6 Ways What To Do When You’re Starting Out Of Motivation To Practise
Practising and playing the violin is always motivating me, no matter what it is. I love playing the violin. I think that is what I said before a lot.
I was a little child when I was starting to play the cello, but I liked playing the violin much more as I saw my sister practising. So, I want to play the violin too. From the beginning, I knew I had to practise and that it would be hard to motivate myself. And as a child, you will be activated by your parents to start practising. And when you get older, too, but less than when you’re seven years old.
I had to be motivated too as a child and I have to motivate my daughters too. My oldest is twelve and I still need to activate her to practise. I love practising, but there is also a lot of other things that I want to do, like writing.
Anyhow, it is what it is. When I practise I already motivated myself. What is it that motivates me? In the first place, the love for my instrument, second of all, I love the music I am playing. Third of all, the joy of being involved in making music.
When I was a teenager, my teacher told me I really need to practise otherwise I wouldn’t be able to lake it in the music industry. That is true, and I didn’t make it. But that was because I got children. And since then, I was content playing the violin for fun. That reason of my teacher told me was motivated enough to start practising. These days, I don’t practise every day anymore as I also have other things on my mind and I want a lot of things to do.
6 ways what to do when you’re starting out of motivation to practise
- Watching interesting movies from the music you are playing
- Watching masterclasses
- Reading information about the music or composers you’re playing music from
- Playing music with other musicians
- Challenge yourself with difficult and different music
- Just practising by taking your instrument
Watching interesting movies from the music you are playing
When I start out of motivation to practise — and that happens too often lately — I will listen to inspirational musicians I will be motivated by. Mostly to the music I am practising with different musicians and interpretations.
Recently I discovered violinist I never heard of or are talented. I also rediscovered violinists I heard before. That is very inspiring to me.
Watching masterclasses
Also, videos of masterclasses help me being motivated. Then, I remember how I can practise the music and how I can do it (and I know what I can play). Sometimes, I have to find the time to practise and when I do, I know how I practise.
Lately, I am also watching masterclasses to be more inspired and getting motivated to practise myself. The student get tips and tricks from the master, which I can use you for practising the violin. It inspires me a lot. I want to do it that way too.
Reading information about the music or composers you’re playing music from
Other things that could help me, is reading a book or any other information about the music I am playing or about the composers from the music I am playing. Maybe there is interesting information about the music you’re playing that inspired you to try too to play it that way, but also that could help on how you should play a piece.
Playing music with other musicians
Above all: playing with other people, so you have to practise your part of the music. I am playing in an orchestra, so I have to practise for the rehearsals. And playing music together motivates me to practise anything on the violin. Playing music with other musicians is inspiring because there is a lot of joy within everybody you’re playing with.
Challenge yourself with difficult and different music
I also try a lot of different and difficult music to play, so I have to practise it and be challenged to. That is very important to me, and I think for every musician — professional or amateur. When I practise a piece that is a little bit difficult to me I will be challenged to practise what is difficult for me and try it until I can play it.
Just practising by taking your instrument
Most of the time, I just tell myself to start practising. It helps to say it out loud to yourself: “You’re going to practise right now, otherwise you may not get a hot chocolate.” So, I am promising myself things to get starting practising. I am also an example for my children to practise as they also play an instrument. Just practising is actually the only option to start motivating yourself.
This story has been published earlier on Quora.
Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.
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