There are times that I envy those who play music for fun. While I freely admit that playing music for a living can be a lot of fun, the business side of things is not something that I enjoy. Right brain - left brain stuff I guess. Also there's an old saying, "He who pays the piper calls the tunes." So I end up playing a lot of music that I would usually not play......or even listen to. Not that it's always a bad thing, but the trouble with being dragged out of your comfort zone is that it's.........well, you know.......uncomfortable.
Most of my students have very little inclination to perform. The little ones enjoy playing for their parents and grandparents. But most of the adults keep it private unless they are joining in some kind of a sing-a-long with others. One of my adult students once said, "I know I'll never be a concert artist, but I'd like to play that well." The ability to play well does not obligate one to perform and as soon as my adult students understand that they become more relaxed. They no longer fear success.
My friend Chris Rollins teaches a couple of adult rock 'n roll groups. These are amateurs who have come together to play in a band. They learn their instruments and then rehearse as a band. After they learn a few songs Chris gets them a gig or two at local pubs so they can play in front of a real audience. Performance is a part of their goal and they are able to meet or exceed it through the band.
Whether they wish to perform or not, they play for the sheer love of the music, the joy of learning the next song, and the opportunity to get better.
I'm confident that professionals in other art disciplines have similar stories. Adult students who paint, dance, act, or write with little desire to earn a living from it. Art from the heart. And I truly admire these folks more than they will ever know.