If you’re a musician, you know there’s always room for improvement.
If not, you’re probably the musician no one wants to be around. Because we can all improve.
New experiences, new life lessons, new instruments, and improved technique all serve to keep our musicianship expanding.
The problem with improvement is we feel it needs to take 10,000 hours – years and years before we see much progress. Sure, having years on your side will never hurt.
But more time isn’t the answer. It’s about being intentional in a few important areas where you’ll see the largest growth.
I’m convinced that music should fascinate. If you’re not lost in the beauty, exploring the possibilities of what you can do, you’re missing the point. It’s time to get inspired.
6 Reasons Why Your Musicality Has Stalled
So here we go. I’m going to outline 5 reasons why your musicality isn’t as strong as it could be, in hopes that you’ll reimagine your instrument and rediscover the joy of music.
1. You’re Stressed – It’s impossible to avoid stress, but it’s an acquired skill to ignore it. Your best music will be played when you’re relaxed. Before showtime, develop a ritual that helps you relax. Ever hear of Michael Phelps? Yep – he approached every competition with the same routine. It helped him not only relax but visualize the win. Go for a walk, massage your hands, take deep breaths, trust the Holy Spirit to work in and through you.
2. You’re Instrument Doesn’t Feel Natural – The best musicians, by far, are those who have developed a close relationship with their instrument. Please, don’t misunderstand me and start taking your guitar on movie dates. That’s the fast track to complete social awkwardness. What I mean is that you’ve worked with, held, and practiced your instrument enough that it feels like a natural part of you. Any musician who just starts to play an instrument lacks this. But it can be done and it doesn’t have to take 10,000 hours.
3. You’re Too Critical – Most musicians have perfectionist tendencies. This can be harnessed for good or for ill. On the bright side, you’re driven to accomplish. You want to get it right. On the other hand, you can become so critical of your performance that you never enjoy it. You never actually step into your full potential because you’re wasting too much emotional and mental energy hating on yourself. Reserve that energy for being expressive, loving the sounds you’re creating, and getting lost in the music.
4. You Don’t Practice Creativity – Learning and mimicking another musician is a great thing – a fantastic way to learn quickly. But too many musicians never move on from this. They don’t learn how to improvise, take risks, try new things, create their own melodies, and innovate. Yes, you should mimic and learn from others. But be sure to create space in your schedule for creating something new. Become fascinated with tone, sound, melody, and harmony again.
I challenge my students all the time: create something new every day. Sit with your instrument and just get started. Stop over-thinking, over-analyzing, and judging. Just flow with the music.
5. Your Heart Seems Disconnected – Great music has more to do with the heart than you may think. It’s not just about technical prowess and perfect execution. Great musicians feel something. They want to express something. They want to influence, inspire, encourage, change the atmosphere with their playing.
So try this: next time you play in front of people, don’t just play the part. Visualize the glory of God in your mind and use your instrument to express that for others. Help them see a little clearer, feel a little deeper.
6. You’re Not Sharing Your Gift – One of the fastest ways to stall as a musician is to only play music for yourself. When you don’t have a place to play, people to play for, and you’re not counted on as a part of a team, you’ll stop growing. Music was meant to be shared. Don’t just wait for opportunities, seize them. Don’t just wait for paid gigs. Get out there and play all you can.
On another note, some of you may need to set a deadline for a song you’re writing, a project you’ve dreamed about, a musical idea you’ve had brewing. Creativity begets creativity. You may never know what’s possible until you release your work.
Music is a journey. We’ll never unravel the full possibilities of what we can do with it. So shake off the dust and approach your instrument with a fresh perspective.
There’s a world waiting to hear your creations.
Question: What inspires you to keep growing as a musician? How do you keep it fresh? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
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I would add to David’s fine points:
1-Study with different teachers. Each teacher has a new focus and technique that we may adapt and or refine to our own style and personality. This is money well spent.
2-Make theory an on-going study. Knowing why I choose certain sounds and chord structures brings a level of maturity to my musicianship.
Obtain a degree or two in music if this is to be a profession of leadership or not.
Add an instrument or two to your abilities and thus fresh variety.
Study poetry if your write poetry. Study theology if you hope to write for the edification of the church.
3-Break out the old metronome. The Sheriff is back in town. The word is rhythmic integrity and most of us are lacking here.
4-“Put away the amplifier”. This is what we tell our students who are not yet ready for prime time. The amp will only accentuate what we put into it.
