Author Topic: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?  (Read 7832 times)

FadeX

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So, I got to the point, where I think I am not progressing at all. I mean my music has been doing pretty awesome, getting to all the promotion channels, and I am kinda proud of myself. But it feels like I am not progressing as much (although people tell me, that I am still getting technically better, but my sound design is lacking probably). So that makes me demotivated and I rarely open FL Studio nowdays. And I really feel shit, because I want to make music. I am thinking about trying the Pomodoro Technique, but does forcing yourself into music help? And I always  tell myself to watch some tutorials, but it's the motivation that stops me. (here is my soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/fadexmusic). What should I do?

FarleyCZ

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Re: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2016, 09:21:04 am »
I wish I knew this myself. (Ps: Hezky, další čech!  ;D)
"Earth is round right? Look at it from right angle and you'll be always on top of the world."
...but don't overdo it, because that's called being a d***k.

vinceasot

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Re: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2016, 11:12:21 am »
dude you've come a long way

it could just be a motivation slump

you'll get back there

maybe look at other things in life for some inspiration

Mussar

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Re: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2016, 03:13:47 pm »
Ask yourself why you want to be a musician. Ask yourself why you want to follow a career path where you spend 6-12 hours a day in total isolation, either practicing or composing. Ask yourself where you want to be in 1 year, in 3 years, in 5 years and in 10 years. Ask yourself if it's really worth it to devote your life to something like this, and if you're not just doing it because you're following a trend or you just wanted to pick up a hobby. Are you ready to accept that there will be times when you are not doing this because it's fun, but because it's your job and you have to?

If you're feeling like this isn't the path for you, good news: You don't have to worry about progressing or even forcing yourself into music anymore - and chances are you'll start to make music again because you're not placing such high expectations on your results. You can just continue on as a hobbyist, making tunes whenever you feel like it and moving onto a different career path. There are tons of people like this, and there's no shame in making music for yourself or your friends and even just dicking around inside your DAW for a couple hours and closing without saving anything to get back to your "real" life.

If, after all that, you still wanna make music, then you gotta get serious and start figuring out exactly what you wanna do and how you wanna do it. Start writing out a contract to yourself for your goals, broken down into specific timelines. "I will write a song every week and release a song every month. I'll be DJing at a local club by this time next year. I will release an album in October." Plan out everything you need to do and everything you want to do for at least six months in advance, if not longer. Turn off your internet and put your phone on airplane mode every night before bed, and don't turn them back on until you've finished the music you need to do that day.

Also read Steven Pressfield's The War of Art and Turning Pro - you're deep within the throes of Resistance.

Lydian

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Re: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2016, 04:55:04 pm »
I've asked a similar question on this forum section a month or two ago. Is it healthy to force yourself to write music even when you dont want to or are facing a creative block?

Perhaps you can search it up somewhere on the forum.id share the link but I'm at avhool
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alanisnotcool

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Re: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2016, 05:32:35 pm »
Is it healthy to force yourself to write music even when you dont want to or are facing a creative block?

For me, its healthy to an extent.  I have found myself in Fadex's state of mind plenty of times.  Simply put, you just have to keep pushing.  Even when im feeling discouraged, I will still open up my DAW and just start throwing stuff against the wall and see what sticks.  Often times, I breakthrough the wall of discouragement im feeling.  It really is like a wall, because if you chip away at it (opening up your DAW when feeling discouraged) you will eventually (could be a couple hours or a couple days) be so glad that you did.  I promise

Alot of people give up when its hard, without knowing that there are fulfilling rewards on the other side of that wall.  Just try it  ;)

daimon

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Re: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2016, 07:45:12 pm »
My personal experience with forcing myself into creating music is not good. When I push myself when tired or just generally uninspired, I create very very shitty music. To keep progressing I'm keeping a habit at least once per day open FL studio, choose one of in progress projects and try to add/change something in it. If I don't feel like producing today, I at least watch some youtube sound design tutorials or even if I don't feel like that I work on my side graphic design project and do some new album covers and visuals for my producer project. Key is to get a habit of everyday production and then just extend the time you produce each day.

P.S. vítám dalšího čecha! :D

Marrow Machines

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Re: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2016, 08:04:26 pm »
I played bass for a church band few years ago.

The director was the piano player, he had also toured with a band called The platters. Might have done some recordings, but not to sure.

Any ways, what he said was that, with music you'll come across these plateaus in learning and understanding and that each  pleateau represents the entire range of skills/techniques you have learned, applied, and practiced that are now in your tool box.

You've acquired all these skills and what you should be focusing on now are the things that might be a bottle neck in bettering your understanding.

My suggestion:
IE, it might be time to brush up more on your playing, music theory understanding, technical understanding of what ever effect/synth you use, it also might mean to upgrade headphones/speakers/mixing room.


Also consider this. You are at a point where you could make this your career and you might want to figure out where you want to go with it.

You might think that shouldn't be apart of the process, but it's a real deterrent to doing things if you've felt like you've mastered the process and understanding. I got that way when ever i reached a certain point in world of warcraft with leveling, getting geared, and mastering a new healing class. It just becomes a giant hamster wheel at that point.

But you've already made the investment, so only you are stopping yourself from making music.

If we're being honest, it sounds like you should just be making music for yourself and when you want to make music should also be for yourself.

Unless this is your job, then there's no reason why you shouldn't be chill about it.

You almost sound a little like me, and what i realized was i am completely comfortable just taking this thing in stride and really enjoying the entire process of making music.

This comes with a reevaluation of WHY i do the music, more so than when ever i started.

Consider the mental aspects of doing things, and you might find new inspiration.
Josh Huval: Honestly, the guys who are making good art are spending their time making it.

ZAU

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Re: How to progress on a higher level? Forcing yourself into music?
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2016, 12:25:22 am »
'Rape' is another word for 'force'.

Rape is not a good thing. Neither is force. People actually spend years in jail for rape.

I don't believe in any kind of 'force' or forcing or forcefulness. Just take a break and step away for a while.

Music won't go away. It will be there still. In my experience, I get better results after breaks.