Reaching Your Full Potential as a Musician: What You Need to Know

Do you ever feel as if you have only just scratched the surface as a musician? You may know that you are capable of more but you just aren’t sure how to unlock that aspect of your creative side. This can be frustrating to deal with, especially as it can make you feel stuck. Well, the good news is that this is doesn’t have to be a permanent state for you. There are plenty of ways you can reach your full potential, as long as you are willing to make an effort.

Focus on Deliberate Practice

You will often hear music teachers say that practice makes perfect. While they definitely have a point, more often than not, they are actually missing the mark. See, it isn’t just about how much you train as it is about how much you practice. Most musicians make the mistake of engaging in mindless or repetitive rehearsal techniques. Unfortunately, they don’t actually improve by doing this. When you are practicing, it should be about how you evolve as a musician. Don’t play the same piece of music over and over again either. Instead, see how you can challenge yourself or teach yourself something new during this practice period.

Experiment with Different Genres

One of the scariest things you can do as a musician is to step out of your comfort zone. To a large extent, sticking with what you are good at ensures that you are able to create high-quality music. However, when you wade into unknown waters, you are never quite sure just what you will end up with. Despite your reservations, try to switch things up with genres.

This can be helpful to you on some many different levels. For one thing, it will push you to become a better artist. After all, you need to take the skills you currently have and find a way to adapt them to this new genre. In doing so, you will be able to learn new tricks and really test your talents. There is also the fact that by mixing genres, you can create an entirely new sound – one that is completely your own. So, with this experiment, you may actually find your individual voice or sound.

Find a Mentor

These days, the term mentor isn’t used too often, particularly when it comes to musicians. This is largely because most up-and-coming artists prefer to make it on their own. Also, they imagine that older musicians are stuck in the Stone Age and thus, have nothing new to teach them. If this is how you feel, you really need to change your way of thinking. Now, sites such as The Guitar Pal can be great for offering tips and hints on musical instruments. At the same time, look out for someone who has experience writing and making music. They will have a great deal of insight and advice to offer. By avoiding the most common pitfalls as an artist, you will free yourself and fulfill your true potential, uninterrupted.

If you are stuck in a rut, these are some of the things you should try. With these techniques on hand, you are sure to find an entirely new direction to take as an artist.

Author Bio:

Natalie grew up around guitars and music her whole life and this passion followed her well into adulthood. These days she is focused on making connections with other musicians and sharing her knowledge with musical communities.