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Why bother, but why not?

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,327
120,655
Metro St. Louis
#1
A few days ago, I thought to myself, “why am I making an effort studying music?” I am old and I will never be great. A little while later, I was reading something and it occurred to me that I am still learning. I am still gaining knowledge. I am getting better with computers and other digital things. I am working out, I am watching my weight. Why not continue to improve as a musician as long as I can too? Tomorrow has never been promised to me at any age, it’s the same now as an old man as it was for me as a younger man. Given that, it is stupid not to keep learning and improving. So I will!:D
 
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#6
I find that music becomes more fun the more you learn. And learning itself can be a very satisfying experience. Also, learning music is good for an aging brain (technically all brains are aging :D). But I know what you mean: I sometimes think that I'm as good as I'm likely to get, but I then remind myself about the improvements I've made over the past couple of years (no giant leaps but improvements all the same) - and that there's no good reason for me to stop improving.
 
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#7
Dr. Cheese said:
...it is stupid not to keep learning and improving.
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:thumbsup: agreed! music is so good to us: the pilgrimage and the destination at once!


nonohmic said:
I'd rather be 80 and working on a jazz solo than 80 telling stories about the good old days
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:thumbsup: perfect! TBH: i hope i'm here to do both, tell a story, play a solo, tell a story, solo, story, solo..... :laugh:
 
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#10
Dr. Cheese said:
A few days ago, I thought to myself, “why am I making an effort studying music?” I am old and I will never be great. A little while later, I was reading something and it occurred to me that I am still learning. I am still gaining knowledge. I am getting better with computers and other digital things. I am working out, I am watching my weight. Why not continue to improve as a musician as long as I can too? Tomorrow has never been promised to me at any age, it’s the same now as an old man as it was for me as a younger man. Given that, it is stupid not to keep learning and improving. So I will!:D
Click to expand...
The brain is like a muscle in that if you don't exercise it, it won't be as strong.
I wish I could get that motivated about my other muscles. :oops:
 
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#12
nonohmic said:
Music for me now is about having this limitless thing in front of me that I can learn and challenge myself with well into old age. Who cares if I'm 'good' I'd rather be 80 and working on a jazz solo than 80 telling stories about the good old days.
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Exactly! So much of my conversation is old man stuff about what I used to do. Conversing about music, I can talk about what I am doing and what I'm going to do.
 
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#13
At 52 years old, I felt prompted to get my bass out from under the bed and practice. A mere dozen years later, I find myself on stage on a pretty regular basis with musicians who can flat out play, and singers who's voices are nothing short of phenomenal. I'm not entirely sure how all that happened, but it's definitely worth all the practice.

In my many years as a musician, every time I've run into someone who I thought was "naturally gifted", if I asked them, they would admit to practicing A LOT. So I decided this time around, I'd try that approach. I don't know exactly what people really think of my talents, but I do know that the harder I work, the "luckier" I get.
 
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#15
Dr. Cheese said:
From the perspective of the spirits of great musicians, an eternity of mediocre guys wanting to jam with you does not sound heavenly.:D
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Maestro.jpg
 
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#17
Dr. Cheese said:
A few days ago, I thought to myself, “why am I making an effort studying music?” I am old and I will never be great. A little while later, I was reading something and it occurred to me that I am still learning. I am still gaining knowledge. I am getting better with computers and other digital things. I am working out, I am watching my weight. Why not continue to improve as a musician as long as I can too? Tomorrow has never been promised to me at any age, it’s the same now as an old man as it was for me as a younger man. Given that, it is stupid not to keep learning and improving. So I will!:D
Click to expand...

I found it very liberating to change my objective in practicing music from "I want to be a great musician" to "I want to have as much fun as I can, playing the music I can, and always getting a little better, even if that means I never go beyond competent".
 
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#18
Dr. Cheese said:
I will never be great.
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Cheese, asked and answered. We don’t push ourselves to be great for its own sake. We push ourselves to improve, to grow. Life is not an assembly line.
You could just as easily ask yourself “why make a new friend”?, prepare a different meal, pay attention to the sermon, or in my case, keep cheering for the Falcons.
You know full well why you push yourself to grow your skills. You’re made to learn and grow. It’s how you were designed.
 
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#19
I’ve heard it explained like this: Suppose a person is 50 years old. They’re thinking about taking up an instrument. But, they’re already 50, so why bother? But in 5 years they’ll be 55, whether they take up the instrument, or not. So you may as well take it up.

I used this logic with my brother when he couldn’t decide if he should pursue Bass. He’s currently 66, has a pretty nice Bass accumulation, and can go out and play in Classic Rock bands. (So, I guess he’s been playing about 15 or 16 years.)

It’s why I watch History videos on YouTube. I’ll never be a real Historian, but I’ve learned enough so that I can do a pretty good Cliff Claven impression, and amuse people who have no one else more interesting to talk to at parties. Lol
 
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#20
I had a similar thought today. I'm in a place where music has little to no interest for me. Recently, I started listening to music that used to inspire me and realized I have never been good at those styles, but I found what I was good at and rolled with it.

A massive anxiety I had was that I felt I needed to be on par or "competitive" with those greats to be viable. From my drummer perspective, I always wanted to be Dave Weckl or Simon Phillips, and the modern greats like Luke Holland and Matt Halpern, and putting that expectation on myself lead me to be dissatisfied and miserable in every facet of life.

People wanted me for CCW and pop gigs. Perhaps there was untapped potential inside of me that I won't/can't accomplish, but I think I'm ok with that. It's ok to be inspired by the greats and still play four chord "easy" music. Maybe down the road some things will change. Life is quite unpredictable. It's chaotic and beautiful at the same time. Thanks for the post Doc I was wanting someone to discuss this with but had nowhere to turn locally.
 
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