6 Destructive Beliefs That Hold Beginner Musicians Back

6 Destructive Beliefs That Hold Beginner Musicians Back Suzy S. Do you ever wonder how good your skills would be now  if you started practicing a year ago? A  question like this should motivate, not dishearten you.  In this article, guest writer Elizabeth Kane will  take  you through six destructive beliefs you might face as youre learning how to become a musician, and how you can  overcome them Mind Over Matter Your mind is a powerful tool. Your  thoughts dictate just about  every conscious decision you make. Whether youre a beginner guitarist whos just learning how to hold your instrument  or a seasoned singer whos preparing for an important  vocal audition, your thoughts can make or break your self-esteem. Negative or self-doubting thoughts are  mental poison they  can hurt your confidence and stop you from taking risks. Risks Are Good As you learn how to become a musician, youll soon understand it’s your job to take risks. Its also your job to bring  beautiful music (through passion) to an audience that craves authenticity. For this reason alone, we’ve got to put a stop to these perilous  ideas that creep into our minds when we’re feeling overwhelmed. Are you ready to face them? Ill help you along. Six Destructive Beliefs and How to Overcome Them 1) “If only I had…” We think we need a particular instrument.  We imagine learning from a specific teacher.  We dream about having more time to practice. Whatever it is, we have an idea that if only we had this or that, then, and only then, would we become the perfect musician. But life doesn’t work like this. Sure, we DO need a quality instrument, a great music teacher, and plenty of practice sessions. However, this chasing perfection thought pattern is holding you back from using the resources and skills you have now to become a better musician. Instead, dont idealize every step of the process. Take things as they come you may be surprised by how well it all turns out. 2) “I’ll never be able to do that.” Too many times we tell ourselves that despite everything we try, we’ll never be able to flawlessly play that piece, nail that audition, or impress that audience. Naturally, some things do take more practice than others. You might have to work harder than you ever have before, but that doesn’t mean you wont master  the skill you desire at some point. Think about something that’s ridiculously easy to you now: a skill, sport, or technique you’ve mastered. Remember when you didn’t know anything about it? When you barely even knew where to start? Keep that in mind the next time a  voice creeps in your head telling you there’s no way you’ll ever be able to do that. Time is all you need. Remember that patience and consistency are the  keys to achieving whatever you want. 3) “If I mess up, ________  will happen” Lets face reality you’re going to make mistakes. We all do. To be great at what you do, you’re going to make a ton of mistakes. Try to think about what you’re truly worried about. Are you worried about someone laughing at you if you make a mistake? What happens if someone does laugh? Write down what you’re afraid of if you make a misstep. Better yet try it out! See what really happens when your fear manifests in real life. Overcoming stage fright is easier than you think! 4) “I’m not ready.” It’s not easy failing, is it? That’s what we’re really talking about when we say we’re “not ready” to give our skills a try. Failure is tough for every single one of us. It’s terrifying. We’ll never be truly ready to fail, no matter how much we’ve practiced, and no matter how much we’ve prepared. Trust me, there’s no giant sign that flashes across the sky saying, “You’re absolutely 100% ready! There’s no way you’ll fail this time!” But we do it anyway. And with each moment, we defeat our insecurities, one shaky note at a time. We do this until we feel strong and proud, wondering why we were ever nervous in the first place. 5) “I can’t do that until…” We spend too much time thinking about what we don’t have in order to achieve our goal. But with all the time and energy we spend worried about what we don’t have, we gloss over what we DO have. What tools do you have now that will help you get closer to your goal? Ill bet you can think of a few, even if theyre small: organization skills, persistence, optimism, imagination, etc. Who can you go to for help when you’re struggling and facing unexpected challenges? Perhaps its a family member, a friend, or even a colleague. Its important to know, especially for young musicians,  that you have direct support when you need it. What skills have you refined that will help you gather even better skills?  Knowing one skill can help you learn another. Use what you have now, right at this moment, to get to the next step. It’s not always easy and it’s certainly not always glamorous, but that’s how real growth happens: step by step. 6) “I’ll never be as good as him,” or “I’ll never play like her.” Jealousy is a strong emotion. When you doubt your own abilities, it’s easy to look at someone else’s highlight reel in comparison to your lousy  dress rehearsals. Everyone has someone they can compare themselves to. There will always be someone who began lessons before you did, performed a piece better than you played, and practiced more than you have. The key is to measure where you are now to where you used to be that’s a lot more satisfying. Staying motivated is a key to reducing anxiety during your  practice and performance. These destructive beliefs won’t go away overnight. It’ll take some practice to face these dangerous thoughts and eliminate them from your mind. Just know this its definitely worth fighting for. Post Author: Elizabeth Kane Elizabeth Kane is a music teacher who loves helping parents get the music education their child deserves. She is the creator of Practice for Parents, where she discusses what to look for in a music teacher, why kids really hate practicing, and what parents can do to guarantee their child’s success. Photo by Alex Masters Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher