Has anyone actually gotten "there?"

[Pelao]

You know, the place that we're practicing for. I'm divided between believing whether or not there is an actual moment of acceptance of one's self as a musician, or if you are eternally doomed to chase the elusive next level.

I don't mean to sound negative about it at all, I'm merely just curious to hear about everyone else's journey, and to see if people have actually made it to their destination.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

At this point in my life (with three kids, a wife, a job, a second unpaid job (tied heavily to the kids) and a house that is woefully neglected) I'm not even trying to get better. I can say with confidence that I'm much slower than I was a few years ago, although I'm much better with the touch and manipulating the tones of my instrument.

I'm pretty much playing because I enjoy playing music. I don't seek the elusive 'next level' any longer. If you enjoy what you play, and you're confident in your ability to do it, there's little reason to strive for the 'next level' IMO.

If there's something you want to play and can't, then you have some shedding to do.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

You know, the place that we're practicing for. I'm divided between believing whether or not there is an actual moment of acceptance of one's self as a musician, or if you are eternally doomed to chase the elusive next level.

I don't mean to sound negative about it at all, I'm merely just curious to hear about everyone else's journey, and to see if people have actually made it to their destination.

No and I never will...that is the fun and exciting part of it.
I will never be 'doomed to anything, as that is attitude, for me it is always a challenge....even after 45+ years.
The next level is not elusive, it just when you get there you discover another one, one you could not see, or imagine, because the one you reached was in the way.
See it as an 'ever growing' experience and if I ever reach a point where I'm totally happy with what I do......I'll give up, because in my heart I already have......without having your heart in it.......... is anything worth doing?

 

[OEW3]

Levels to me, sounds like you're at one place in your playing and suddenly you get better in an instant. A level-up as in a video game. And something that can be quantified, or can't be stepped down from. Like you're going along as you normally would and boom you do something that takes you to level 34, and there's no going back. Some specific benchmark to hit without need to maintain.
It seems, for me, more like a never ending escalator that just keeps going up and up. And I have a choice in how fast I climb. Unless I purposefully take steps downward I'll keep going up with it, at a steady pace. But I have the choice to walk up as it climbs too and advance more quickly.
But I never really feel the change. I just realize that I'm better, or worse, or unchanged, when the moment arises, and I need to make the note work.

 

[fearceol]

As far as playing an instrument is concerned "getting there" is more about the journey than the destination. Just think of how boring life would be if we did "get there". For a start there would be no more new and exiting things to learn. Personally, I never think about the destination.

 

[svlilioukalani]

A great musician is constantly analyzing their weaknesses and working towards improving. That said there is a point when you know you got it.
There is a book on the upright bass side of things that talks about how it takes 10,000 hours of practice to be a virtuoso.
So my advice is, just keep at it, practice daily. Have fun with it. Be patient. You will get there.

 

[lyla1953]

For me - each time I reach a certain goal or "moment", I have generally have two feelings;
1) a great sense of accomplishment
2) a greater sense of how much more there is to learn

 

[MrLenny1]

Nope. it's a constant struggle.

 

[Razman]

Wise words my dad told me once: "Wherever you are, there you are."

I agree that it's the journey and not the destination that matters. "Know thy self" also applies here. Sure, I want to learn theory some day (and also the saxophone and piano) but for now my resources only permit me to grow slowly where I'm at.

 

[Lobster11]

I'm divided between believing whether or not there is an actual moment of acceptance of one's self as a musician, or if you are eternally doomed to chase the elusive next level.

If you choose the first you'll never get better, and if you choose the second you'll never be happy.

There's no reason the answer can't be "both." You can be comfortable with your current level of ability and fully accepting of your limitations, but at the same time always striving to improve.

 

[pcake]

the first time i played bass i was a guitar player who got roped into it - i had really wanted to go home, but a friend's band needed a bass player. within seconds, i fell in love with playing bass, even without a clue. and while i do practice, i don't feel doomed or chase the next level as playing bass is so satisfying. the worst day playing bass (whether practice or more) is still a very good day

 

[holdfast]

the first time i played bass i was a guitar player who got roped into it - i had really wanted to go home, but a friend's band needed a bass player. within seconds, i fell in love with playing bass, even without a clue. and while i do practice, i don't feel doomed or chase the next level as playing bass is so satisfying. the worst day playing bass (whether practice or more) is still a very good day

I too switched from guitar to bass when asked to join an originals band. Like learning a language, I'm finally thinking in the new language and not translating back and forth between my mother tongue and the 2nd language.

There have been levels of improvement in my low-end journey, but I feel like my "there" is that I've gotten to a "good enough" stage, and now any subsequent improvement is bonus points. (I never worked at being a virtuoso on guitar either.)

 

[Spin Doctor]

I got there. But I got bored, so I came back.

 

[mambo4]

It's a constant journey to rediscover what you already know in a different way and thus know it even better.

But if you want to know how much further you can go, find an Anthony Wellington bass clinic on You tube.If anyone is "there" , Anthony is. And yet, he still practices his craft rigorously.

He actually puts this more eloquently than I

 

[Pelao]

I definitely don't mean to say that you don't have to practice once you're there. Clearly you have to practice to maintain a level.

And I understand the whole "journey" and wanting to do it for the love of it. Yes, clearly it's a process that has to be enjoyed for its own sake and to have ulterior motives is to miss out on the beauty of it, but I don't want to get into the wishy-washy-motivational-poster nonsense.

I guess I see a difference between intentional growth and spontaneous growth, and am curious about your own personal experiences.

 

[silvertone]

Somewhere in the middle of this is my head...

 

[Berniez40]

In my youth I had the great privilege of studying Upright Bass with David Walter. He told me of a time when the great Cellist Pablo Casals gave a concert, and immediately afterwards was found practicing in the dressing room. A female fan came backstage after the concert and exclaimed, "Maestro, you have given an almost perfect performance. Why would you want to practice now." Casals looked at her, chucklesd, and said, "Now is as good a time as any, bcause I can always get better." THat's a pretty strong statement. Talk about somebody who is "THERE" simply stating,that like "Tomorrow, There never comes."

 

[mikeyjm2]

There's no "there" there. Just keep playing and sometimes you'll plateau for a while, some rare occasions there will be a breakthrough. That's how it goes for me anyway.

 

[Lobster11]

I definitely don't mean to say that you don't have to practice once you're there. Clearly you have to practice to maintain a level.

And I understand the whole "journey" and wanting to do it for the love of it. Yes, clearly it's a process that has to be enjoyed for its own sake and to have ulterior motives is to miss out on the beauty of it, but I don't want to get into the wishy-washy-motivational-poster nonsense.

I guess I see a difference between intentional growth and spontaneous growth, and am curious about your own personal experiences.

It sounds from this like you you're not getting the kinds of responses you were hoping for, so maybe you can clarify the question a bit better. What do you mean by "intentional growth and spontaneous growth"?

 

[FirewalZ]

You know, the place that we're practicing for. I'm divided between believing whether or not there is an actual moment of acceptance of one's self as a musician, or if you are eternally doomed to chase the elusive next level.

I don't mean to sound negative about it at all, I'm merely just curious to hear about everyone else's journey, and to see if people have actually made it to their destination.

The trick is....you are already great and always have been and always will be regardless if you play "well" or not. By not associating your sense of self worth with your playing, you will actually play much better and more free.