Advice to future me

[edgewise]

Hello me,

I'm glad you found this. I'm sorry to see it has taken you this long.
Oh well, you are here now. Thanks for showing up!

Let's get into it...

Everyone here is on a musical journey of some sort. Some will go on to playing professionally others will be happy being just good enough to have fun with their friends. There isn’t any “one true way” and there aren’t any shortcuts. Despite what youtubers may want to sell you, there aren’t any secrets either.

This journey is yours. Enjoy it.

This approach has worked well:

• Have a goal. This can change, but have a goal when you start. It could be as simple as “I want to learn to play songs and have fun playing with my friends”.
• Practice every day.
• Keep a practice journal.
• Practice in a structured way. Don’t noodle.
• Learn to read music and practice material that requires you to read.
• Balance your practice material between Technique, Etudes, and Repertoire.
• Theory is important but it can be a trap. You can’t “book learn” your way there. You have to play.
• Assign a time frame for each of the categories (above) and time yourself. You will need more time for some of it. Don’t be afraid to repeat lessons/material the next.
• Don’t get bogged down and don’t quit. Keep moving forward once you feel you have honestly learned something. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but be honest with yourself.
• Join a band. You will learn a lot just by playing with others.

You’ll notice that finding a teacher is not on the list. This isn’t because I don’t believe in them. I know they are real and good ones do exist, but there’s also a lot of teachers that aren’t all that great. If you have a great teacher, hold on to them for dear life.

None of this may apply or maybe all of it does, but you are responsible for your own musical journey.

Good luck.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Be open for opportunity to find you.

Believe in yourself & never give up hope.

 

[Rayjay]

Dear younger me,

You aren’t socially interesting enough to land any gigs. Your playing, as good and knowledgeable as you are, isn’t ever going to be enough, let alone even a mere factor in weather you get a gig. You’re going to experience lifelong, soul crushing depression due to all the rejection. Bassists much less experienced than you, who are painful to listen to, will get all the gigs. People you think are your tightest friends will call other bass players. Gigs you think you have in the bag will book things around town without you and without telling you. It will eat away at your self esteem to the point where you feel defeated all the time.

To make matters even worse, your college degree and all your practice hours will make you such an experienced music listener that you’ll never be able to enjoy the simple act of listening to it.

Music is a curse. You’re an idiot and a loser. Just quit. Just sell everything and quit. You’ll be so much happier.

 

[el jeffe bass]

My advice to young El Jeffe. You are not stupid, dumb or any of the other things that they call you. Your way of learning is yet to be understood. it will one day have names like neurodivergence and will be understood and accepted. Once you learn how your brain processes information the world will become your oyster. Keep playing and loving music, it will eventually be the part of you that draws people to you. Always give grace to others, everyone is struggling even if it's not apparent. Don't worry about the difficulties that you will go through, you will eventually live a life that's beyond your wildest dreams. enjoy the ride
sincerely, old El Jeffe

 

[2saddleslab]

To my past me & future me, just keep doing what you're doing cause it just keeps getting better.

 

[Bob_Ross]

“Trust compound interest.”

 

[ryco]

don't drop double bass.
other than that, I'm good 𝄢