The Struggle of Burnout

Burnout. Every artist experiences this at least once in their lives. However, this can be a very common occurrence for any young artist going to school for their craft. In regard to musicians, we have to balance a lot every day. Classes, rehearsals, practice, performances, extra circulars, a social life... the list just goes on and on! Over time this struggle can become a burden, and drain your love for your art. When your art becomes nothing but work, it's hard to keep your spirits up. You'll question why you're even pursuing such a career. Here are some ways I have fought against burnout during my college career as a vocalist!

Listen to Enjoyable Music

I get it. As a musician, you're probably going to listen to and analyze some pieces you really don't like. 12-tone music is certainly not for everyone. That's why it's important to sit back and listen to music you enjoy every once in a while! What's the music that inspired you to be a performer? Does your music come from an opera or musical that you can watch for fun? Give yourself a break from analyzing every note on the page and just jam out! Remember: you want to be a performer for a reason. It's time to remember why!

Confide in Others

Look, the music world is difficult. You may feel like you're always competing against everyone you meet. It's hard to compete against your friends for roles and competitions. Sometimes the best thing to do is confide in said friends about your struggles. Most likely they're having similar worries or problems. Also, if you're struggling in a class, the best thing to do is to reach out to that professor. In my experience, professors want students to reach out for help, rather than struggle and fall behind. So while you may feel that everyone is out to judge and compete against you, reaching out to others for advice and help is a very important thing to do.

Find New Ways to Explore your Craft

One of the best ways to rejuvenate your love of music is to find new ways to express yourself with it. For example, after doing so many chords, arpeggios, scales, etc. on the piano, I subconsciously built a negative reaction to the instrument. Once I was finished with my Piano Proficiency Exam, I never wanted to tickle the ivories again. However, I found that finding different ways to approach the piano has made me love it again. Instead of always practicing technique, I now play jazz/blues chords, accompany myself on pop songs, and am now learning how to do vocal exercises, fake accompaniments, and theory-oriented skills on it. Finding a new approach to music can make you see it in a whole new light! Now instead of despising the piano, I can't wait to play music on it between classes!

Take a Break

Are you having a string of lessons and coachings that are just not going the way you want them to? Are you having trouble getting those grades up because you keep getting in your own way? Have you tried some of these things on this list? Sometimes the best thing to do is just take a small break from music. Go for a run, do some visual art, hang out with friends, or do something else that you feel resets your brain! Just remember to return to your practice sometime soon!

In Conclusion

Hopefully, some of these things will be of use to you. Sometimes even putting in the effort to combat burnout feels like a lot. However, if you can rejuvenate your spark, that fire that made you passionate about being a performer in the first place, you will feel so much better. Just remember that as an artist, you are here to bring your own individual voice to the table, or in this case, stage!