Musician Tip: Eliminate Discouragement About Playing Your Instrument

Every once in a while I get a note from someone who is discouraged with playing their musical instrument. They want to play well and are doing their best to improve but the disappointment in some important area of their playing is getting the better of them. "What can I do?" they ask.
This video explores a couple key points in how musicians of any instrument can improve their playing at a quicker rate, and how to set their own expectations regarding their rate of improvement. This video will describe how we improve on our instrument and what typically prevents us from going further in our skills and satisfaction.
Playing a musical instrument well is not a quick process. It requires years of hard work and persistence. But that time can be shortened by doing a few things. First, regular consistent practice is key. Playing 30 minutes each day will improve your playing far more than several hours once a week. You also must know what to practice. The level of difficulty of the music you play is important. Practice things that are 10 to 15% more difficult than your comfortable level. Stumbling through music well above your level is counter-productive and discouraging, and playing the same things that come easy for you day after day won’t stretch your abilities and give rise to improvement.
I'll give examples of some very practical things that can be done to think differently about your playing, your practicing, your self-image as a player, and along the way, give you hope that you can achieve your musical desires.

[@SportBoy]

Ive played cello for nearly 10 years and I never learned really any basic material. I learn "this is the rule", but not how or why I should do it. Now that I somehow made it into college, Ive received private lessons for the first time and things are hard. It can never tell if I truly hate my instrument or hate my current position. Its hard to practice every day and feeling like Ive done zip. This video gave me some insight on how to look at it

[@Da12thKind]

I'm currently struggling with learning the piano on my own, as I don't have the means to have a dedicated teacher. I actually just googled how not to get discouraged, and your video was the top result. I might try to practice outside of my house, like maybe at the local community college. Thank you for making this video.

[@mymusicsavvy]

As it so happens, I did a podcast a couple weeks ago on this very topic. Check it out. Let me know if it helps: www.learnjazzstandards.com/ljs-podcast/jazz-tips-and-advice/ljs-265-overcoming-musical-frustration-and-maintaining-motivation-feat-michael-lake/?

[@BuffTaanJai99]

Sending this to my trombone teacher! I bet he will agree with you and your friend. Im in a rut right now... Awesome advice from you that we tend to forget sometimes. :)

[@mymusicsavvy]

Thank you for the share. Please let me know if any of this helps you out of your rut. Can I ask what you are struggling with? What is your rut?

[@BuffTaanJai99]

I just got this big opportunity with my colleges trombone prof. One he only offers to music majors (which im not. I plan on auditioning this/next year). It means a lot to me, theres lots of literature for each lesson and im getting into the "i suck why try" mindset. Which isnt productive. I also have a schedule ive made to give myself 2 to 3 hrs of playing a day (i work full time and go to school). But i think thats not emough time for me to devote. It means a lot to me and i think im psyching myself out about it.

[@mymusicsavvy]

@@BuffTaanJai99 It's difficult to know exactly what your exact challenges are, but one thing I sense is that maybe instead of focusing so much on the practice time, there are tweaks you can make to be effective with your limited time. That goes to my point about thinking outside the box (differently). What can you do to speed up your effectiveness in learning the material? Maybe start with just one idea...

[@BuffTaanJai99]

Ive always been apretty advanced player. The things im getting now are really difficult and I cant instantly make it sound decent. Its a childish thing but I have to overcome it. Another obvious thing is my air support through pieces. I have trouble doing the "floating on an ocean of air" with soaring 8th notes. Maybe i should read the Tuba book you were talking about. Im also gonna try practicing different places.

[@Smakloet]

@@BuffTaanJai99 Hey, I'm just wondering... How are you doing now? Did you get out of that rut?