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I'm in a musical RUT! Suggestions, please

I'm in a musical RUT! Suggestions, please

2003-07-09 by dj@arrowsash.com

Hey everyone.  I am in some kind of weird slump this past year.  I am 
recovering from injuries caused by getting hit by a car, but my rut 
predates the injuries.

I started playing drums when I was about 12, but gave it up for some 
silly reasons.  I kept up my guitar playing over the years.  Last year I 
decided to try some recording with my computer.  I have a fairly decent 
home studio based on Cubase SX, an M-Audio Delta 66  sound card, a small 
Behringer mixer, some studio monitors, etc.  I bought a DTXpress II kit 
a few months ago because I got sick of keying drum parts into Cubase 
with my keyboard (midi controller).

For most of the past year I seem to get almost nothing truly musical 
accomplished.  I tinker around with my guitar, fool with my bass and 
keyboard, whack away on the drums a bit, record some little bits and 
pieces, and never really get beyond that. Perhaps I have purchased too 
much gear that is fun to play with, and have lost my focus as a result.

I think one problem may be that I don't play live with other musicians. 
 I have worked myself into a kind of mental block over this, due to lack 
of confidence.  I always end up feeling that my chops are just not good 
enough, so I stay home and practice - sort of - or maybe I just tinker 
some more, and end up back where I started.

So, although I guess nobody will have the magic answer, my question is: 
 Have any of you got into a similar rut, and broken out of it?  Any 
suggestions? Do I need a brain transplant?

- Davey J. -

Re: [DTXpress] Re: I'm in a musical RUT! Suggestions, please

2003-07-09 by Stephanie

On Wed July 9 2003 11:11 am, prog_uk wrote:
>  I'm in exactly the same situation at present.  I keep buying new gear
> in the vain hope that it will be just the thing I need to move me in
> the right direction but it just ends up being something else to
> tinker with and waste time.

You may want to talk to a counselor...  I think it's depression of some sort.  
I have that problem at times.  At times like these, I just say, "phuck it," 
and either do something else or suck it down and keep going.  After all, what 
else is there to do these days, especially if you're not working?

Or maybe it's not that, but a lack of focus, discipline?  I've been having 
trouble with this, too.  The excuse I'm using is that I'm trying to get my 
chops back (I've been playing on my drum set for 4 months now), so instead of 
writing drum parts for a drumming score and trying to create a new genre, I'm 
spending 20 hours a week practicing on my feet and hands.  I spend a small 
portion of that time working on drum set stuff.

Stephanie

Re: I'm in a musical RUT! Suggestions, please

2003-07-09 by prog_uk

I'm in exactly the same situation at present.  I keep buying new gear 
in the vain hope that it will be just the thing I need to move me in 
the right direction but it just ends up being something else to 
tinker with and waste time.

I bought a DTXpress II recently for the same reasons as you.  
Programming drum parts was not really working and lacked the 
necessary feel for my type of music.  However, I just spend my time 
playing with the sounds rather than getting on with any actual 
recording.

I'm not sure what the answer is but it's reassuring to find that I'm 
not alone.

Re: [DTXpress] I'm in a musical RUT! Suggestions, please

2003-07-09 by Vernon Graner

This seems to be pretty common here. There seem to be alot of us who had
lots of fun being involved in music earlier in our lives and are trying
to "get back that lovin' feeling" as it were.. :)

I suggest you do a bit of searching and try to find others of a similar
nature. Drop an ad into a local paper that is looking for other
"semi-retired" musicians who might be willing to get together once a week
or so to just play and have fun making mistakes where no one cares if you
do.

