I'd just like to add that I was in a very similar position at one time in my life, my dad didn't really understand what positive reinforcement meant. But seeing as I was persistent and resilient towards his sometimes harsh disapproval I managed to keep at it. Some twenty years later the relationship with my dad had changed a lot, it improved but the subtle nuances of back then, are still there.

This is just a difficult time in your life and the important thing here is that you have fun doing this more than anything else.