10 things to think about when starting your music career.

Starting your journey as a musician is exciting, but it’s easy to stumble along the way. Here are 10 common mistakes to avoid to set yourself up for greater success and enjoyment:

1. Neglecting the Fundamentals: It’s tempting to jump straight into playing complex pieces or writing intricate songs. However, a solid foundation in music theory, basic technique (for your instrument), rhythm, and ear training is crucial. Ignoring these fundamentals will hinder your progress in the long run and create limitations.
2. Comparing Yourself to Others (Too Much): In the age of social media, it’s easy to get caught up in comparing your progress to seemingly more advanced musicians. Remember that everyone starts somewhere, and people often only showcase their highlights. Focus on your own journey, celebrate your own achievements, and use others as inspiration, not a source of discouragement.
3. Not Practicing Regularly and Effectively: Sporadic or unfocused practice is less beneficial than consistent, structured sessions. Set realistic practice goals, break down challenging parts, focus on areas you struggle with, and be mindful during your practice time. Even short, regular sessions are more effective than infrequent long ones.
4. Ignoring Ear Training: Developing your ear is vital for understanding music, learning songs by ear, improvising, and even songwriting. Neglecting ear training will make many aspects of musicianship more difficult. Incorporate exercises like interval recognition, chord identification, and transcribing simple melodies into your routine.
5. Being Afraid to Make Mistakes: Mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process. Don’t let the fear of imperfection paralyze you. Embrace errors as opportunities to learn and improve. Analyze what went wrong and try again.
6. Not Seeking Feedback: Playing in isolation can limit your growth. Share your music with trusted friends, teachers, or other musicians and be open to constructive criticism. Getting different perspectives can highlight areas you might not have noticed yourself.
7. Underestimating the Importance of Networking: The music industry is often about connections. Attend local shows, open mics, jam sessions, and workshops. Connect with other musicians, industry professionals, and potential collaborators. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities.
8. Not Learning Basic Music Business Skills: Even if your goal isn’t fame and fortune, understanding basic music business principles is helpful. This includes things like copyright, licensing, promotion, and basic financial management. This knowledge will empower you to protect your work and navigate the music world more effectively. Don’t underestimate the power of visual learning to develop muscle memory. Keep a guitar fretboard diagram with you and study it. You can practice guitar scales and learn notes even when you don’t have your guitar with you. You will notice that practicing the scales by going over them in your mind visually while looking at the fretboard diagram develops a natural memory for the placement of notes and scales develops. The next time you pick up your guitar you’ll notice that familiar feeling.
9. Focusing Solely on One Genre: While it’s good to have a passion, being open to exploring different genres can broaden your musical horizons, improve your versatility, and inspire new ideas. You might discover unexpected influences that enrich your own musical style. There are so many influences that artists grow up listening to and it helps to shape a style all their own. Be open to learning a wide range of styles, this will make you a better and more original guitar player.
10. Giving Up Too Easily: Learning a musical instrument and developing your skills takes time, dedication, and perseverance. There will be plateaus and moments of frustration. Don’t let setbacks discourage you. There will be discouraging moments and people won’t always be supportive of your efforts but it is important that you don’t give up. Remember why you started, celebrate your progress, and keep going. Passion and persistence are key to long-term musical fulfillment.

By being mindful of these common pitfalls, you can navigate your early musical journey with greater confidence and increase your chances of achieving your musical goals. Good luck!