Hey guys! Happy whatever day of the week you're reading this! College is crazy. It's about that time of the semester where it feels like selling your soul seems like a better option than actually finishing your degree....BUT, don't do that.
I'm here this week to talk about what it's really like to be a music major and some of the struggles that we face. Enjoy!
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1. Practice Hours
I'm pretty sure the words, "Sorry, I can't, I have to practice piano!" have come out of my mouth once or twice. Making time to practice your instruments is so important. It's harder to find time than it is to make time.
PRO-TIP: When you're practicing, make sure to log your hours and what you've worked on. It helps when it comes time for your lesson.
2. Not being satisfied with your progress
Most of the time, we can't even tell that we're making progress. We forget to look at how far we have come. We want to be the best version of ourselves and give the best performance, but we are never 100% happy with the outcome. I think the word I'm looking for is....perfectionist? YES.
3. Comparing yourself to others
Probably the worst thing you can do is compare yourself to other performers. Everyone is different and uniquely talented in their own way. But let's be real, we do it anyway. "Wow, I wish I could hit high notes like that", or "If I could just play piano a little faster like her...". This ties in with Struggle #2. Focus on bettering yourself for yourself instead of to be as good as someone else.
4. Memorizing music
Any other visual learners? Anyone else have the HARDEST time remembering the words to their songs? WELL LET ME TELL YOU. Memorizing is rough. What's even worse is when you know that you know that you know, but then you forget because you overthought. OH MAN.
5. Performance anxiety
This one gets me every single time. I could practice every single day and sing my song perfect every time, but when it comes to getting in front of people and performing it, everything that I practiced all semester just goes right out the window. One day, I had the words right in front of me and I still forgot them. All of this, due to two and a half minutes of extreme nerves.
6. The moment of satisfaction
This one isn't really a struggle. There comes a moment after you've practiced until your music is etched into your DNA that feels like a sigh of relief. That moment happens when you realize that all of your hard work is actually paying off. You stop telling yourself that you're a failure and you remember why you started doing this in the first place. And all the other struggles kind of fade away for a second while you take in this glorious moment.