5-Let the Lord tell you when you are ready, both spiritually and musically, to serve him in a leadership role on behalf of his people. Don’t listen to mom, gramps and your friends who do not have such authority until you have Gods approval. They mean well and want you to be “successful and popular”. God wants you to be His and humble.
This is the number one issue plaguing the church and its worship today.
Worship has become a popularity contest in far too many churches as children have been called in from the playground to do the business of Corporate Worship.
Pastors—better to sing acappella than to disgrace the family of God with music for the sake of having it led by those who need much more discipleship, much less musicianship.
A.W.Tozier denotes,”We are carnal in our attitudes, in our tastes and carnal in many things. Our young people often are not reverent in our Christian services. We have so degraded our religious tastes that our Christian service is largely exhibitionism. We desperately need a divine visitation-for our situation will never be cured by sermons! It will never be cured until the Church of Christ has suddenly been confronted with what one man called the mysterium tremendium-the fearful mystery that is God, the fearful majesty that is God. This is what the Holy Spirit does. He brings the wonderful mystery that is God to us, and presents Him to the human spirit. The Counselor, 66-67.
6-We have to get over ourselves and what we know and how well we know it before we are ready to lead. Just say no to those who invite you to lead who care not if you have arrived at this stage in your walk with God or not.
God has required courses and electives whether your church has set them before you as prerequisite or not.
7- “God chose you, and we keep praying that God will make you worthy of being his people. We pray for God’s power to help you do all the good things that you hope to do and that your faith makes you want to do. Then, because God and our Lord Jesus Christ are so kind, you will bring honor to the name of our Lord Jesus, and he will bring honor to you.” II Thessalonians 1:11-12
Chuck Swindoll reminded us to “get a good education and get over it”.
Both of these ideas require the help of God and the role of a teacher–a human being who knows Jesus intimately and has gone before us.
Glenn, love this thorough comment! Such great stuff. Your comment here:
Pastors—better to sing acappella than to disgrace the family of God with music for the sake of having it led by those who need much more discipleship, much less musicianship.
Don’t you think being on a worship team is a great place to receive discipleship? Or do you think people need full maturity before they are allowed to serve? Do you think having them serve disgraces the family of God or makes it more beautiful to have people of different places in their journey worshiping together?
David,
The most excited I ever see the men of the church get about evangelism is when they “need” old Bob. Bob can scare the ball out of the park just by looking at it. Surely Bob will become a Christian while he attends the “mandatory” few weeks of church attendance so that our team can whoop the tar out of the Methodist boys down the road. They have beaten us for the last two years by using the same method of evangelism.
Who gets to work in the pit crew for Jeff Gordon?
Who gets to be on a team that prepares the meal for the President?
Who gets to be on the surgical team that operates on you and me?
Who gets to be on the flight crew that prepares the airplane you and I will fly on?
Who gets to work on the construction crew for the World trade Center?
Who gets to serve as a deacon on a team of deacon servants?
Who gets to preach and teach the Word as an elder?
Who gets to be on the team that counts the offering each week?
Who is the blessed person who gets to maintain the church facilities from week to week?
Ask the Levites who gets to make music for God himself?
Who set the standards for all of these professions?
Who says when one is now “ready”?
God set the standards for leadership, not you and me.
I will say that the one who “gets to” be on the team is the one who wants not to be on the team and says no, for full awareness of being unworthy, incapable, unqualified and fearful of a Holy God whose standards he does not meet. Now then–add to this ball of nonsense that our worthiness is all about Jesus and who he is and what he has done to “qualify” us and make us acceptable to God.
Without Jesus none of us are ever worthy to stand before God or to do anything for him.
So then, worthiness is settled for the Christian and is a non-issue in this conversation. (Romans 5:1-2)
What about position and preparedness though?
With Jesus, I have in inner demand to do everything in a worthy manner. (Phil. 2:13)
Each of us praise in our own way, with what has come to mean “worship” to ourselves.
We do this in private, hopefully. When is it time for me to stand before others and lead them?
You may notice I placed this burden of knowledge squarely upon the individual.
The individual who jumps at the chance to play, not because God says come, but because his buddies have found out how cool it is to have a Jesus Band. I am simply asking the individual to exercise Godly patience, even when he is asked by short-sighted leadership to come in and try to help fly the plane while it is being built.
You and I both know that “fully mature” is a never- to- be. (Phil. 3:12-15)
“Mature enough” is the arbitrary measure you and I are now discussing.
