least suspect) what’s going on, the next step is to do something about it.

Here are 8 ways to help a piano student who is stuck:

1) Communicate With Your Piano Student or Their Parents

Sometimes, the easiest thing to do is just talk to them.

You don’t need to have a big serious conversation—just check in casually:

"I’ve noticed you’re not as excited about piano lately. What do you think is going on?"

"Do you still like your pieces? Is there something else you’d like to play?"

If they’re struggling to answer, asking their parents can give you valuable insight.

And if the issue is lack of practice, you can even ask the parents for help in creating a better practice routine. Just make sure the conversation is supportive, not judgmental—students need to know it’s normal to go through these phases.

2) Get Out of the Lesson Book With Other Repertoire

Sometimes, students get stuck because their lesson book just isn’t the right fit anymore.

Maybe it’s moving too fast. Maybe it’s moving too slow. Maybe the pieces just aren’t exciting enough.

This is when pulling from other books can make all the difference. Some great options include:

• Piano Adventures: PreTime, PlayTime, ShowTime, ChordTime, FunTime, BigTime
• Chrissy Ricker (Let’s Quest series, Rock On series)
• Daniel McFarlane (Supersonics, Castle Escape, Groovy Beats)
• Martha Mier (Jazz, Rags, & Blues)
• Piano Pronto
• Kevin Olson, Wynn-Anne Rossi, and other fun contemporary composers

If they seem disinterested in their lesson pieces, trying something fresh can bring the spark back.

3) Get Out of the Lesson Book With Piano Improvisation

Improvisation is a game-changer for students who feel stuck.

If they’re getting burnt out on note-reading, let them play freely.

• Beginners can experiment with black key improvisation.
• More advanced students can explore chords and patterns.

Giving them space to be creative can reset their motivation.

4) Have General Music Conversations

Not every lesson has to be focused on playing.

• Talk about famous composers.
• Listen to music together.
• Watch a cool performance on YouTube.

Music is so much bigger than just the notes on the page.

5) Assign Multiple Pieces With Similar Concepts

If they’re struggling with a certain skill, find multiple pieces that reinforce it instead of making them play the same piece over and over.

This keeps things fresh and engaging without abandoning important concepts.

6) Assign Shorter Pieces

If a student feels overwhelmed, give them something quick to master.

Even breaking a long piece into smaller sections can help them feel like they’re making progress.

7) Try Sightreading Challenges

Sometimes, just reading something new can break them out of their rut.

Make it low pressure—it’s not about perfection, just about moving forward.

8) Play Games to Give the Student a Break & Refresh Them Emotionally

And yes, we have to bring music games into the picture!

If a piano student is feeling emotionally drained, can’t practice, or doesn’t understand a new concept, playing games instead of doing normal lesson activities might be a good solution.

Depending on the student’s emotional state, you might want to choose a game that is easy for them to succeed at. Pick something that covers concepts they already know well, so they can feel a quick win and regain confidence. A small success can do wonders for a frustrated student.

On the other hand, if the student is just not practicing, you can pick a game that reinforces skills they need but in a way that doesn’t feel like work. Use lesson time to introduce new theory concepts through a game—something that will benefit them in the long run, even if they haven’t been practicing much at home.

Sometimes, students just need a break. And sometimes, that break is exactly what gets them unstuck.

Keep the Ideas Coming!

Every piano student gets stuck at some point—it’s part of the learning process. The key is knowing how to help them move forward.

What strategies have worked for you when a student is stuck? Let’s chat in the comments!




*Written by Amanda Matthews and Rebecca Ross, contributors at MGC. As experienced music teachers, they love sharing practical strategies to help students stay engaged, overcome challenges, and enjoy their musical journey.