Why do this?

[nate w]

This thread is along the lines of the previous one posted about "giving up" mandolin. I got to thinking about the days that I ask myself ( Why do I do this?) some days just seem like the mando and your fingers are forign strangers to one another and all you think of are the same old songs you learned as a newbie, things can get frustrating, then there are those days that everything clicks, you instantly pick out a song you didn't even think was playable yet, and you fingers seem to do no wrong, and don't even get me started on the cosmic connections that can transpire sometimes while playing with others and the addiction of the acoustic "drive".


Just a few thoughts to let others know they are not alone in their musical journey, these things happen to us all, never give up.

[pickinpete]

Here, here Nate! If you start at the finish line, why run the race? In just about every aspect of life there are ups and downs, perseverance is the key.

[OldSausage]

Although, bear in mind, if you really have put in the practice for a long time, you're not enjoying it and you're not getting any better, there are plenty of other things to do with your time that are more fun and easier. :mandosmiley:

[JEStanek]

The key is not enjoying it. I've been playing for years, I don't practice too much (being honest) and I haven't gotten leaps and bounds better. However, just playing a little lowers the blood pressure and makes me happy. For many of us that's the point. Play to be happy. If you are playing with others, you need to put in the work to keep up with them, just like with jogging or bike riding. But, it's a very good idea to have realistic goals that you can achieve. If you're not happy meeting realistic goals, find a better pursuit.

Jamie

[GRW3]

Music keeps me sane. I don't have to be the best I just have to enjoy it. One of my heartbreaks as a youth was realizing I did not have the talent or temperment to be a professional musician. One of the joys was realizing the music could support me in other ways.

[John Flynn]

I wrote the following a long time ago, as sort of a journal entry, just to answer this question for myself when I was feeling a bit like the OP describes that players can feel from time to time. I found it theraputic. The exercise kind of re-centered me. I did not mean it to apply to anyone else, but if anyone gets anything out of it, more's the better.

Why I Play
1. To simply enjoy playing music
2. To play music I enjoy (not the same as #1)
3. To enjoy fellowship with other musicians
4. To occasionally play for audiences and when I do, to create a meaningful experience for them
5. To generate internal feelings of accomplishment and personal satisfaction
6. To celebrate and continue the true spirit of musical traditions I care about
7. To be able to pass on the joy of playing to others where I can
8. To communicate ideas and feelings I have that I cannot express adequately any other way
9. To more actively be involved in my religious faith (I play at church every week)
10. Because I can!

“Not reasons” I play. Reasons that I, as a purely personal choice, try to avoid as driving forces for playing:
1. Not to be better than anyone else
2. Not to sound like anyone else
3. Not to impress other people
4. Not as an excuse to buy the “hardware” (MAS)
5. Not to preserve any dogmatic ideas of traditionalism in music
6. Not to make money (not that I would have to worry about that in any case, LOL!)

[billkilpatrick]

i like the sound of a mandolin - it moves me ... 'nuff said.

[OldSausage]

“Not reasons” I play. Reasons that I, as a purely personal choice, try to avoid as driving forces for playing:
1. Not to be better than anyone else
2. Not to sound like anyone else
3. Not to impress other people
4. Not as an excuse to buy the “hardware” (MAS)
5. Not to preserve any dogmatic ideas of traditionalism in music
6. Not to make money (not that I would have to worry about that in any case, LOL!)

Oh dear, I guess I play for all the wrong reasons. It's still fun though!

[man dough nollij]

To pick up chicks.

Hasn't really worked yet, but I did startle an emperor chick and a couple of adelies...

[Youda]

I have those days. Had one yesterday. I couldn't hit a clean chord to save my life. In disgust, I put that mandolin back in its case, knowing that I'd never been good enough to play "twinkle, twinkle, little star" in front of a child's birthday party. Ah, but it had nothing to do with the mandolin. It was my general mood from another bigger, more pervasive, and largely unsolvable problem.

And that's what my mandolin does for me. When I'm angry, I can play as miserable as I feel. When I'm happy, it's high and lute-like notes express it perfectly. When I'm sad, I can play every sad song I know. At the risk of becoming too prosaic, I'll just say, why not do it?

