How Can You Revive Your Stagnant Tunes?

Do you have any tunes in your repertoire that you don’t play well anymore? 

Perhaps you learned them when you weren’t as experienced and practiced in bad technique. Perhaps you’ve been playing them for so long that your embellishments and rhythm have become less than ideal. Or perhaps you’ve been working on the same sets for so long that you just aren’t getting any better as a player! 

First and foremost, let's address the elephant in the room: mastery takes time. Remember when learning your early tunes seemed like an insurmountable task? Over time, as your skills grow, you’ll find yourself picking up new tunes more quickly. Think of it like riding a bike; it’s awkward at first, but you eventually find your balance and begin to enjoy the ride.

Imagine reading the same book over and over again. While you might notice new details each time, eventually, it stops being as exciting. The same applies to music. Repeating the same tune ad nauseam can lead to burnout. Instead, why not explore new tunes and styles? By broadening your musical repertoire, you’ll not only find joy in the variety but will also become a more well-rounded musician.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you need to perfect one tune before moving on to the next. But here's the thing: you don't have to! It’s about striking a balance. Focus on getting a tune to about 80% polished, then move on to the next one. You’ll find that when you revisit these tunes later, they’ll come more naturally because you’ve grown as a musician.

Many top-tier musicians don’t spend their time perfecting one tune to the nth degree. Instead, they cultivate general skills that make them good at any tune they pick up. The secret to their success lies in diverse practice. Think of it like learning to cook; once you understand basic techniques, you can apply them to any recipe and it will come out well.

Check out the Dojo Conversations podcast as Jim and I discuss how to revive your stagnant repertoire.