Hello,
It’s been a while. I have had some internet connection issues…As per my theme and the Mad Musicians for Hire mission, “It’s about the Music,” an executive decision was made to refrain from posting on this web site until those issues were resolved. Posting via a cellular connection and a cell phone, requires a tremendous amount of time and frankly, I don’t have that sort of time to spend.
It is not just posting on this website that has been affected. It is everything associated with making music whether that be researching information, updating software, maintaining my PC’s health, and many other aspects of how I spend my time. Bluntly put, if it keeps me from using the time to make or produce music, then it is time I don’t have.
For younger artists, throughout your life you will find that despite best intentions, you will be periodically interrupted in your quest to improve your proficiency. This is true whether we are speaking of life events or creative blocs. They come at unpredictable times with unpredictable results.
You may finally have a lull in your busy schedule and would like to utilize the time to write a song or maybe the lyrics to a song and …. Nada! Nothing but blanks…
Maybe you’re getting ready for work, when you think of a truly breath-taking introduction for a new tune but you have to leave your place like 10 minutes ago…
Creativeness is not a chore. Be prepared to make a lifelong commitment, if you are serious about developing a growing proficiency for creating music. You can’t schedule it. You can try… You can prepare… but much like the rest of life, you will learn to expect the inevitable wrenches life throws your way. Try not to be discouraged.
This allows for several options:
- You can quit
- You can continue to plow ahead, regardless of little or no progress or,
- You can slightly alter your plan to fit the occasion.
The third option is what I choose to do. If I can’t produce or I have a creative bloc, for whatever reason, I can think of at least 10 other things that still need to be done, which will better utilize my time and drive me closer to my goal of improving my musical proficiency.
I am not going to try and list these things, because that is not the point I am trying to convey. What I’m trying to say is that instead of quitting or trying to plow through a brick wall, sometimes it is better to distribute your energy in a different direction or walk around the wall. If you rely on making music for a living, you might go hungry for long periods of time, depending on your wages.
Or maybe you can walk around the wall by finding other, more accessible ways of making money, which will undoubtedly give you less time to create music but may ease your mind and facilitate your creativity. The choices aren’t always easy but when your commitment is a lifetime one, they don’t have to be permanent either. If there is less time to play, then there is more time to listen…If you don’t have the time to write or find yourself in a creative rut, use the time to read, or practice the rudiments of your instrument. There are many facets to explore and if you are committed for life, there is more than enough time to improve your proficiency. These things may not be as fun but are necessary nonetheless Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I have new instruments, plugins, as well as other hardware and software to read and learn about, individually, and collectively. There are numerous repairs and maintenance issues which always seem to pop up… Appreciatively, dealing with these things will ultimately save me time in the future, when I am feeling inspired and creative.
There is also relieving the stress and frustration that will rear itself, if allowed, when you can’t accomplish what you want to do, when you want to do it. I frequently have musical vacations, which in the past have sometimes derailed me for months and years. Now, I try to fill in those times by sometimes doing the opposite, spending less time creating music. A constipated mind is far less productive than one that is rested and invigorated. This is true in creating art, as well as most everything else in life.
I have created projects that have taken weeks and months and even years. I have also worked on projects for days and even minutes, where everything just flows.
Some call it, Being in the Zone. I call it experience.
I would like to thank both of my Followers, for their patience and understanding. I have more in store which I’d like to share, when I have time to spare!
Sysop