to remember . Here are 3 easy steps to help change your mindset .
STEP 1 : BUILD A BRIDGE We often look at the true virtuosos of music and think to ourselves , “ I ’ ll never play like that .” Before we ’ ve even begun the journey , we ’ ve placed a canyon between us and success . The chasm that forms chains us to our insecurities and reinforces the idea that we need to be like someone else in order to be excellent . This is the first thing we must shift in our mindset . Mastery of your music doesn ’ t come from sounding like someone else , it comes from becoming the best version of yourself ! This may seem like an equally difficult canyon to navigate , but we can do it if we build a bridge to the other side one step at a time .
Firstly , you must establish a clear picture of who you want to become . This is where our daily 20-minute practice begins . Because practicing can be mundane , we tend to lose sight of what we ’ re reaching for . We begin working on our skills but fall into the canyon of self-doubt where music becomes monotonous and we struggle over each bar or chord voicing . The key is to always begin your daily practice by setting a picture of who you want to become . Take the first 5 minutes to envision who you want to be in the near future . What will you be able to do after a month of practice ? A year ? Envision that version of yourself and allow that idea to affirm your efforts as you show up each day . By doing this , you build a bridge in your mind that gives a clear picture of where you ’ re going . A north star to guide you to the future version of yourself .
There isn ’ t a wrong or right way to do this , but I will encourage you to document your thoughts in a journal so you can keep track of your journey . Setting a clear picture of who you want to become will keep you safely distant from trying to become someone else . Trying to become like someone else is what leads so many musicians to inevitable burnout .
STEP 2 : INVEST IN RESOURCES THAT BRING JOY So we ’ ve taken 5 minutes to center our goals and now with the remaining 15 minutes we have to maximize the time we have left . Remember , the goal is just 20 minutes a day ! However , there is nothing more depleting than when you take time to learn a skill and the source of knowledge you are using turns out to be flawed and incorrect . It ’ s so tiresome when we spend hours trying to find the right book to teach us , the correct chord chart to play with , or the accurate video to learn from . If you are serious about learning a skill then you should be serious about the resources you use to get there .
The mindset shift that needed to take place for me was the fear of investing actual dollars into my continued education . I can ’ t explain why , but I always wanted to find the free version of the chart or the cheap version of a class . These resources brought zero joy to my time of practice and made it harder to show up . But once I started to invest in my resources , it felt special to show up every day ! As a Worship Leader , it can be difficult to find the right resources to grow our craft and learn the constant flow of songs in our repertoire . On top of mastering our musicianship , we often need to learn multiple songs for Sunday and show up prepared every week !
That ’ s why I love the Solo Practice bundle from MultiTracks . com . It ’ s built for the musician who cares about their craft . The Solo Practice Bundle helped me enjoy practice and access all the resources needed to grow my musicianship . The bundle gave me access to ChartBuilder and RehearsalMix : which means I have over 22,000 accurate charts and rehearsal audio for each instrument part . These premium rehearsal resources created a space for me to enjoy showing up every day ! This way , I maximize the 15 minutes of practice I have and streamline the way I learn . If you invest in the resources that make learning a joy , you will without a doubt show up day after day . This brings me to my last step : trust the process .
STEP 3 : TRUST THE PROCESS To reach the point of excellence in music , you must understand that transformation takes time . If you ’ re going to show up every day , you must trust the process . Gladwell ’ s 10,000-hour rule underscores the importance of consistent and purposeful training . Much like a sculptor chisels away at a block of marble , musicians must hone their skills through dedicated repetition and focused effort . Each minute we spend in practice accumulates , inching the musician closer to mastery . But what I have found is that the real transformation occurs when we begin to truly enjoy our daily dedicated time of practice . Over 6 months your ideology will shift and the 20 minutes you ’ ve spent in practice will become like a good book you can ’ t put down . With a growing curiosity , 20 minutes of dedicated time will turn into 40 minutes because you simply can ’ t stop . In the coming weeks , 40 will turn to 60 , and so on . Your goals will transform , and your mindset will find a new anchor . You started with a desire to become a finished product , and you will discover a newfound joy in the journey itself . This is true transformation , and this is true excellence .
You see , it may take 10,000 hours to become a master musician . But excellence is a state of mind , not a polished product . The key to growth in your craft is the deliberate decision to embrace the you that you want to become , find joy in every moment , and trust the process . In doing this , you ’ ll surpass even the greatest musicians as you uncover the intrinsic motivation you need to master your craft . You will find that you crossed the bridge you made in your mind , and it had nothing to do with proficiency but rather perspective . It may take you a decade for the world to consider you a master , but you ’ ll enjoy every step of the way — for only 20 minutes a day .
Joshua Taliaferro Joshua Taliaferro is a member of the Marketing team at MultiTracks . com . He manages the social media channels and enjoys creating content to help worship leaders innovate and lead with excellence .
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38 March 2024 Subscribe for Free ...