When You Feel Like Giving Up On Music…

There’s something that often happens when you start taking music more seriously, and working towards it as a career.

You begin to hate it.

Okay, so “hate” might not be the right word, and by no means does this apply to everyone. But, for some it’s a real problem – and it’s not just music; it happens when any kind of art or hobby becomes a lifestyle.

I saw this time and again during my time teaching at a Conservatoire; students had spent their entire lives with music as their passion – their escape – and now found themselves studying it full-time but losing any and all motivation to practise.

Why?

Because for their entire lives music had been a distraction – something to do “on the side” as a relief from all of the academic work they’d do in other subjects.

The Problem With Music In Education

Music is never taught to be anyone’s “main thing” – it always seems to be taught as a nice little side project or hobby.

Even the arguments to keep music in general curriculums usually use the “it helps you do better in other subjects” argument – as though being good at music alone isn’t enough.

(And, as far as I know, the evidence that shows that people who study music also do better in other subjects doesn’t actually clarify whether the people who choose to study music are just smarter in the first place…)

Why is it that when someone’s good at mathematics they’re “smart” but when they’re good at music they’re “talented”?

It all comes back to this idea that music is only complementary.

It’s Okay To Not Love Music All The Time

Now back to the point of this blog post: after you have decided to pursue musically, there’s a chance you’ll start to feel as though you’re falling out of love with music.

That you’re just not as passionate or motivated as your peers.

Of course, it’s confounded by the fact that many of the loudest voices are the ones telling you that “unless you’re 100% in love with every aspect of it 100% of the time, then you’re just not cut out to make a living from it.”

Nonsense.

As with any relationship, your relationship with music will have its ups and downs. There’ll be things you love about it, and there’ll be things that drive you mad.

So when you find yourself feeling less passionate, don’t panic. Questioning yourself will only fuel your doubt, sending you in a downward spiral.

How To Fall Back In Love With Music

When I’d have students break down in tears because they felt they’d lost their passion, the advice I found that worked best was to get them to remind themselves why they fell in love with music in the first place.

Listen back to the first albums that got you into music, and relearn all the songs from them.

Go to a concert and forget about studying the music – just listen and let yourself go.

For film composers, go and watch your old favourite movies (and do it properly – lights down, bowl of popcorn, and phones away).

Remember: passion comes and goes, so prepare yourself mentally to be able to push through the hard times, and remember to take a step back every now and again to remind yourself  exactly why you fell in love in the first place.