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Musician burnout
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- čas přidán 15. 08. 2024
- Tired of Playing Music | Tired and Frustrated
In this video, I talk about a problem that many other musicians (including myself) may have...maybe...
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DeMarius,
Thank you for being open and honest and saying what you have. I think it's huge to be real with our emotions about this, and it's certainly something I've experienced. I can absolutely relate to you on a few levels- I'm a trumpet player, conductor, and composer, and have also played quite a bit of double bass professionally. I mostly conductor orchestras but am currently working as a college band director, while still performing and touring some on the trumpet as a clinician and soloist.
I think it's difficult to bring up this issue because so many people hold music so dear and close to their hearts. It can be an amazing and wonderful thing, but it's so all-encompassing for so many people that they burn out, and never learn to breathe from it. I'm not talking about taking a day or two off, I'm talking about how I've learned to view it differently. Music is what my career is, and what I'm best at, but I also understand that it is still my job, my vocation, and I learn to take little joys from other activities. A master carpenter may be engrossed in their work, but still leaves their shop to rest at the end of the day, and we musicians are awful at that. I find that the colleagues who have felt burnout are the ones who don't know how to turn it off, to go back to their families, their gardens, their model T in the garage. In short, perhaps our hobby should not also be our job.
Music doesn't always make me happy, but it does consistently bring me a lasting joy. It's hard work, and it should be. But my hours shedding on the horn, my time studying scores, or reworking a theme for a piece I'm writing, that's hard work. And I am still confidently a respectable, expert, professional musician if, at the end the the day, I say, "I'm going to try my best to not think about this for the rest of the day." I believe that's healthy!
Again, thank you for your honesty; thank you for sharing!
-J
Great insight! Especially that your statement that "perhaps our hobby should not also be our job". I need to find some more hobbies...aside from working out...I'm pretty dull haha
Yeah “music doesn’t always make me happy”. Loved that yeah when music started to be a challenge back in the day I used to say to myself “how can I escape from my escape”. Music is my career but it’s also my refuge. I love your transcription videos Bruh. Hang in there music is a service, it benefits us all. Alvin Batiste used to tell me the best way to be successful is service. Thank you for the videos 😎
F. Jackson
Honestly bro I’d go out and see someone live and get inspired. That always helps me! Also get some people together and just jam. Sometimes the burnout is because we are always going hard to get better and impress.
That’s definitely true!
Tired of playing music. That happened to me twice in life. After each time my playing changed. I’ve been playing about 33 year or so. What I discovered is if you’ve been doing something for more than half your life, you feel strange when your not doing it. So you always feel lost and disconnected (because you are). One time I tried to quit, I talked to my mom about quitting. She looked at me strangely and said “hmm well Fred I really can’t see u doing anything else”. She was right. Why do you play music in the first place. Well for me it is my therapy. I always need to atone with my saxophone. I thought about that too. Anything you do concerning the breath is meditation 🧘♂️ “Stay in tune with yourself”.
Fred Jackson Jr Musician, Educator, Artist, Composer and Arranger
A break 100%. My break went on for 2 months until I picked up the horn again because, although I thought about my trombone daily, I just wasn't feeling like practicing it. Before I started the break I just kept playing scales, tuned a lot, and various solos, thinking that one day it would somehow become fun in the future. Recently I have picked up the horn again and I'm having a blast. Maybe it's because my chops aren't in the best shape and I now have something that I know how to fix easily, but I feel a lot better with the horn in my hand after the break than before it.
I've only been playing the trombone for seven years, but it loses its fun at times for sure. Just need some time to refresh yourself is all! :)
True!! It can become an obsession.
For me, I was in a huge slump this past year. Trying to play just wasn't how I remembered it. I sounded horrible, it wasn't fun or fulfilling, and I just generally feel like crap when I picked up the horn.
Downtime didnt really help me, I think it actually discouraged further motivation from going back. I do remember a significant moments that got me going back into it though.
