Covid-19 quarantine time changed many aspects of our lives. Some people made the best out of and took advantage of their new schedules; some had problems getting used to a new lifestyle. Most of us were disappointed in ourselves because people tend to think that if given free time out of their regular job and life routine, they will spend it on creativity and personal growth. It turns out it is not the case at all.
People who believed they would read, watch movies, paint, create music, learn new languages, or start a YouTube channel just started spending more time on social media during the pandemic. If you are experiencing demotivation, you can check out our 7 Tips On Staying Motivated and Positive During Lockdown.
If you’re a musician, music is probably your driving force, something that contributed to your well being, mood, and overall attitude. So, finding yourself in a vicious cycle of repeated nothingness, with low energy and paralysis of motivation to function, this has to be devastating.
No worries, though. It happens to the best of us. That is why MusicPromoToday decided to share with you some tips on getting out of your music practice paralysis.
Make Small, Reachable Goals
Sometimes, just starting is enough to get back on a track, but we can’t even find the motivation to start. Thinking of the road ahead can be demotivating even if the final spot is what we’ve always dreamed of. That is why starting with small and reachable goals helps one get back on track and slowly get the motivation back. Putting lofty goals ahead of you and failing to reach them will ruin your mood and break the motivation to continue moving forward.
Start with a 10-15 minute practice for a day. Continue practicing more if you feel like it, and if you don’t, just stop in 15 minutes and do something else. Do not push yourself; try to find and bring back the fun that initially drove you to music.
Listen To Music
Coming from the previous point about finding what motivated you to start music initially, this tip is all about bringing back that fire. Maybe you were a little kid when you first heard those crazy folks singing Creep next door. Or you listened to your piano teacher playing Chopin, or perhaps it was the first time you’ve ever listened to the enchanting sounds of the guitar. Maybe it was Bowie who turned your world upside down, maybe Kurt, Amy Winehouse, or perhaps even Kanye; it doesn’t matter. What matters is that listening to music made you feel in love with it.
So go back to the place in your mind when you realized you didn’t want to live without music. To do that, just listen to your favorite artists singing with the passion that captured your being. Enjoy music, do not force it, but when you feel like it, try to concentrate on the technique they use, sing along with them, try to fit into their style, or go completely wild on your own rules. Go back to enjoying and having fun; soon, you’ll find out you’re already practicing without even noticing.
Record Yourself
Once you get comfortable singing again and finding the passion back, it is a great idea to try to record yourself. It does not need to be professional. Just record yourself on the phone or computer. First, it will help you hear yourself and think about what can be improved when you sing or play the next time, and it will also help you get back to playing with technical setups.
You don’t have to record the full song in one take unless you want to. Record the parts you feel like recording and listen to it repeatedly. Also, a quick tip: do not delete the versions you don’t like immediately. They will help you find your flows, and sometimes you’ll even start enjoying them as better versions than those you liked initially.
It is always hard to start something new and get on track even if you really want to. Finding motivation during quarantine is even more challenging. So, no matter what you do, remember to take your time and start smoothly. Music, especially, cannot be forced.
Instead of pressuring yourself to practice, try to relive what made you want to practice in the first place. Then connect with it regularly, and eventually, you’ll get back the once lost motivation. It may seem like your force to practice is spontaneous and came out of nowhere, but never forget that consistent efforts brought you to that very point where you stand today.
Read MusicPromoToday for more tips to keep you motivated during depressing COVID days. Life continues, and once all of this is over, you’ll still need to shine, so will do your music and technique.