Become A Musician and
Find Your Own Vibe

This is hardly an exhaustive list of how to become a musician. But here are some time-proven tips for discovering your musical Voice, the VIBE that will ultimately distinguish YOU from everybody else.

1. You are learning to become a musician when you realize nobody can teach you how to play music but you. There are great songwriting teachers around, but they can only guide and suggest. You have to want it bad enough to cut off the TV, internet and social agenda, roll up your sleeves and get to work.

2. You are learning to become a musician when you learn from everybody. I've seen a lot of immature egos shut down their owners' ears and eyes. There is much to learn about playing, hearing, writing and recording music. You'd be smart to learn from older, experienced musicians, even if their styles are not what you are aspiring for. Put your attitude away and learn!

3. You are learning to become a musician when you know the difference between Musician and Performer... they aren't necessarily related. Elvis Presley openly admitted he knew nothing about music, yet he sold millions of albums. Figure out if you are a Musician, a Performer, or both? Do yourself a HUGE favor and sort it out.

4. You are learning to become a musician when you realize your instrument has a history. You can't go forward until you travel backwards and learn from those who came before you. Very rarely does someone come along and take an instrument in a new direction without having learned from the Masters. Find out who they are on your instrument, and Listen...Listen...Listen.

5. You are learning to become a musician when you don't pigeonhole yourself too soon. Learn all you can. Listen to everybody and Learn from everybody. Yes, you may be the world's next cowbell star... but you probably should learn to play a few other percussion instruments along the way. Believe it or not, everything you learn will add a different flavor to your sound. All the little differences add up to make your voice what it is.

6. You are learning to become a musician when you PRACTICE. It took me until 30 yrs old to practice effectively. Now, I get more done in 30 minutes than I would have previously done in 2 hours. Learn to analyze your practice and break it up into categories. Left Brain exercises are the mechanics required. Right Brain contains the creative ones. They both are necessary.

7. You are learning to become a musician when you determine whether music school is for you or not. There are pros and cons. While a music degree will not get you gigs, the process is invaluable if you use the time wisely. You'll be in a bubble for 4 years where you can eat, sleep & breathe music studies and songwriting. This opportunity probably will never come again. You can also make great friends and future business contacts that alone can justify the cost of the degree.

8. You are learning to become a musician when you learn to listen analytically. You shouldn't have to buy the printed music... use those things on the side of your head. :-)
God didn't make ears for hats, but so you could transcribe solos, licks and tunes!

9. You are learning to become a musician when you learn to be nice. Trust me, you'll catch more work with kindness and good manners than trying to be a badass. People really can get along just fine without you, no matter how well you play.

10. You are learning to become a musician when you don't forget this final point! It is actually the most important. If you don't take anything with you but this, then we have accomplished something.

Don't forget the fact that YOU are a HUMAN BEING, not a HUMAN DOING.

You can get points 1-9 together, but if you are not taking care of yourself emotionally and spiritually, nothing else will be rewarding for long. Take care of yourself and prioritize the major over the minor issues.

Need help with that ...? Ask yourself what you would do if you only had 24 hours to live. Your answer should help you keep the important things scheduled into each and every day.

Prioritize for life, not just for music. YOU ARE YOUR SOUND.

Your feelings, physical and mental state affect the way you think, process and ultimately communicate on your axe.

Becoming a musician is much less glamorous than MTV might promise.

Time, Work and Humility don't usually get mentioned in the interviews.

Developing your musical voice takes time, with some more time added, and then did I mention how long this can all take? Don't worry, we don't learn anything overnight. You gotta' crawl before you run.

You can become the musician you know you have inside you.

You will make mistakes. If you don't, you aren't trying. You're going to get frustrated and quit a few times. That's normal.

Just walk away, take a day or two off, and start again. You will need much patience and tenacity to become a good musician.

You'll need even more to become a great one.

Enjoy the journey, take care of yourself, learn all you can, practice relentlessly, play with musicians better than you, be humble enough to learn from your mistakes...

And then, one day, if you are very fortunate, you'll hear a recording of yourself and maybe, just maybe, be able to say... "m-m-m - that was almost decent!"

And you will realize that you have become a musician, and found your vibe!

It could happen...