The part that re-ignited the spark was the Twin Cities Jazz Fest where I live and play. An entire day committed to some of the best players in town showing what they can do and showing their passion for it. I had never talked to more professionals in that moment about what gets music for them and it was a really great eye opening experience on the whole process - not even to mention how much raw musicianship was shown at the gigs by the like of Mississippi or Rodney Ruckus and his combo.
I think it's important to develop these experiences and see what you are missing if you are away from the horn. Live music is one of my best motivators in this case
Yeah...reflecting back...seeing live shows has definitely motivated me in the past! Thanks!
Do a workshop for young musicians still in school. Make sure that there is a demand for said workshop, so you get kids who actually want to learn the music. Teaching music to a kiddo who is just demanding more knowledge... that enthusiasm is infectious that it will energize you back to warp speed in no time.
You’re absolutely correct. Great advice. Thanks!
either ill take a few days off and wait for that spark, get one of my friends in hs band and just play random stuff and try to compose a song though improve, do long tones but play a only one note for half an hour or so and actually its very nice because i find it meditative. Sometimes i try to sound different by attempting to sound like a unique saxophonist or singer, striving to get there vibrato. Watch other people make progress accomplishing there goals. I have alot of more ways but i can relate to the feeling and im only a sophomore in HS that loves jazz music.
Thank you DeMarius for this video, i am a classical double bass player graduated in the conservatory, i am preparing auditions for getting a job.
In the past, but also now when a stressful situation is coming, in some moments i feel like if i forget how to play, and even play open strings or the simplest thing i can do starts becoming hard.
Can't concentrate and send the right message to the body.
Have you ever experienced this?
Great vid! Listening to Eric Gales cures every rut
First so lucky to be able to conduct some Grainger! Great music! But back to the topic at hand. Although I've never found it hard or wanting to stop. I can understand that sometimes things get stagnant in certain ways. But I always found it was because my life was unbalanced. Usually, it was more music than life. Even though it felt like I was balanced I really wasn't and then I pursued more outside of music, maybe more art, learning new interests, meeting new friends engaging with the community, etc. Because It's easy to get trapped in the bubble that is your profession. All this helped me have a better pursuit of being an artist and most importantly being a better person. Hope this helps in some way. This is a topic that can go deep. I wish you the best in your artistic endeavors!
Thank you so much for responding. I think you’re right...life was getting a little unbalanced. Things are starting to get a little more on track now. Thanks again!!
@@DeMariusJackson Thats awesome to hear! Glad you were able to recover so fast. Also just having awareness/mindfulness during such moments is super healthy.
Hi Demarius, I would recommend that you take a break, go hiking, workout or another non music related activity you might like. Then go after a few days to a concert of an artist you admire. Just listening and enjoying without the pressure of practicing or performing. This will hopefully give you some freedom to enjoy music again
I'm right there with you! I'm currently not practicing for a lot of the same reasons as you.
Perhaps try joining a community ensemble? I've recently joined my local flute choir, which is filled with amateur musicians. Being around them, and watching their enjoyment of the craft allows me to see it through new eyes
Helpful!
The great bassist janek gwizdala talked about not touching his instrument for an entire year while he worked on a cruise(?) because he felt it was time to refresh.
Whoa...an entire year!? I don't think I would make it, lol. I'll have to check out that video!
Personally what works for me is finding new styles of music, the stuff I'd never think to listen to before. Like bluegrass, or deep house, or the more obscure 20th century classical. It can bring a fresh approach to playing in any context.
Pretzels722 Thank you!! I’ll definitely give it a try!
I'm also feeling this something fierce. Let me know when you find a work around.
Immerse yourself in another genre. That’s what I did
Hey, since you are a creative person I would recommend that you get into composing/producing your own music. Get a small keyboard or a maschine and make it fun and experimental.... Sometimes we lose touch with our creative and spiritual aspect when it comes to music .
czcams.com/video/MT8YPqmlt-o/video.html
This is a video that Bob Reynolds posted a couple years ago in response to someone in a similar situation to yours. I hope this helps!
Thank you!!
I took up bass for 7 years. Consider med school?
LOL!