This article simply expresses my personal experience with being a musician. I’ve consulted with many individuals who wonder what place music has in their lives. In no way will this article answer all of your questions, but it may assist in getting your thought-process on the correct trail.
The Hunger of Music
Music can be something that gets into your soul and begs for a way of expression. It is a hunger of the soul which exists within the emotional, not the physical. You must accept that music may be a part of who you are and needs to be nurtured and not ignored. If it is ignored, you may find that you are not as happy as you could be.
How Strong Are Your Desires?
Additionally, you have to figure out how intense your musical desires are and how much they need to be fed. If overfed, you may burnout. If underfed, you’ll be unhappy.
As a personal illustration, at this point in my life I do not want to be a full-time musician. I would consider myself to be a part-time musician because there are other areas of my life that need attention. I am employed at a rescue mission, and I need to be responsible to my spiritual needs by working with the homeless. There are also other time consuming activities that I enjoy that would make it impractical for me to be a full-time musician. If I had to rely on music to be my primary source of income, I would view it as an indifferent discipline and not an enjoyable, gratifying venture. I want the creativity to flow when it happens and don’t want to force it for the necessity of my pocketbook.
Learning the Balance
The next step is to learn the balance for how much music is necessary in your life in comparison to other priorities, passions, and interests. This is a difficult question which takes time to figure out. No matter what the circumstances are, there will always be seasons of frustration that you will have to push through, as wells as periods of lack of musical expression that will need endurance. But, the balance is attainable if you’re intentional about your approach. I’m not a big fan of pre-tailored, systematic decision making since every situation is unique. But, I think there are good guidelines to follow.
1. Be A Leader
Don’t be a follower by simply relying on what your family or peers say you should do. While advice and counsel is helpful, this is your decision and you need to be the leader and make it for yourself. You and only you can discover what the truth is.
2. Get Your Feet Wet
You’re simply not going to know what you want until you try it. You’re not going to know if you will enjoy the life of a musician until you “get your feet wet”. Start basic, with things such as performances at retirement communities or teaching lessons to beginners. Progressively work your way up to a more committed schedule and see if you like it.
3. Count the Cost
Don’t pursue being a musician at the sacrifice of other things that are important or should be a top priority in your life( Example: God is #1, and family is #2). If you have abandoned those desires or priorities, this may result in unconnected frustrations that you can easily mistake for not liking music!
4. You Enjoy Music for a Reason
God made you to enjoy music for a reason. He didn’t give you a gift or an appreciation for music to not benefit you or others in some way. If you don’t want to be a musician, don’t abandoned music completely. You don’t have to be a chef to enjoy cooking or good food! Always enjoy music and know that there are rewards for having it in your life.
5. Play Music for the Joy
If there has been one lesson that I’ve had to learn the hard way, it is that I should play music for the joy. If you’re playing music for any other reason than for the joy it brings into your life, than you’re not going to be happy as a musician. I’m not saying that you won’t be successful, but it will simply be a career choice that puts the groceries in the refrigerator.
Humbly look to see how your music can benefit others. Music is a powerful healing tool and resource which brings endurance, motivation, and encouragement to lives. Using it this ways should be your greatest, joyful satisfaction.