Mar 18th 1-2-3: Study, Practice, And Passion
1: Study, Practice, and Passion ( 2 minute read )
As I study and practice for my finals for this quarter, I find it very useful to look back and analyze my progress thus far.
In the time I’ve spent this quarter I’ve learned countless nuggets of wisdom from the many instructors and peers I’ve met. I can hear a striking difference in my technical abilities when listening back at old clips of my playing. I’ve also gotten a much better visual on my strengths, weaknesses, and overall knowledgeability.
I’ve worked to create a daily practice routine that will both fill all the holes in my fundamentals, as well as position myself to be primed and ready to play and approach the styles of music I plan to write.
The hours I pour into daily practice are focused on being diligent with each aspect, then I work to apply all this stuff in a musical context.
I do this daily, and every day I feel some level of accomplishment in doing so.
Until, one day I don’t.
I then begin to struggle seeing the purpose in chasing this passion of mine, making every moment of study/practice feel like a grueling slog that leads nowhere.
As melodramatic as this picture I’ve painted may seem. This is a very real situation that I have found myself in just about every couple of weeks or so, and the root cause analysis led me to a very interesting realization.
I began to notice how in putting so much diligent focus on my studies, I had begun to neglect my own works.
I had let quite a long period of time go by without so much as even playing some of my own music. I was just so focused on ‘stretching my abilities’, and ‘working outside of my comfort zone’, that I begun procrastinating from practice; I was subconsciously avoiding practice.
Once I noticed this ‘thing’ I had allowed to happen, I begun slowly counterbalancing my practice routine. I now devote focus on deliberately making time to play what I actually want to play, as well as all my more ‘skill building’ practice.
This has proven to bring the life back to my routine, all while also reaping the benefits that come from consistent practice implementing all that I have been shown thus far.
Now I do recognize that this little anecdote I’ve given may seem to reek of naiveté, the reason why I’m laying this story out is for a reason. I find that this story illustrates a lot of what my brother and I talk about in our entries.
First, it shows how overworking yourself can and will lead to burnout, slowly turning your passion into procrastination from your passion. It shows how doing the parts of your work that first kindled your passion can refuel your energy, and inspiration towards your art. Lastly, it shows how having some level of balance between the ‘boring’, and the ‘fun parts’ can prove to keep you going in the long run.
I find that your enthusiasm towards your passion, as well as the recorded proficiency of your technical skill to be two factors that are great gauges for your work balance.
When your enthusiasm towards your art diminishes greatly, then you should give yourself a day to just work doing the things you enjoy about your art.
As you build your recorded directory of your past works, then when you notice your abilities stagnating you should put more focus on the practice and study.
Now go practice, and make something uniquely YOU.
2: Creative Prompts From Us (ex. Write a short story, a poem, a song, or draw a quick illustration of these! Let your imagination run free.)
I. Take stock of your progress over the last month. Which areas of your study have you greatly improved in? What areas would you like to focus on next month?
II. Take some time to make something you want to, rather than technique and practice. Have fun with it and see how all of the study has grown you as a creative!
3: Inspirational Quotes From Others
I. “The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.”
-Robert Henri, American Painter
II. “It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”
-Bruce Lee, Hong Kong-American Martial Artist and Actor
III. “Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you’re passionate about something, then you’re more willing to take risks.”
-Yo-Yo Ma, French-American Cellist
Thank you so much for reading!