How Much Do You Love Music?

It's ALL about the music.

A lot of musicians don't realize how much goes into making music on a deep level and give up. Others toil under the assumption that one day, if they keep working hard at it, they'll get a lucky break and become rich & famous (this one is hard to understand if it's the pure motivation behind being a musician). Making a living in music I get, but not when the desire to obtain wealth via music is a stronger than the desire to make music. You may need to read that sentence twice. I'm in no way disparaging material gain from music. But ask yourself this, if you had everything you could possibly want in life, would you still be as passionate about making music? Would you still dedicate countless hours practicing, writing, jamming, & performing?

The truth is there may never be a lucky break. The hard work may forever go unnoticed. The dream may never be realized. How does that sit with you?

And it might not be for a lack of talent. Of course it could be. Musicians can be deluded and have flaws in their self perception like anyone else. There are many factors that go into being a successful performer. Some unsuccessful musicians are even the most talented. It's funny that way. There are a lot of quiet unassuming monster talents flying under the radar. Many are happy to be obscure and never reach the acclaim they are worthy of. Many reasons for this...

I think one thing that often gets overlooked is how much one actually loves and devotes themselves to making music. How much one is willing to surrender to be in the flow, abandoning themselves to the deep listening required on the bandstand with others. The unselfishness of communicating without impediments or barriers. If preoccupation with technique or lack of technique or ego prevail, there's a filter getting between you and the music. There's a time for editing and evaluating and assessing, but not in performance. The most generous performers truly leave something in the air because they've transformed the atmosphere by tapping into a higher plane, IMO. I can't prove it, but I think loving music above all else and being in servitude to it is the one thing that separates great musicians from the rest. Their greatness arises from putting the demands, the rigors, the joys, highs, lows, exaltations, and despair into every note - which is the art. It demands are unrelenting & consumes everything and you know when your everything is not put into it. It feels like a sham.

It's ALL about the music. Are you all in? Where do you stand?