---
title: "Growing as a Musician: Progress Isn't Linear"

description: "False expectations are one of the biggest reasons that people give up. In this pod, I talk music (and other) progress, and my view on difficult and rewarding journey of growth."

status: complete

date: 2022-08-23

kind: solo

guestSlugs: []

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Growing-as-a-Musician-Progress-Isnt-Linear-e1ms84r"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/growing-as-a-musician-progress-isnt-linear/id1567355195?i=1000577121441&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/6J7l3CwxIokEX99UnuU4Xx"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Progress in Music"
  - "Learning Challenges"
  - "Embracing Discomfort"
  - "Nonlinear Growth"
  - "Expectations vs Reality"
  - "Perseverance in Art"

hostNote: |
  "The second that you're making music that feels easy is the second that you're making bad music." That line is the whole episode in one sentence, but getting there takes some unpacking.
  
  I use a running analogy (borrowed from my girlfriend, who actually runs marathons) to explain why most days of practice don't feel like progress. Your body, and your brain, is being rewired. A scuba diving analogy covers the acclimation part: discomfort isn't a signal to stop, it's the signal that the adaptation is happening.
  
  What you take away is a clearer picture of why growth feels like regression, why some days you wake up worse than the day before, and why that's exactly what you should expect.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Understanding Progress Isn't Linear"
    startSec: 50
    note: "I discuss how my girlfriend, a runner, taught me that progress is not a straightforward path."
  - label: "The Importance of Discomfort in Training"
    startSec: 141
    note: "I explain that most training doesn't feel like a progression as you constantly push your limits."
  - label: "Overcoming Mental Barriers in Learning"
    startSec: 274
    note: "I share a scuba diving analogy to illustrate the importance of acclimating to discomfort for growth."
  - label: "Physical Rewiring during Learning"
    startSec: 498
    note: "I describe the mental adjustments required in learning an instrument, likening it to reprogramming the brain."
  - label: "The Painful Yet Rewarding Nature of Progress"
    startSec: 589
    note: "I reflect on how true progress often feels painful and frustrating before reaping its rewards."
  - label: "Creative Growth Over Time"
    startSec: 676
    note: "I emphasize the importance of change and growth in an artist's progression over the years."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "The reality is most of the runs are not even going to feel like a progression..."
    startSec: 146
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Some days you're going to wake up and you're going to be worse than the day before..."
    startSec: 232
    reviewed: true
  - text: "The goal is... to find that zone, and if you don't find that zone, you're going to slip between the cracks."
    startSec: 225
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Learning is painful but it's worth it in the same way that exercise is worth it."
    startSec: 551
    reviewed: true
  - text: "The second that you're making music that feels easy is the second that you're making bad music."
    startSec: 636
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What challenges do musicians face during their growth process?"
    answer: "Musicians often encounter moments of stagnation, frustration, and discomfort as they navigate their artistic journey."
  - question: "How can music progress be measured?"
    answer: "Progress in music is often nonlinear and can feel painful; true growth is identified through milestones rather than constant improvement."
  - question: "What is the role of discomfort in learning music?"
    answer: "Embracing discomfort is essential as it signifies pushing one's limits and is necessary for genuine growth in music."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---