If you feel like you’re playing good music but it’s not getting the response you were hoping for, it may be you. But it might be good to try some other places. The actually physical location and the people hanging out, plus a lot of other factors affect the creation of music. Part of learning to create the music you want is learning to create an environment that helps you to create that music.
Some examples of things I think help myself and others in terms of creating a space for good music:
- being relaxed
- having your gear in good order so you can concentrate on the music
- having everyone there so you can start
- feeling comfortable in general
- being well nourished
- having a good sleep
- turning off background music and other other distractions
You can probably think of a lot of other ideas that have helped you. And you’ve probably seen the difference when you play at a place where you feel comfortable and a place where the vibe might be a little too uptight for your music.
But check this out: maybe you should try a new place. Not somewhere a few blocks away but somewhere a few hundred or thousand miles away. You’ll learn a lot about your music and how you interact with environment you’re in. I’m NOT saying you should give up on the place where you live. I am saying that you’ll expand musical possibilities by venturing outside of your geographical locale.
Taj Mahal said, “Everyone should get in touch with their roots.” I keep on thinking about this quote every once in awhile and I think it has a lot of merit. It’s something to consider because sometimes people want to play stuff that they aren’t that familiar with. That’s great and the world holds so much beautiful music. But think about the music you heard throughout your childhood. That’s your roots music. Don’t put that music down. It’s probably music you can play with ease, just like the languages you learned when you were a kid.
But Taj Mahal also was refering to the music of one’s ancestors. It’s not something to freak out about, but it’s something to check out.