Need some motivation.

Indra777 · **Need some motivation. -** 04-13-2009, 08:07 PM

Hey guys. I'm feeling down because I'm struggling with my composing/arranging. I'm lacking motivation; I just don't feel like doing it. But I really WANT to do it because I love music and I really hope to be a great composer one day, but I just can't seem to get going. Whenever I try to arrange or compose something I get really frustrated and stressed out...it's kind of weird....

If anyone can help with this then I will love you forever...

**Nicol Armarfi** · 04-14-2009, 07:59 AM

Take a walk. No seriously, just go walk outside for a few hours.

**CarloCrizaldo** · 04-14-2009, 08:55 AM

Just relax. I feel this way frequently. What I do, is listen to my iPod and relax. I usually get ideas quickly and my frustration disappears.

**MelloSinfonian** · 04-14-2009, 10:09 AM

Perhaps you need a brief hiatus. How often do you usually compose/arrange? Depending on that, it's very possible that you've just burnt yourself out. I think that if you really love it, you can take a break from it and come back much more excited about it later.

At least, that's how it went for me. I arranged intensely last year, and took a break for around 2 months this spring. Now I'm back at it, and better than ever!

Another thing that helps motivate me is listening to my previous works that I'm most proud of, and listening to arrangements that I consider much better than my own work. Same concept as listening to better trumpet players to motivate me to practice.

LegendaryCloud89 · 04-14-2009, 11:55 AM

Yeah, everyone has great points. Just take a break from it. Like Jonathan(MelloSinfonian) said, listen to previous arrangements that you really enjoy. I do that as well. But yeah, take some time off and perhaps start a new video game or something to give you new motivation.

**Joseph Perkins** · 04-14-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indra777

Hey guys. I'm feeling down because I'm struggling with my composing/arranging. I'm lacking motivation; I just don't feel like doing it. But I really WANT to do it because I love music and I really hope to be a great composer one day, but I just can't seem to get going. Whenever I try to arrange or compose something I get really frustrated and stressed out...it's kind of weird....

If anyone can help with this then I will love you forever...

Do you know exactly what frustrates you when you try to compose/arrange?

Indra777 · 04-14-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph Perkins

Do you know exactly what frustrates you when you try to compose/arrange?

I'm not exactly sure, but I think that I try too hard to make my arrangement perfect. It's just how my brain works...nothing I can really do about it. I know it's impossible to have the 'perfect' arrangement but I'm a perfectionist and when I try to arrange/compose the two just don't seem to mix...

LegendaryCloud89 · 04-14-2009, 04:36 PM

That's a good point, I'm a bit of a perfectionist myself. Heh, that maybe some of the reason why I don't arrange as much as I used to.

katethegreat19 · 04-14-2009, 04:55 PM

I go to the library if possible...O.O and just pick up anything on any subject at all that catches my interest...cookbooks, manga, poisonous mushrooms, Egyptian poetry, voodoo xD
it always gets me fired up! I find that inspiration returns in a day or even immediately!
you just need some new thought trails ^_^

MilesOfMusic · 04-14-2009, 09:13 PM

Cookbooks are the best. Maybe they could give you inspiration? Cookbooks are the best.