Today's collaborative post is about a topic that's very close to my heart, music. More specifically, making music.
We all might like to believe that muse is inexhaustible, that some people are simply born with an innate creativity that springs forth like a well. That’s not true, however. Muses are fickle, creativity is finite, and music is work. Finite as it is, however, that doesn’t mean it can’t be refilled. If you’ve lost your passion for making music, here’s what you should do.
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Time to refill
How do you find inspiration again? Going back to long-forgotten sources can awaken some of the passion and some of the direction you never got to fulfill. But nothing works better than listening to new music. Get on Spotify and try running through your recommended bands and playlists. Listento music podcasts. Don’t say “no” to listening to a new song because it’s from an artist or genre you know you don’t like. Keep an open mind and give everything one full listen.
Switch instruments
It might just be that it’s not the music you’ve gotten sick of, but the sensation of the instrument you’ve been playing for years. It’s not hard to get sick of practicing one thing to the point of monotony. If you’re a fantastic guitar player, then perhaps you could benefit from finding thebest digital piano under 1000to go alongside it. A new instrument and a new sensation while playing it can give you a different perspective on the same music you’ve been playing. Keyboards are one of the most versatile instruments out there and a great stepping stone from learning others.
Find your collaborators
It’s not just listeningto other artiststhat can help serve as a source of inspiration. Spending time with them, working with them to create something bigger than the sum of its parts is incomparable. For those less experienced, it’s a sneak peek of what’s possible in the future under their own direction. For those lacking in inspiration, it’s a reminder of the sheer joy of playing with people who understand you.
Take a break
Don’t be afraid to set down the guitar, the recorder, the decks, or whatever it is you’ve been playing and take a break. Sometimes, you just need a little space from the familiarity of it all. But sometimes you might need inspiration from other sources, too. In the past, people have beeninspired by visual art, by plays, by books, by history, by religion, and much, much more. If you limit your inspiration to music, you scrap your chances of ever truly having an original moment. This doesn’t mean you have to write the next Wuthering Heights. But if you have an emotional connection to a story or a piece of art of any kind, music can be one of the most fulfilling ways to let it out.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. Inspiration doesn’t come back on its own and passion can die a permanent death if you’re not careful. Creativity is like a muscle. Find a way to work it, even if not through music, or it will atrophy, and you will be left with nothing but regret.
This post was a collaborative effort – please check out mydisclosure policyfor more details.