This is exactly what I did when I decided to try and get back into music.
For most of us, music is collaborative... The old "the sum is greater
than the parts" type thing. It's hard to sit in front of a sequencer and
be inspired. Also, so many of the things that used to inspire us were
closely tied to the events of our youth. The thrill of a new love, pain
of a loss, anticipation of something good. Many of those are either gone
or seem to have lost the sharp edges. As we get older and more cynical,
events seem to have a soft-focus feel. You just don't get as excited
about stuff anymore... :)

I've found that meeting with others in similar situations has really been
helpful. A sort of group musical therapy. You talk while you setup, you
reminisce about old gigs or songs you used to play and then you work at
trying to pickup songs the others know, it gives you something to look
forward to during the week. All around it's a good feeling just to be
making music again.

With the group of folks I jam with, the goal is to find enough common
musical interest to create a 15 to 20 song set list and then try and play
some little hole in the wall venue once every other month or so. I feel
like I should be able to handle the heavy schedule of 6 gigs a year! :D

Well, thats my $0.02 worth, hopefully I didn't bore everyone with my stab
at pop-psychology. :)

Vern

--
Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE     | "If the network is down, then you're
Senior Systems Engineer     | obviously incompetent so why are we
Texas Information Services  | paying you? Of course, if the network
vern@... www.txis.com  | is up, then we obviously don't need
Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" VLG



dj@... said:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> Hey everyone.  I am in some kind of weird slump this past year.  I am
> recovering from injuries caused by getting hit by a car, but my rut
> predates the injuries.
>
> I started playing drums when I was about 12, but gave it up for some
> silly reasons.  I kept up my guitar playing over the years.  Last year I
> decided to try some recording with my computer.  I have a fairly decent
> home studio based on Cubase SX, an M-Audio Delta 66  sound card, a small
> Behringer mixer, some studio monitors, etc.  I bought a DTXpress II kit
> a few months ago because I got sick of keying drum parts into Cubase
> with my keyboard (midi controller).
>
> For most of the past year I seem to get almost nothing truly musical
> accomplished.  I tinker around with my guitar, fool with my bass and
> keyboard, whack away on the drums a bit, record some little bits and
> pieces, and never really get beyond that. Perhaps I have purchased too
> much gear that is fun to play with, and have lost my focus as a result.
>
> I think one problem may be that I don't play live with other musicians.
>  I have worked myself into a kind of mental block over this, due to lack
> of confidence.  I always end up feeling that my chops are just not good
> enough, so I stay home and practice - sort of - or maybe I just tinker
> some more, and end up back where I started.
>
> So, although I guess nobody will have the magic answer, my question is:
>  Have any of you got into a similar rut, and broken out of it?  Any
> suggestions? Do I need a brain transplant?
>
> - Davey J. -
>
>
>
> Community email addresses:
>   Post message: DTXpress@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    DTXpress-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  DTXpress-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   DTXpress-owner@onelist.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>   http://www.onelist.com/community/DTXpress
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>

Re: [DTXpress] I'm in a musical RUT! Suggestions, please

2003-07-09 by dj@arrowsash.com

Thanks for the feedback.

For what it's worth, this morning I got a pretty convincing answer to my 
question from my brother-in-law.  He is a violinist, classically 
trained, makes his living as a musician, etc.  He told me I must put 
pressure on myself by scheduling a performance for other people. Whether 
I perform for friends, family, do some busking or whatever - he says 
that I must commit myself to "a concert" as he puts it, prepare for it, 
and then do it despite the nauseating stress of it.  Hmmm.  Well, I 
think I get his point. Actually, it's not the first time he has given me 
this advice, but I didn't really believe it before.

The last time I really learned a bunch of tunes well was when I was in 
the "band" at work.  It was just a bunch of people who wanted to do some 
3 chord rock for the office Christmas party.  I did not necessarily love 
the material, nor did the players have great chemistry with each other. 
 But I did learn the tunes, played them start to end, and felt a sense 
of accomplishment.  So I guess I'll bite the bullet and post an add in 
the local entertainment tabloid.

