As an independent musician, several factors can disrupt your career. Maybe you’ve got a day or night job, social obligations, you’re in school, or other responsibilities that take top priority. So how will you create more time to focus on your talent? Just like any other endeavor, you need to create time for your creative work. How much you devote will mainly depend on the demands of your non-musical life. With this in mind, it’s vital that you squeeze as much time as possible.
Tips on How to Become a Better Musician
Create time to get inspired
Most reputable musicians can recall when music actually clicked with them. This often involves the music of other people. Keep in mind that the first spark will carry immense power and help sustain you throughout your music career.
To be able to learn and grow as a musician and do so with passion and vigor, you need consistent inspiration. After spending a long time practicing, you may be discouraged not to see positive results. You can easily get disillusioned with your music. Therefore, make an effort to always fall in love with music every day.
Improve your practice techniques
While this may seem obvious, simply playing the best acoustic guitar brand isn’t necessarily the best practice. To become a professional musician, you need to practice your instrument through scales repeatedly and work hard to improve your technique. Ensure you dedicate some time each day to practice and burn through those scales. Remember that it’s important to practice to maintain your abilities and to also challenge yourself to master something new.
Be patient
One of the most important qualities any musician should have is patience, especially when looking to perfect a certain instrument. No one can ever become a virtuoso overnight. Therefore, if you find that you have hit a wall, just find a way to keep going until you finally get it right. It will take you some time to become a great musician.
Set realistic goals
Ensure that the milestones you hope to hit are reasonable. On the other hand, investing too much hope in your goals will bog you down if you don’t achieve the desired results. Your first goal shouldn’t be to hold a concert at your favorite venue in town. Most musicians don’t achieve that either, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not successful.
Know your gear
To become a professional musician, it’s important that you understand your equipment and your technique. You can’t produce great sound if you are not aware of the limitations and capabilities of your gear. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be an “all gear” guy. If you’re new to using your equipment, work to learn everything about your instrument of choice.
Bottom Line
The music industry has become competitive, and as a new musician, you may be wondering if you have what it takes to make it in the music industry. However, making it isn’t that complex, but turning your passion into a career is something else. You need to have a good ear, be patient, know your equipment, and set realistic goals and practice to become a pro.
Craig Smith is a professional Guitarist, Teacher, and Writer living in Sanford, Florida. Craig has taught guitar lessons, performed 200+ gigs per year for nearly 30 years, and published 4 guitar instructional books. When he’s not gigging or writing, you may find him by the pool with his wife Celeste, 4 Chihuahuas, and a drink. 🎸