As a musician one thing I always hated hearing was when someone would say "Ew, gross you listen to that kind of music," or when my father would say "Oh, so you're gonna do that kind of music, that's not of God." My response to this is yes, I listen to all kinds of music. As an artist if you aren't listneing to music that gets you out of your comfort zone, then you really should start. There are too many genres/sub-genres of music to limit yourself to just the social norm.

"If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you've always got." This phrase can stretch across all aspects of life including music. The problem I see with the music industry is that everyone is trying to copy one another, or either one up each other. Which drives me insane!!! Anyone can sit down at a piano or guitar and play notes written on staffs, printed on paper, but it takes a true artist to make those notes come alive. I wish that we would all stop looking at the market and what sales and get back to the basics of music. If you're not making music because it makes YOU feel good then what is the point?

Listening to various genres helps us not only discover who we are as musicians, but it also helps us grow. I will admit I spent a lot of time in a phase where if it wasn't metal or punk/pop I refused to listen to it, and that stunt my musical growth for quite some time. I had to get myself out of that and condition my self to be open minded towards all music. Lately I have seen myself go from listening to songs like "Black Beetles" to songs like "Barton Hollow" by the Civil Wars. Both songs are great in their own rights. I can take something away from the arrangements of both songs.

When you limit yourself to one type of music, to limit yourself as a musician and a person. Reach out, explore, get a taste of what all is out there. There some really good songs that put alot of things we face in life into a perspective that we would never think of. As a musician I call you to grow together, if we open our minds to music we are one step closer to opening our minds to each other.