Stress and how to cope

Raiven · #1 02-06-2008, 06:01 PM

Hey Janek,

I'm currently studying music at a degree level and finding that as the year progresses and the demands of tutors and other bands get higher I'm struggling more and more to keep focus and not get too bummed/annoyed with myself and any mistakes or lack of immediate progress that I make.

Has there been anyway that you've managed to cope with the demands and whats the best way to do so?

Cheers mate.

johncg · #2 02-07-2008, 12:32 PM

My two cents...

It seems the greatest musicians are in love with their work at every stop along the way, and every moment they hold their instruments, listen to a record, or study from a textbook fulfills something deep inside them.

That's not to say they don't get frustrated or upset or distraught even to a very large degree...but if you're feeling a deeper level of disatisfaction with things that doesn't quickly pass, you're probably in the wrong place at the wrong time.

(This is just my assessment based on reading a lot of interviews/bios, etc. of great players.)

Good luck.

P.S. Janek, your Bass Player TV clinic is ridiculously inspiring. Thanks again for all that you do.

Sorax · #3 02-07-2008, 04:27 PM

Whenever I get bummed about an apparent lack of progress, I think about where my playing was a year ago, compared to where I am now. This generally inspires me to practice harder. Plus listening to the players I love. I find that if I'm starting to get stressed, nothing helps more than to chill out for a little while and relax to Miles' Kind of Blue or Nefertiti.

janekbass · #4 02-08-2008, 12:58 PM

when I was in school I pretty much ignored the demands of my tutors because graduating wasn't something I ever aspired to do..... this is of course just what worked for me. I wouldn't recommend not graduating to everyone, it's just where I was at at the time. I chose the classes I really wanted to take and was totally into, flunked anything that I didn't find my attention being held to, and spent the rest of the time shedding or gigging.

I think that whatever your goal is at this point in your musical development, you shouldn't lose sight of your own music/writing/playing. you can always scale down your schedule at school if you're on a degree course as they can be flexible, and you can always tell bands you're playing with that you have a stronger commitment to your own music, and scale that back too. Being in College is often a time of trying to do everything you can, but it can be healthy to chop a few things away and take a breather from the bustle of it all from time to time.

I had a schedule that I could pretty much dictate when I signed up for classes at berklee. So every class I took was after 12midday, I took mainly ensembles so i would be playing all the time, and I found harmony and ear training teachers who were cool with me pretty much just showing up for the midterms and finals. That way I wouldn't have to go to too many classes, and could stay home and shed most of the time.

when I got to berklee it was a huge shock to me as to how far behind everyone I was in my development as a player. I needed lots of alone time at home to really work out my playing and further my knowledge of recorded music etc...

Just know that it's different for everyone, and that you are in complete control of your schedule if you want to be.

Easy,

Janek

Raiven · #5 02-08-2008, 01:25 PM

Yeah if only my classes/scheduling was as flexible. But I get what you mean about cutting things back, its just so hard to say no when you're in the whole music school situation where it seems as if its the wrong thing to do.

I'm just finding it annoying that any jazz related studies at my school involves being in a sort of underground cult as it is a "rock" school which is frustrating as it's my weakness but hey. Screw it.

Your unison line in Time Stands Still is awesome.

Sorax · #6 02-08-2008, 05:28 PM

Just out of curiousity, what school do you go to?

janekbass · #7 02-08-2008, 05:54 PM

one year at the royal academy of music in London, and three semesters at Berklee college of music in Boston, before I quit and moved to NYC in 2000.

Easy,

Janek

Sorax · #8 02-08-2008, 07:24 PM

Sorry Janek, that question was actually aimed at Raiven - thanks anyway though :P

Peace.

mhgroove · #9 02-18-2008, 11:30 PM

Hi Janek. I'm planning on moving to NY after attending a local community college here. Hoping to continue my schooling there. Is it possible to juggle gigging, doing the daily grind (aka paying rent) and going to school?

any advice would help.

peace!

janekbass · #10 02-22-2008, 03:17 AM

it is if you manage your time right, and are motivated enough to make it happen, then it'll happen for sure.

easy,

Janek

Amastacatious · #11 02-22-2008, 11:49 PM

Its definitely possible. You have to be smart about how you use all your time though. Make sure you have a good job where you can make enough to afford to take time off for gigging (waiting tables is your best bet). If you're planning on working and being in school....you have to set aside some downtime somewhere even if its 1 day every few weeks, or you'll start to get burnt out. I've done the pay rent, go to school, music thing for a while, and it sucks, but working a job make me practice that much harder, out of hopes of not having to do it much longer.