Vernon Graner wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> This seems to be pretty common here. There seem to be alot of us who had
> lots of fun being involved in music earlier in our lives and are trying
> to "get back that lovin' feeling" as it were.. :)
>
> I suggest you do a bit of searching and try to find others of a similar
> nature. Drop an ad into a local paper that is looking for other
> "semi-retired" musicians who might be willing to get together once a week
> or so to just play and have fun making mistakes where no one cares if you
> do.
>
> This is exactly what I did when I decided to try and get back into music.
> For most of us, music is collaborative... The old "the sum is greater
> than the parts" type thing. It's hard to sit in front of a sequencer and
> be inspired. Also, so many of the things that used to inspire us were
> closely tied to the events of our youth. The thrill of a new love, pain
> of a loss, anticipation of something good. Many of those are either gone
> or seem to have lost the sharp edges. As we get older and more cynical,
> events seem to have a soft-focus feel. You just don't get as excited
> about stuff anymore... :)
>
> I've found that meeting with others in similar situations has really been
> helpful. A sort of group musical therapy. You talk while you setup, you
> reminisce about old gigs or songs you used to play and then you work at
> trying to pickup songs the others know, it gives you something to look
> forward to during the week. All around it's a good feeling just to be
> making music again.
>
> With the group of folks I jam with, the goal is to find enough common
> musical interest to create a 15 to 20 song set list and then try and play
> some little hole in the wall venue once every other month or so. I feel
> like I should be able to handle the heavy schedule of 6 gigs a year! :D
>
> Well, thats my $0.02 worth, hopefully I didn't bore everyone with my stab
> at pop-psychology. :)
>
> Vern
>
> --
> Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE     | "If the network is down, then you're
> Senior Systems Engineer     | obviously incompetent so why are we
> Texas Information Services  | paying you? Of course, if the network
> vern@... www.txis.com  | is up, then we obviously don't need
> Cell 507-7851 Desk 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" VLG
>
>
>
> dj@... said:
> > Hey everyone.  I am in some kind of weird slump this past year.  I am
> > recovering from injuries caused by getting hit by a car, but my rut
> > predates the injuries.
> >
> > I started playing drums when I was about 12, but gave it up for some
> > silly reasons.  I kept up my guitar playing over the years.  Last year I
> > decided to try some recording with my computer.  I have a fairly decent
> > home studio based on Cubase SX, an M-Audio Delta 66  sound card, a small
> > Behringer mixer, some studio monitors, etc.  I bought a DTXpress II kit
> > a few months ago because I got sick of keying drum parts into Cubase
> > with my keyboard (midi controller).
> >
> > For most of the past year I seem to get almost nothing truly musical
> > accomplished.  I tinker around with my guitar, fool with my bass and
> > keyboard, whack away on the drums a bit, record some little bits and
> > pieces, and never really get beyond that. Perhaps I have purchased too
> > much gear that is fun to play with, and have lost my focus as a result.
> >
> > I think one problem may be that I don't play live with other musicians.
> >  I have worked myself into a kind of mental block over this, due to lack
> > of confidence.  I always end up feeling that my chops are just not good
> > enough, so I stay home and practice - sort of - or maybe I just tinker
> > some more, and end up back where I started.
> >
> > So, although I guess nobody will have the magic answer, my question is:
> >  Have any of you got into a similar rut, and broken out of it?  Any
> > suggestions? Do I need a brain transplant?
> >
> > - Davey J. -
> >
> >
> >
> > Community email addresses:
> >   Post message: DTXpress@onelist.com
> >   Subscribe:    DTXpress-subscribe@onelist.com
> >   Unsubscribe:  DTXpress-unsubscribe@onelist.com
> >   List owner:   DTXpress-owner@onelist.com
> >
> > Shortcut URL to this page:
> >   http://www.onelist.com/community/DTXpress
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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> Community email addresses:
>   Post message: DTXpress@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    DTXpress-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  DTXpress-unsubscribe@onelist.com
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>
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