The Burdened Bassist: Experiencing Burnout and How to Overcome It
Physical fatigue. Late night rehearsals. Not enough paid gigs.
Sound familiar?
Whether you play professionally or on the side, the life of a musician is full of excitement! However, from time to time you may experience burnout… hauling your 150-pound speaker cabinet to and from gigs seems more like a hassle than an opportunity. Not being able to master those slap techniques becomes frustrating rather than enjoyable.
If this is you, then read on! Here are three ways to overcome burnout.
How To Overcome Musical Burnout
- Take a Break
- Listen to New Music
- Be Thankful and Don’t Forget Your Roots
Take a Break
This may seem anti-productive, but taking some time off from playing is great for clearing your mind when you’re feeling stressed. This isn’t only true for musicians- writers, artists, or any creative individual can benefit from this. If you’re in a band, have an open line of communication with your bandmates and try to work something out.
Stepping away from a project for a while and coming back to it with a fresh mindset can help you generate new ideas and get excited again about your musical outlet.
Listen to New Music
If the majority of your music library consists of death metal, branch out and listen to Vivaldi. If country music is your jam, check out Snarky Puppy (you won’t regret it).
Look for local shows in your area. Coffee shop billboards, social media pages, college campuses, and apps are great ways to discover what’s happening in your town. You never know what will spark new creative ideas!
Be Thankful and Don’t Forget Your Roots
We’ve all had to start somewhere. Was it middle school band, or maybe a close friend who introduced you to your instrument? Many students stop playing after high school simply because they don’t have to anymore. Maybe their parents enrolled them in marching band or private lessons, and once they start college they have the freedom to choose whether or not they want to continue playing.
Here’s the point: if you’ve graduated high school and are still playing music, chances are that it’s by choice and not out of obligation. You’ve discovered your creative outlet and have chosen to stick with it because you absolutely can’t get enough.
So take a step back and reflect on your past. Be thankful for the band teachers, the private instructors, the local music store, your parents, or whoever it may be and remember why you fell in love with your instrument in the first place.
If you’re going through a rough patch in your musical life, I hope this helps you overcome your plateau. I hope you return to your instrument with excitement and determination!
Musicians play music for a reason- what’s yours?
