Why Bach Is So Hard to Play

When I was young, I never questioned why I had to play Bach’s Two‑Part Inventions, Hanon exercises, or Czerny studies. I simply did what I was told. To me, Bach wasn’t much different from Mozart — just another composer in the stack of music I practiced every day.

It wasn’t until my twenties that I realized something surprising: playing Bach had the power to calm me down instantly whenever I felt anxious.   No other composer did that for me. That discovery changed the way I understood Bach forever.

Why Do So Many Students Say “Bach Is Hard and Boring”?

In my teaching practice, I often hear comments like:

• “Bach is so hard.”

• “Bach is boring.”

• “Bach is impossible.”

And honestly, I understand why kids feel this way.

On paper, the principles of learning any new piece are the same — whether it’s Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, or Bach. We read the notes, figure out fingerings, understand the musical ideas, practice hands separately, then hands together. In theory, nothing should be “impossible” unless it wasn’t written for human hands.

So why does Bach get such a reputation?

What Makes Bach Feel So Difficult?

Here are the elements that make Bach uniquely challenging for young learners:

1. Almost no articulation markings

Kids are used to seeing staccatos, slurs, accents — Bach gives them almost nothing. They have to decide how to shape the music.

2. Zero dynamic markings

No crescendos, no diminuendos, no “mf” or “p.” This can feel like being handed a blank canvas with no instructions.

3. Awkward fingerings

Bach’s writing often requires finger independence that younger students haven’t fully developed yet.

4. Confusing contrapuntal style

Two voices happening at once — each with its own direction, rhythm, and personality. Kids often say, “My hands feel like they’re arguing!”

Compared to Mozart, Bach simply takes more time to understand in the early stages. There is more “homework” to do before the music starts to feel natural.

But here’s the important part:

If you do the homework, the result is predictable — and incredibly rewarding.

The pleasure just comes a little later.

Sometimes the Best Way to Learn Is to Do First, Understand Later

When I was young, I didn’t understand contrapuntal style at all. I didn’t know why Bach sounded the way he did. I didn’t analyze voices or structure. I just played what was in front of me.

And sometimes, that’s the best way for kids to learn.

There are moments in music study when we simply need to:

• practice without emotion

• repeat patterns

• build technique

• trust the process

Understanding comes later — and when it does, it feels like a light turning on.

Bach Is Demanding — But He Gives Back More Than He Takes

Yes, Bach is hard. Yes, he asks a lot from young pianists. But the good news is:

Playing Bach is incredibly rewarding.

Here’s why.

Bach builds every fundamental skill a young pianist needs:

• finger independence

• voicing

• articulation

• phrasing

• rhythmic clarity

• sight‑reading

• memorization

• musical awareness

It’s almost like a shortcut. A child who learns Bach well becomes stronger in every other style — including pop songs.

Mental Readiness Matters More Than Age

Kids often start Bach around age 9, but the real requirement isn’t age — it’s mindset.

A child who is ready to:

• be patient

• persevere

• solve musical puzzles

• listen deeply

• work slowly and steadily

…will grow tremendously from Bach.

Once a student builds the awareness and readiness to learn something substantial, the gain is immeasurable.