5 Fundamental Ideas Every Musician Needs to Hear

00:00:00: Hello and welcome to the Inner Take podcast.

00:00:11: My name is Ramon Gardela, I'm your host.

00:00:14: The Inner Take is a podcast for musicians A space to talk about what happens inside us when we make music... ...the thoughts & feelings that shape how we play!

00:00:36: So, if you are a musician stay right there.

00:00:39: Welcome to the Inner Take!

00:00:41: Let's begin.

00:00:49: Hello everybody hello everyone.

00:00:52: thanks for being here.

00:00:54: Thanks for being there listening To The Inner Take podcast.

00:00:58: this is new episode and today I'm alone i think it was last two weeks or three maybe which didn't record an episode myself organizing the interviews and interviewing people.

00:01:14: So if you haven't done yet, I really recommend to go back and listen to the interview... The wonderful interview i did with Patricia Pinedo.

00:01:26: This was a very special episode where we talked about creativity Where Patricia had talked her story which is extremely hard And extremely inspiring what she did with music, and there was so much feedback from people that felt something.

00:01:52: And thanks for talking about this!

00:01:59: Patricia can put the things in the right words the thoughts in the right words.

00:02:07: So it was a pleasure to talk into her and I really recommend you listen this episode!

00:02:14: Today, i want to look behind what did with the inner-take podcast... ...I wanted to do summary of what has happened so far because since started doing this podcast which is March twenty-twenty six like two months three month ago.. ..i've realized there's alot information.

00:02:34: I wanted to do it every week, so... Every new episode.

00:02:38: Every Sunday or once a week and this is a lot for me because there's a lot of information under is not always enough time to process it And with my musical activity and all the things that i'm doing teaching playing traveling preparing concerts auditions the process and bring ideas of knowledge from the podcast into real life.

00:03:05: So, I don't want that this is like a theory you listen but cannot apply in real-life.

00:03:15: so when people listen to podcasts mostly they feel connected or it rings a bell.

00:03:22: I really wanted the podcast and ideas to be part of musical life.

00:03:36: To help people, that you can apply things they're...I'm talking here or their guests are talking like how do manage a project?

00:03:50: Things Patricia talked last time And then you can applied it in your live.

00:03:55: Because for me just in theory.

00:04:00: It's not... it's good, but is not the best and its' not what musicians today need because we need to apply things into search for solutions.

00:04:13: And at the same time podcast is new as I said two months three months And because of that, things start happening.

00:04:31: People become interested in people you would never expect and I started receiving feedback... Let me tell you this every word that i receive is so important!

00:04:42: Not the word gesture question message reaction.

00:04:46: when people asked about a podcast or talked about it.

00:04:52: very carefully because I care a lot about what you, the listeners think and what they want to hear.

00:04:59: And for me it's to adapt the podcast and to adapt content that i'm making.

00:05:05: It is funny as many of them are friends or colleagues which means we start talking our work in ways not before.

00:05:16: This also something new for us!

00:05:17: For example if I go play an orchestra as guest I mean, we always talk about percussion or the concert.

00:05:26: Or these projects are this trouble or this instrument.

00:05:28: and now We're talking about a podcast as Person is saying hey How do how it's a podcast doing?

00:05:36: Uh i listened to The last episode And i think It was great and you know it and It started A new way of communicating with people and even would With colleagues that i know From long time.

00:05:51: So today I decided, I want to stop.

00:05:54: To take a break but not taking the break But looking back and make it summary.

00:06:01: so put The ideas together what i learned doing this podcast?

00:06:07: And What could i and what can i Take out from the podcast?

00:06:13: all the information that i've been talking about and Make like list of things That are for me things that I learned.

00:06:22: And i would really like to talk about this with my own words and not from the book Music and Emotions, so...I would like try to reach you in another way!

00:06:37: So today I want to talk to you about five biggest lessons Not only from recording the episodes, but also as I said.

00:06:47: From talking to people receiving feedback and being part of all The new things that have started happening around this project since March.

00:06:56: And these are five ideas That keep appearing again on again whether i am talking to guests colleagues friends or listeners.

00:07:05: I believe these are five things you need to know if you want start thinking about music, your career and relationship with music from a different perspective.

00:07:16: Some of this ideas may feel familiar or uncomfortable but all them have helped me understand myself better as musician And today i wanna share it.

00:07:29: So the first idea and one of the most important, this is why I started doing this podcast.

00:07:36: First idea is how we feel extremely important?

00:07:44: How do you feel making music as an artist ?

00:07:50: What does it need to be heard or have a place in our lives for musicians?

