Next Step Musicianship, pt. 1

To be a Next Step Musician, you’re always looking for ways you can stretch yourself with your music. It starts with practicing (which is a prerequisite for being a musician in the first place), and extends into new areas, covering new ground, new mountains to climb, exercising new muscles and inviting you into brand new experiences.

Next Step Musicians are intentional about learning, growing, creating, attaining the next level in their art. The next level will be specific to the individual and will depend on that person taking some new action in some new way toward a big goal.

For example-

• An accomplished high school guitarist now decides to reinvent his music by learning the banjo
• A local folk guitar player and singer decides to start performing at nursing homes
• A lead guitar student decides to record her entry for a scholarship contest at a local festival
• A middle school percussionist decides to learn the piano
• A soft-spoken flute player steps way out of her comfort zone to play her flute on her church’s music team
• A retired gentlemen who has played wind instruments for years in community bands now decides to stretch himself on the guitar

And these are all people I know.

Whatever level you find yourself at with your music, you can always find a new challenge.

Here’s a hypothetical example-

A high school band teacher will be in the habit of practicing and accomplishing new pieces of music, that’s become the norm for them. So actual next steps, that is, ways they can stretch, grow, and develop, might include:

• Seeking out a new mentor
• Teaching the piano
• Composing their own music
• Learning the harmonica
• Creating a non-profit organization that provides quality concerts in underserved communities
• Writing books on music
• And on and on…

To truly be a next step musician, you’ll need to have a reasonably clear idea of where you stand right now. Maybe you’re a beginner, and your next step is to find a good teacher. Maybe you play already, but you don’t know how to improvise or compose. Maybe your next step is to record your music and give it away to friends.

Next steps can be a little scary at first. They can also be addicting. And I have to tell you, when you see yourself doing and becoming what you only dreamed of before, it will never be enough. There are always next steps.

What are the Next Steps for you and your music?