You and I know that we often welcome in and encourage people who, by our welcome, reveal that our standards are not so much about God but about man; not so much about spiritual character and maturity (I Tim. 5:22) but the jolt of making music happen with friends.
So then, what of a “standard”? It doesn’t have to be arbitrary.
Musicians are called to be servants too–
Let’s use the basics for any and all who want to stand before, and lead the congregation.
TITUS 1:5-9 CEV
1-They must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage.
2-Their children must be followers of the Lord and not have a reputation for being wild and disobedient.
3-They must not be bossy, quick tempered, heavy drinkers, bullies, or dishonest in business.
4-They must be friendly to strangers and enjoy doing good things.
5-They must also be sensible, fair, pure and self-controlled.
6-They must stick to the true message they were taught, so that their good teaching can help others and correct everyone who opposes it.
Now then, we haven’t even touched the musical qualifications. My experience has been that churches who get the spiritual right will breeze through the musical. When someone is offended because of standards, tell them you have a friend who owns a microscope and dissects frogs who wants to be in on their next surgery.
Excellent post, David.
A thought on #4… (this was not my idea – I learned it from a friend and great leader)
Each week, we have an ‘unplugged and unscripted’ group session. We put a bunch of chairs in a circle around a piano (so that everyone can see everyone else), pick a key, time sig and rhythm pattern and just play. If you play guitar, it must be acoustic. If you play percussion, it must be a single snare (or a drum box). If you play piano, we’ll rotate. The bass is allowed to plug in, unless you have an acoustic. Any other instrument is welcome to – mandolin, tambourine, even banjos. We start off on a 1 chord and stay there until everyone is comfortable with the time sig and pattern. Then we start with a simple progression. Something like 1, 4, 5, 1, 5, 6-, 1. Or we may pick a simple tune, like I’ll Fly Away. The tempo is mid-range when we start and we progressively pick up the pace. We usually play for about 20 minutes. We’ll pass around the ‘solo/improv’ bit to anyone that wants to do something other than strum. At first, it was just for the regular band members. But then we had someone in the church say, “I’m play a little, but I’m not good enough to be up there with you guys”. That opened the door for anyone to come play along. This past week, we had 11 guitars, 3 bass’, 5 percussionist, 3 pianist, and a harmonica. It was awesome!
The goal was to give folks a place they could practice with other musicians. All too often, we only play as a band/group when we’re rehearsing for Sunday or working on a new song. We never just played. The impact was incredible. Not only are we all becoming better musicians, we’re learning to play with each other. We’re gelling, becoming much more cohesive as a group. And we’ve added a few new instruments to the band!
At first, we started with a simple key – G or C – and played in 4/4 with a simple rhythm/strum pattern. After a few weeks, we moved to 3/4 or even 6/8 and a more complex pattern. A few weeks later, we started adding in key changes. 3 weeks ago, as we’re packing up the WL tells everyone, “the starting key next week will be E. NO capos!” What?? I’ve been playing for years, but you better believe I was in the woodshed practicing all week! And it was obvious everyone else had been working hard too.
It might not work for everyone, but it has been a ton of fun for us. We’re growing as musicians, growing as a band, and have some awesome prayer times. What started as a way to get some group practice time in has turned into a very sweet worship session.
Damon
Damon, I totally love this. I think it’s a beautiful environment for creativity and community to thrive. I also love the restrictions you place on yourself (no capos). That can open up a whole new level of creativity. How often do you do this?
Right now we’re doing it every Sunday. We have 2 services on Sunday mornings. The sermon is the same, but the music is very different (two entirely different bands). The requested schedule is for folks in each band to attend the sermon for the first service. Then we all get together for this practice session during the sermon of the second service. We’re all done and packed up before the pastor is finished with the sermon (so we still get to the buffet by 12:15!!). The band for the second service usually comes back after the sermon to do a closing song anyway, so we’re just trying to use the time effectively.
Like I said, it works for us. I realize we have an unusual scenario though. I don’t know if it would work as extra time after rehearsal or a service or not.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Love the idea of practicing creatively. As a musician I always find myself learning the MOST when I can take things out of my “normal” rehearsal and try things out in a different way. Great list!
Hey Maurice! Nice to hear from you. I agree – experimentation is key to learning and staying fresh on your instrument.
Excellent post. Thanks for sharing. Great reminders.
Love #6. Doing this in the right place and time and with the right people can change everything.