[Mike Bromley]

To pick up chicks.

Hasn't really worked yet, but I did startle an emperor chick and a couple of adelies...


You and yer choice of continents....

[Mike Bromley]

This thread is along the lines of the previous one posted about "giving up" mandolin. I got to thinking about the days that I ask myself ( Why do I do this?) some days just seem like the mando and your fingers are forign strangers to one another and all you think of are the same old songs you learned as a newbie, things can get frustrating, then there are those days that everything clicks, you instantly pick out a song you didn't even think was playable yet, and you fingers seem to do no wrong, and don't even get me started on the cosmic connections that can transpire sometimes while playing with others and the addiction of the acoustic "drive".


Just a few thoughts to let others know they are not alone in their musical journey, these things happen to us all, never give up.

Prettiest set of handcuffs in the world, the mandolin.

[man dough nollij]

You and yer choice of continents....

Gotta cover the globe, Mike. I'll startle the pengies, and you can spook the camels! :mandosmiley:

[Steve-o]

The key is not enjoying it. I've been playing for years, I don't practice too much (being honest) and I haven't gotten leaps and bounds better. However, just playing a little lowers the blood pressure and makes me happy. For many of us that's the point. Play to be happy.
Jamie

I have much the same experience and philosophy as you, Jamie. Playing makes me happy and is a form of therapy. I miss it when I'm away from home. I'll probably never be in a band, but enjoy playing solo as well as in small groups.

Oh, sure I have good days and bad days with my playing ability, but that's only human. I suppose if one is really driven to perform, but is progressing is painfully slow, that would be frustrating. The key for me is to guard my expectations. When I feel clutzy, I cut my sessions short. When I feel in the groove, I try to play longer.

I can't really understand why any adult would play mandolin, or any instrument for that matter, if it wasn't for sheer enjoyment.

[Fretbear]

Why one plays is not really the proper question, as everyone already knows the answer to that, which is because they want to; real bad. The real question is how does one transition from the position of just wanting to play to simply being able to play. The answer to that is surprisingly simple and was supplied by the original poster: "Never give up". Giving up is the single and only sure-fire way to guarantee that you will in fact never be a mandolin player, good or bad is irrelevant at that point as you are then out of it. I should have quit a long time ago and indeed even tried to, but couldn't quite manage it somehow. My reward? I am a mandolin player today and for all the rest of my days, God willing. I have always been fascinated by this dichotomy between aspiring towards and simply practicing any art form. Even doctors and lawyers must first have to learn their professions so that they can then practice, and excuse, me, but I consider music to be a higher calling than at least one of those professions.
For me it is all about ease and relaxation. If I can relax and feel that everything is fine and as it should be, whether I am attempting to learn the first few faltering notes of a brand-new piece in my room, or recording or performing in front of a large crowd of people where any "mistakes" will be noted by myself and all, then I never find any problem or conflict. It is difficult to achieve but easy to practice; you simply constantly identify and then remove all tension and unease from your musical expression. If one is unable to relax and be at ease doing common things, as some people unfortunately are, then they are not going to be able to magically apply it their playing, which can make even a mellow person tense up. If your music is an expression of tension and unease, then that is the gift you give to your listener, your audience and to yourself. Like I said, difficult to achieve but easy to practice, just like mandolin playing.

[journeybear]

To pick up chicks.

Hasn't really worked yet, but I did startle an emperor chick and a couple of adelies...

If you ever get tired of chasing pengie chicks, you could always visit here. The island is overrun with free-roaming chickens ~:> - I don't mean free-range, I mean wild - more than the feral cats can handle. In fact, these scaredy-cats steer clear of the chickens, and rightly so - they are vicious. :disbelief:

[Rob Brown]

I keep a mando at work because I have a lot of "layover" time during the middle of the day. I keep it in my locker and usually try to practice every day for an hour or so. Some times I just sleep. Some days are good. Some days aren't. Yesterday I could have walked away from it, but today was a really good day. I actually felt as though I was really starting to pick up on accuracy and speed. My tremolo was working better and I felt for a moment that there really was some form of communication between my hands and my brain. I felt as though I was finally getting a better understanding of the instrument. I'll play again tomorrow.