I’m 30 and trying to get back into piano after being on and off for years. I started around 12–13, was fairly consistent early on, but stopped around 18–19 when school got overwhelming. After that it became really inconsistent, and I eventually quit lessons because I wasn’t practicing enough or improving. I still have some of my old books and a basic foundation, but I’m not sure how to approach restarting:

rebuild fundamentals from the ground up? or jump into pieces I actually want to play?

My goals:

- play full pieces confidently again

- improve without burning out

- stay consistent long-term

- play a mix of classical and pop I actually enjoy

I’m not planning to do formal exams right now, but not ruling it out long-term.

For anyone who’s restarted after a long break:

what worked for you?

how did you stay consistent?

how did you balance fundamentals vs enjoyment?

Any input or resources would help:)