Last night in the Blues room on TikTok, a young dude asked me a question that got me thinking. They wanted to know, “How can a new musician stay motivated and inspired?” Now, that’s a damn good question, and one that deserves a thoughtful answer.
First off, let's talk about motivation. Motivation, at its core, means your reason for action. It's the "why am I doing this shit ? behind what you do. So, for any musician out there, it’s vital to get clear on this. Why are you picking up that instrument? What do you hope to achieve? The clearer your answer, the stronger your motivation will be. Be true to your own game.
You might say, “I just want to learn to play a song at church,” or “I want to strum a tune at my family get-together.” That’s perfectly fine. Or maybe, you have dreams of becoming a world-class musician. Whatever your reason, be clear about it. Don’t shy away from your goal, however big or small it might be.
Now, let’s chat about inspiration. Inspiration, I believe, comes from being open to expressing yourself without worrying about what other people think. It’s about not second-guessing yourself. I think true inspiration comes from being open to something bigger, like God, and letting whatever wants to come through you do so. Let it out !! Let GOD use you to express !
When you're inspired, don’t second-guess it. Just know that what you create is unique. No one else can make the same sound or express themselves in the same way you do. You might think, “That’s just me, that’s what I did.” But trust me, no one else can do what you do, and you should feel obligated to let that shine.
No matter what your music sounds like, or what it looks like, if it comes from your heart, express it. There’s no way to know what your music might mean to someone else, and that’s not what’s important. What matters is that you get your ego out of the way and allow that music to flow through you. That’s your inspiration.
And as for motivation, remember your reason for action. Ask yourself, “Why am I doing this shit ?” As long as you stay true to your answer, you’ll stay true to the music.
So, keep strumming, keep playing, keep singing, and most importantly, keep feeling. The world needs your unique sound, and you never know whose heart you might touch with your music.
Stay inspired, stay motivated, and play on, my people. Play on !
What do you think ?