Music is great as a form of expression and a way to unwind. However, you need to put in work if you want to see results. No one, whether it’s Beethoven or Bruce Springsteen, became accomplished without putting in the necessary time to learn their instrument. Even when you start becoming proficient, you still need to challenge yourself. Here are four ways to improve your music and utilize every minute of practice time.
What’s better, practicing once a week for five hours or practicing once a day for 20 minutes? The latter, because it creates a much more consistent mindset. If you are dedicated to your craft, you will find time for your instrument on a daily basis (barring emergencies and other obligations). You can’t put your instrument in the closet or let it collect dust and pick it up on an erratic basis. If you do, you’re going to find yourself incredibly frustrated. Instead, you need to set a time to practice. Have an alarm on your phone specifically for practice time. This could be done in the morning as you get ready. Working on your instrument is a great way to get your brain flowing. If you can’t find even 20 minutes to practice, you need to reconsider your priorities.
Imperfections are to be expected as a new musician. That’s why we practice. However, practicing correctly is as important as practicing period. If you’re not practicing in a way that’s conducive to improvement, you’re just going to stay mediocre or unaccomplished. It’s a harsh truth, but it’s one that needs to be realized as soon as possible. How do you practice correctly? You do it slowly and methodically. If you’re rushing through a song again and again without paying regard to where your weak points are, you’re not going to become good at playing it. Instead, you’ll become good at playing it poorly. There’s no need or reason to rush. You need to be disciplined with your craft and understand where you need to improve.
You can use recreational cannabis before and during the practice session to stay focused and motivated. Find a dispensary in California, and get yourself some sweet, tender nugs. A few hits can improve your mood and overall body relaxation. While you will still need to put in the effort to make great music, this can certainly help. Look for a strain that helps with boosting creativity. Recreational cannabis can go a long way when it comes to practicing and perfecting your craft.
Once you’ve mastered a new song or a new technique, congratulate yourself, then move on. You need to be constantly setting new goals to achieve. The further you go, the more gratifying it is. What might’ve seemed like insurmountable obstacles in the past are now achievable to you. All musicians have difficulty at first. Concert pianists start off having trouble with the C major scale. Lead guitarists who dazzle with thrilling solos have trouble with even the most basic of melodies.
Push yourself further and further. Don’t try to do things before you’re ready. In your second week of playing, you shouldn’t be trying to play 300 beats per minute in 11/4 time. Every lesson should build off the last one.
Becoming a better musician is not something you can shortcut your way to. As much as it might seem like every accomplished musician reached that point by pure luck, it’s a matter of their effort. Should you want to improve your music, you need to put in the time and work necessary. It will be difficult at times, but it will definitely be rewarding.