I've been thinking about this a lot recently, and I figure this is a great place to talk about it. I hit brick walls a lot and it's easy to get all down and not push yourself out of the rut (at least for me). The worst part about these experiences, is the feeling that I am the first person to ever go through it. The logic part of my brain tells me that my vanity is ridiculous, but I think it's easy for everyone to feel this way. When I get like this, improvising becomes EXTREMELY difficult... every time I play a line all I can think is, "that was predictable, that was unhip, that wasn't swinging, that was...". How is one supposed to be creative and spontaneous while at the same time being overly self critical? It's just not possible. So then things start spiraling, because now the one little thing that got me down has turned into big problems like "I am a bad improviser". A lot of times I just stop myself and just work on one thing. Try to get one thing going... I wanted to learn this dim. lick and some variations, or I will learn a new blues head. Something simple but that allows me to get some confidence back. But sometimes I don't have the time to do that at that moment... I am still a student at a University and have core classes as well as other instruments I have to practice, sometimes I have to hang up the vibes practicing for that day. I still struggle with this a lot. It could be that I am pushing hard, and as a result am hitting barriers at a fast rate... I honestly don't know why.
SO here is my question for all of you (especially the pros)....
Do you experience this?
If you get in one of these funks and have a gig that night, how do you handle it?
What are your methods of pulling yourself out of the rut?
I look forward to all of your (not just the pros) responses!
Best,
-Drew
Comments
everyone is different
tedwolff Sun, 11/20/2011 - 13:07
Every musician has a different experience with their chosen instrument. Louis Armstrong, I've read, was able to play a tune the very first day he got hold of a horn (and he was only a young boy). No one showed him a thing. He just sort of understood right away how to make a proper sound and how to play the notes of a melody. I've also read that Paul McCartney had little problem learning to play numerous instruments, while George Harrision really struggled with learning to play music.
So everyone's experience is different. I think the thing to focus on is patience and how practicing and playing music enriches your life. In other words, focus on the journey, not the destination. Of course we have to set goals and all of us expect that with enough practice we will attain those goals, but the way each of us develops and advances is unique and, I think, a bit of a mystery.
It's really hard to keep up a routine when it seems like sometimes nothing changes and we aren't improving. Believe me, I know. When that happens I try to be extra patient with myself, realizing that right now I simply don't understand what I need to do to get from point A to point B.
Ultimately, for me, working to improve my playing year in and year out helps to keep my life on course. In Navaho culture it's called being on the "pollen path". In some religions it's called being in a state of grace. Music helps us all to have a GOOD life.
Hope this helps?
Ted.
first of all, i understand
tonymiceli Mon, 12/19/2011 - 12:55
In reply to everyone is different by tedwolff
first of all, i understand the predictability factor. but sometimes i don't think that's a bad thing. i think the trick is to be listening carefully and respond to the music. i think then it really keeps all the predictability out of the picture for much much longer.
and also having multiple ways of approaching things i think helps, so as you learn more you have more possibilities.
and finally, i think every musician gets into ruts, it's a fact of musician life. so on one hand all you can do is go forward and work through all those ruts. listening to music and checking out players is a great way to work through a rut. hearing new stuff, etc.