In 2018 I ended up playing in a band with some of the best musicians in my college. Improv was how we stood at the time, and I was definitely the weak link in that regard. Being on stage, and not being able to tell a captivating story to an audience musically, being overlooked by my bandmates and other musicians in the scene… those were some of the most frustrating moments of my life.

What's crazy looking back is exactly how limiting my beliefs were, and how that led to my stagnation. I thought I could do it all myself, and I thought that all I needed was good theory and good technique and I could become a good improviser. I didn't realise how much time I was wasting trying to reinvent the wheel, and frankly how useless that approach was.

Thankfully I was lucky enough to be around the right musicians at the right time. I was mentored, and I was introduced to the process that all of us know now that the information is free online. Find solos you like, and copy them as best you can.

After years of trial and error, constant practicing and jamming, I built a reputation around my ability to improvise well. I had a lot of language, and more importantly, musicians began to call me for gigs because they knew they could rely on me to execute at a high level. I have the flexibility, technical knowledge, and ears to learn songs on the spot and support the band in a way that adds to the musical goals we’re trying to accomplish. The key thing that made that progress possible was my ability to step past my ego, and dedicate myself to the process (this is way, wayyyyy harder than it seemed from the outside).

Because I was respected as an improviser, I had the confidence to apply for government grants to create concerts, and lead bands. I’m often the youngest person in the room, but musicians defer to me, and I find myself in leadership positions more and more often. I’m also able to further my musical apprenticeship with other high level musicians that make time for me and help me develop further because they see that I’m worth investing in. I'm definitely tooting my own horn here, but I really do feel a sense of pride looking back on where I was and how I’ve arrived where I am today.

The biggest thing I learned is that I don't have the capacity to be great all on my own. In music, there's a process to developing your inner voice, a strategy for leaving an impact on the audience, and there's a framework to get to a high musical level. Without this framework, it can feel like improvisation is difficult or impossible to break into. I've lived firsthand how following the process can change your life.

If there's anyone that's been following that process, but feels like they’re hitting a roadblock when it comes to applying the methodology, I’d really like to help you. I couldn't get to the place I am right now if I didn't have the support I got during my journey. I’m happy to answer any questions in the comment about my musical path and what I learned as an improviser/ band leader along the way.

In 2018 I ended up playing in a band with some of the best musicians in my college. Improv was how we stood at the time, and I was definitely the weak link in that regard. Being on stage, and not being able to tell a captivating story to an audience musically, being overlooked by my bandmates and other musicians in the scene… those were some of the most frustrating moments of my life.

What's crazy looking back is exactly how limiting my beliefs were, and how that led to my stagnation. I thought I could do it all myself, and I thought that all I needed was good theory and good technique and I could become a good improviser. I didn't realise how much time I was wasting trying to reinvent the wheel, and frankly how useless that approach was.

Thankfully I was lucky enough to be around the right musicians at the right time. I was mentored, and I was introduced to the process that all of us know now that the information is free online. Find solos you like, and copy them as best you can.

After years of trial and error, constant practicing and jamming, I built a reputation around my ability to improvise well. I had a lot of language, and more importantly, musicians began to call me for gigs because they knew they could rely on me to execute at a high level. I have the flexibility, technical knowledge, and ears to learn songs on the spot and support the band in a way that adds to the musical goals we’re trying to accomplish. The key thing that made that progress possible was my ability to step past my ego, and dedicate myself to the process (this is way, wayyyyy harder than it seemed from the outside).

Because I was respected as an improviser, I had the confidence to apply for government grants to create concerts, and lead bands. I’m often the youngest person in the room, but musicians defer to me, and I find myself in leadership positions more and more often. I’m also able to further my musical apprenticeship with other high level musicians that make time for me and help me develop further because they see that I’m worth investing in. I'm definitely tooting my own horn here, but I really do feel a sense of pride looking back on where I was and how I’ve arrived where I am today.

The biggest thing I learned is that I don't have the capacity to be great all on my own. In music, there's a process to developing your inner voice, a strategy for leaving an impact on the audience, and there's a framework to get to a high musical level. Without this framework, it can feel like improvisation is difficult or impossible to break into. I've lived firsthand how following the process can change your life.

If there's anyone that's been following that process, but feels like they’re hitting a roadblock when it comes to applying the methodology, I’d really like to help you. I couldn't get to the place I am right now if I didn't have the support I got during my journey. I’m happy to answer any questions in the comment about my musical path and what I learned as an improviser/ band leader along the way.

