Learning music requires motivation and continuous practice. But how would you motivate yourself to practice?

Most people experience an obsession with learning music when they first start their music lessons. They practice every day with no excuse. Hours may feel like minutes. It is akin to a new romance: fresh, enthusing, and full of desire.

But as the honeymoon period phases out, many people lose the motivation to practice. Of course, you can motivate yourself again but not without coming across hurdles and preparing yourself for possible bumps on the way.

You may have periods when practicing may feel like a drag. Sometimes you may feel burnt out despite having a passion for music. And then the enormous volume of things you need to learn may overwhelm you.

At this point, you may wonder as to how you can motivate yourself to practice? Here are some valuable and proven ways to find the motivation to practice music.

Ask Yourself: “Do I Like Music?”

At concerts and parties, you may have met older people who disclose as to how much they regret quitting music. But most of the time, it is a simple chitchat because you are never too old to start practicing again. Those who have a passion for music do learn to play instruments regardless of their age.

The point here is: if you lack a passion for music, you will not find a motivation to practice. Go for something you like. Or if you are young, maybe your interest will change in the future. You can then give music practicing another shot. Or perhaps you should look for a new instructor. Without a liking for music, it is almost impossible to find a motivation to practice.

Goal Setting

So, you think that you have a liking for music and have a burning desire to learn musical instruments? Move on to the second step: setting goals. Individuals who set goals and write them down are more likely to find a motivation to practice.

Clear goals will keep you focused. Set long-term goals for where you see your music skills in the next few years. Then come up with short-term goals or tactics to achieve your long-term goals. It takes many months or years to achieve your long-term goals. The short-term goals are the small tasks you do every day, week, or month to achieve your long-term goals.

Having clear goals will serve as a motivation to practice. Goals help you focus on the prize and stay motivated. They guide you to take small, practical actions to achieve what you want to accomplish in the years ahead.

Planning

After setting your goals, you need to have a mechanism that can provide you a roadmap to achieve your goals. That is called planning. The four critical elements of a good plan include:

A list of the crucial steps to take
Prioritization of each task based on why and how it should be done
A timeline for doing each small task
A mechanism for evaluating whether you are headed in the right direction

People who do proper planning are more motivated to practice than those who don’t. In your plan, have a minimum of three times per week when you do nothing except practicing music. Stick to the plan, and you’ll be on your way to success.

Play for Fun

Playing for fun is the number one factor that sparks the motivation to practice. While following your goals and plan is critical, take some time out of your plan to play for fun. Doing so leads to more creativity and musical growth.

Many music teachers dedicate some time for unplanned playing where the students are allowed to play whatever and however they want without worrying about the lesson plan. This keeps the students engaged, involved, and motivated.

Accountability

Have a mechanism for accountability to keep you focused on your goals. Team up with a musician friend who can play with you or a music instructor who can help you move in the right direction. In case you lose focus on your goals and plan, they will help you calibrate. A mentor can hold you accountable and give you an extra push to achieve your goals. This turns out to be an excellent source of motivation for most people.

Reward Yourself

You deserve a reward upon achieving a milestone or doing a task successfully. Think about your middle school where you got gold stars for doing a task. You can apply the same reward mechanism to practicing music. Or reward yourself with something you like to eat or drink in the middle or end of practicing. It is so satisfying to treat yourself after achieving a milestone. No matter what milestones you achieve, big or small, it is always good to reward yourself. That small treat will go a long way toward motivating you to practice.

Stop Working Extremely Hard

When you are excited to play, practicing more is not wrong. But be careful about burning yourself out. Doing something over and over again can make the practice stale. And in extreme cases, it will start to frustrate you. The best way is to go with rationing practice where you play as long as you are focused. Short but focused practice is far more useful than long exercises without focus. Work smarter, not harder. Remember that music needs to be fun. Forcing yourself into doing something recurrently will do more harm than good.

Other Important Tips:

· Don’t be disappointed by failures. Handle them calmly and use them to improve your performance.

· See a live music performance. When you see someone perform well, it will motivate you to practice.

· Record your practice at least once a month and watch the videos from 2-3 months to see how far you have gone.

· Practice with people who are better musicians or perform in a group. It will not only inspire you, but you can also learn many things from the group members.

Learning music is not a piece of cake. And it is not for everyone. Becoming a good musician requires years of practice and intense work. If you have a passion for learning music but lack the excitement and motivation, the tips given above can be useful to you. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to success.

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Finding Motivation to Practice