Hitting a wall....as of late.. | Moe’s Tavern 2.0: A Guitar Forum

mikem
Wholenote

Musician soundman musician soundman

Posts: 231

Hitting a wall....as of late.. Dec 3, 2020 7:35:57 GMT -5

Home Quote

Post by mikem on Dec 3, 2020 7:35:57 GMT -5

G'morning,

When the pandemic hit around here (mid-March) as a woodwind player I decided to do some major wood-shedding on one of my instruments (specifically clarinet); dig out some of my method books from college, work on tone production, articulation, speeding up my technique, etc. plus learn a new instrument.

In April I started playing electric bass and have been having fun with it (scales, arpeggios, chords, reading) - right now I am playing Christmas carol melodies just for something different to play.....

I did play six gigs in Sept/Oct but the covid-creep plus cold weather has shut things down again. Seeing that the pandemic is not going away too soon I feel that "real" gigging will not start up until June/July the earliest....

As of now I'm back in practice mode (more so trying to stay motivated to practice).

I have zero interest in recording - btw.

Part of me wants to shut-down playing my instruments for a month or two but reality tells me that someone of my age (61) shouldn't stop because it may be tough to get back (build my chops) to gigging facility.

I am not gifted (musically). I have to practice to keep my chops up.

Part of my playing is in a professional orchestra where members have been fired (let-go) due to diminishing facility. The orchestra has cancelled its 20-21 season due to covid concerns for its "rather old" fan base. When it starts up again my chops have to be polished.

I want to decide when to retire - not be "asked to retire".

So...why am I writing this?

...dunno.....

but now I feel like "shedding" for a couple of hours today.....

AA for musicians (Musicians Anonymous)??

lol

Auf Kiltre
Virtuoso

Posts: 6,457

Formerly Known As: littleuch

Hitting a wall....as of late.. Dec 3, 2020 10:59:02 GMT -5

Home Quote

Post by Auf Kiltre on Dec 3, 2020 10:59:02 GMT -5

I think this is crisis mode for many/most(?) of us. I moved to Texas from Florida mid-March with the excitement of having my own dedicated music room. I now look around at 4 walls covered in guitars and spend more time thinking about mods and setups than I do playing them. I've always had a passion for recording (even more-so than gigging) so that option is still there, but have struggled with motivation this year. But at least the things are still in place to make that happen should the inspiration hit. I don't think any of us were prepared for "this thing" to go on this long.

Peegoo 🏁
Supporting Member

Beast of Bourbon

Posts: 6,413
Age: nt Or: ange

Hitting a wall....as of late.. Dec 3, 2020 12:11:53 GMT -5

Home Quote

Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Dec 3, 2020 12:11:53 GMT -5

There is a similar discussion over "on another network" (another guitar discussion board). Many musicians are feeling the pinch of not being able to collaborate with other players. You have to find other ways to interact and stay on your game.

Look here. This is a worldwide network of players using this, and I imagine woodwind and reed players would be sought after in this community:

jamulus.io

Any rebroadcast, reproduction, or other use of the pictures and accounts of this post without the express written consent of Major League Goofball is encouraged.