In 2018 I ended up playing in a band with some of the best musicians in my college. Improv was how we stood at the time, and I was definitely the weak link in that regard. Being on stage, and not being able to tell a captivating story to an audience musically, being overlooked by my bandmates and other musicians in the scene… those were some of the most frustrating moments of my life.

What's crazy looking back is exactly how limiting my beliefs were, and how that led to my stagnation. I thought I could do it all myself, and I thought that all I needed was good theory and good technique and I could become a good improviser. I didn't realise how much time I was wasting trying to reinvent the wheel, and frankly how useless that approach was.

Thankfully I was lucky enough to be around the right musicians at the right time. I was mentored, and I was introduced to the process that all of us know now that the information is free online. Find solos you like, and copy them as best you can.

After years of trial and error, constant practicing and jamming, I built a reputation around my ability to improvise well. I had a lot of language, and more importantly, musicians began to call me for gigs because they knew they could rely on me to execute at a high level. I have the flexibility, technical knowledge, and ears to learn songs on the spot and support the band in a way that adds to the musical goals we’re trying to accomplish. The key thing that made that progress possible was my ability to step past my ego, and dedicate myself to the process (this is way, wayyyyy harder than it seemed from the outside).

Because I was respected as an improviser, I had the confidence to apply for government grants to create concerts, and lead bands. I’m often the youngest person in the room, but musicians defer to me, and I find myself in leadership positions more and more often. I’m also able to further my musical apprenticeship with other high level musicians that make time for me and help me develop further because they see that I’m worth investing in. I'm definitely tooting my own horn here, but I really do feel a sense of pride looking back on where I was and how I’ve arrived where I am today.

The biggest thing I learned is that I don't have the capacity to be great all on my own. In music, there's a process to developing your inner voice, a strategy for leaving an impact on the audience, and there's a framework to get to a high musical level. Without this framework, it can feel like improvisation is difficult or impossible to break into. I've lived firsthand how following the process can change your life.

If there's anyone that's been following that process, but feels like they’re hitting a roadblock when it comes to applying the methodology, I’d really like to help you. I couldn't get to the place I am right now if I didn't have the support I got during my journey. I’m happy to answer any questions in the comment about my musical path and what I learned as an improviser/ band leader along the way.

It's usually linked to those feelings of frustration and inadequacy that come from knowing that you are capable of doing better, but when you're on a gig or in a jam session, you're underperforming. Your bandmates see you underperforming and don’t take your musicianship seriously; your reputation suffers.

That feeling sucks. It lives in your gut, and the next time you have an opportunity to solo, you play even worse because you're in your head. This can very easily become a feedback loop that makes self-expression feel impossible.

How do you overcome this? This is what worked for me.

1. Accept that it will take time to sound good. Developing your improvisational voice is like bodybuilding. It takes years of consistent work, good sleep, and diet to see results that are competitive. Yes—you sound bad in this moment, but if you're in a jam session, that means you are, in that moment, taking the steps you need to improve. Change the framing from "I sound like hot garbage" to "I'm doing what I need to do to improve in this moment."
2. Notice you're distracted. In those moments, our focus tends to be way more on sounding impressive to your peers instead of just expressing ourselves. We end up putting pressure on ourselves to “sound good,” and it’s easy to get distracted by self-doubt when you’re not up to the standard you think you should be at. Those thoughts can be so consuming that it's really difficult to hear your inner voice. Thinking about it, it's kind of insane. Those feelings of frustration are exactly what's holding you back from accomplishing your goal. This is why self-acceptance is so crucial. Mindfulness and acceptance in these moments are the key to moving past those emotions.
3. Listen. People say it all the time because it works. Listen not to yourself, but to your bandmates. Let that be the anchor that replaces those negative feelings with an awareness of the world. Listen deeply to them, and your inner voice will naturally come out in that moment. Will your inner voice sound good? I don’t know—and more importantly, that's not what matters right now. What matters is enjoying the journey and giving yourself the mental freedom to express your inner creativity. Again, self-acceptance is critical. There will always be room for improvement, but if your relationship to performing isn’t positive, it can easily seep into your relationship to music in general. I’ve seen musicians fall out of love with music because of the negative relationships that get cultivated.

tldr. Accept that you still have work to do, be aware of the limiting thoughts obstructing your creativity, and cultivate the deep listening necessary to coax out your inner voice.

Hope this helps!

It's usually linked to those feelings of frustration and inadequacy that come from knowing that you are capable of doing better, but when you're on a gig or in a jam session, you're underperforming. Your bandmates see you underperforming and don’t take your musicianship seriously; your reputation suffers.

That feeling sucks. It lives in your gut, and the next time you have an opportunity to solo, you play even worse because you're in your head. This can very easily become a feedback loop that makes self-expression feel impossible.

How do you overcome this? This is what worked for me.

1. Accept that it will take time to sound good. Developing your improvisational voice is like bodybuilding. It takes years of consistent work, good sleep, and diet to see results that are competitive. Yes—you sound bad in this moment, but if you're in a jam session, that means you are, in that moment, taking the steps you need to improve. Change the framing from "I sound like hot garbage" to "I'm doing what I need to do to improve in this moment."
2. Notice you're distracted. In those moments, our focus tends to be way more on sounding impressive to your peers instead of just expressing ourselves. We end up putting pressure on ourselves to “sound good,” and it’s easy to get distracted by self-doubt when you’re not up to the standard you think you should be at. Those thoughts can be so consuming that it's really difficult to hear your inner voice. Thinking about it, it's kind of insane. Those feelings of frustration are exactly what's holding you back from accomplishing your goal. This is why self-acceptance is so crucial. Mindfulness and acceptance in these moments are the key to moving past those emotions.
3. Listen. People say it all the time because it works. Listen not to yourself, but to your bandmates. Let that be the anchor that replaces those negative feelings with an awareness of the world. Listen deeply to them, and your inner voice will naturally come out in that moment. Will your inner voice sound good? I don’t know—and more importantly, that's not what matters right now. What matters is enjoying the journey and giving yourself the mental freedom to express your inner creativity. Again, self-acceptance is critical. There will always be room for improvement, but if your relationship to performing isn’t positive, it can easily seep into your relationship to music in general. I’ve seen musicians fall out of love with music because of the negative relationships that get cultivated.

tldr. Accept that you still have work to do, be aware of the limiting thoughts obstructing your creativity, and cultivate the deep listening necessary to coax out your inner voice.

Hope this helps!

Upvote2Downvote0Go to commentsShare

Promote Post

It's usually linked to those feelings of frustration and inadequacy that come from knowing that you are capable of doing better, but when you're on a gig or in a jam session, you're underperforming. Your bandmates see you underperforming and don’t take your musicianship seriously; your reputation suffers.

That feeling sucks. It lives in your gut, and the next time you have an opportunity to solo, you play even worse because you're in your head. This can very easily become a feedback loop that makes self-expression feel impossible.

How do you overcome this? This is what worked for me.

1. Accept that it will take time to sound good. Developing your improvisational voice is like bodybuilding. It takes years of consistent work, good sleep, and diet to see results that are competitive. Yes—you sound bad in this moment, but if you're in a jam session, that means you are, in that moment, taking the steps you need to improve. Change the framing from "I sound like hot garbage" to "I'm doing what I need to do to improve in this moment."
2. Notice you're distracted. In those moments, our focus tends to be way more on sounding impressive to your peers instead of just expressing ourselves. We end up putting pressure on ourselves to “sound good,” and it’s easy to get distracted by self-doubt when you’re not up to the standard you think you should be at. Those thoughts can be so consuming that it's really difficult to hear your inner voice. Thinking about it, it's kind of insane. Those feelings of frustration are exactly what's holding you back from accomplishing your goal. This is why self-acceptance is so crucial. Mindfulness and acceptance in these moments are the key to moving past those emotions.
3. Listen. People say it all the time because it works. Listen not to yourself, but to your bandmates. Let that be the anchor that replaces those negative feelings with an awareness of the world. Listen deeply to them, and your inner voice will naturally come out in that moment. Will your inner voice sound good? I don’t know—and more importantly, that's not what matters right now. What matters is enjoying the journey and giving yourself the mental freedom to express your inner creativity. Again, self-acceptance is critical. There will always be room for improvement, but if your relationship to performing isn’t positive, it can easily seep into your relationship to music in general. I’ve seen musicians fall out of love with music because of the negative relationships that get cultivated.

tldr. Accept that you still have work to do, be aware of the limiting thoughts obstructing your creativity, and cultivate the deep listening necessary to coax out your inner voice.

Hope this helps!