00:07:56: It's just as important as technical progress!

00:08:01: The way you talk to yourself, the voice in your head that talks to you has a huge influence on how you play.

00:08:09: On how you practice and especially on How You Talk To Yourself And What You Believe You Are.

00:08:16: So what do you think you are?

00:08:18: And...the answer to this question is.. There's a voice inside of it talking and telling you how YOU ARE!

00:08:29: I would say in ninety-five percent it's not true, this voice is NOT talking the truth to you.

00:08:35: We all have an idea of who we are and very often that i-that idea... ...is cruel because we talk to ourselves as if we were worthless!

00:08:45: And it happened to me and I know it happens to YOU in great amount or less.

00:08:54: but there is always a time when we tell ourselves We are not worth, we're not good enough.

00:09:06: And when I started studying in Germany... ...I compared myself to my colleagues all the time!

00:09:11: So there was a voice telling me constantly that what i'm doing is wrong and it wasn't enough.

00:09:19: so my colleagues were better emotions, the thoughts that we have.

00:09:28: Because it is often a taboo in music world and because many people consider It's waste of time has very real consequences such as performance anxiety stage fright or even being unable to perform.

00:09:45: And this would take you apart from your music because You want to do music?

00:09:51: If don't care about all things like studying your instrument or progressing in your instruments and your voice, and your composition skills.

00:10:02: If you don't take care of how you feel it's the same... You are going to see a lack of attention on this aspect.

00:10:14: And this voice is so important our inner voice!

00:10:17: We create long lists of terrible things that we tell ourselves because we cannot play THE WAY WE WANT TO PLAY.

00:10:25: I really experienced strong stage fright, performance anxiety.

00:10:30: And i still do in a less amount.

00:10:33: and In twenty sixteenth when arrived in Germany... ...I noticed this was the voice of my head telling me that I'm not enough.. ..and then started to process therapy which helped take path To heal this and to understand what was going on in my head.

00:10:55: So recognizing that voice is essential if we want to understand why sometimes things do not work.

00:11:02: And this is beside how good in your instrument you are, How good You play... ...how many hours Do you play?

00:11:11: This is about What you think and what you feel and the impact does these things have In Your life as a musician.

00:11:17: The second point number two And now I want to take away the weight of your shoulders.

00:11:23: Right now, and i tell you that second thing is... You are not alone in what you feel!

00:11:29: It's NOT strange like a failure or have doubts before going on stage.

00:11:34: IT'S NOT STRANGE TO FEEL THE WAY YOU FEEL.

00:11:37: You're not the only one feeling this.

00:11:40: Every musician experienced it every single one.

00:11:43: maybe more may be less.

00:11:46: The problem is nobody talks about it.

00:11:48: So, you keep it to yourself because there is no place where we can go and talk openly about what do feel.

00:11:54: That's why you think that your are strange!

00:11:57: You don't belong in this world of music And... Of course very few teachers address these topics Honestly.

00:12:07: my experience most focus on technique and helping me move forward with career But.. To talk how you feel and to give space to this.

00:12:17: And how important is what you feel, and how can you perform?

00:12:23: These things are so close together!

00:12:29: So allow yourself now to feel some relief because you're not alone in a world of perfect musicians... I received feedback from the listeners who told me that it's great because I thought i was alone in a world of perfection.

00:12:49: I was the one playing bad or feeling nervous, performance anxiety... In a world where people do everything well.

00:12:58: and this is not true!

00:12:59: Because we are all dealing with these things but in different ways.

00:13:03: And if you don't understand how important it has the act of going on stage and play an instrument, and play music.

00:13:16: If we don't understand this it's impossible to live with it in a peaceful way.

00:13:23: understanding means taking care of things you have to take care.

00:13:29: one is your instrument two is your career.

00:13:33: not that order but I want say N-one your emotional and psychological aspect.

00:13:39: What do you feel?

00:13:40: what Do You think how do you Feel doing it?

00:13:43: number three the number Three is about Understanding that making music and building a career are not The same thing, And I talked A whole episode About It.

00:13:56: So when we realize That We Are constantly Playing for Someone Else For Another Person to Approve Us Support us Or Give Us a Position we start to understand the difference.

00:14:09: And building a career is great, I wish everybody has a great career in music and get more concerts and more money and opportunities.

00:14:17: but The driving force should always be making music not building your career.

00:14:23: if you concentrate yourself on making music then connect with the sound and express what have say through sounds or instruments You have more chances of building a greater career, because people are going to see you.

00:14:41: People who're going to hear you.

00:14:43: if I may pick someone to play with me or be part of the project... ...I want to have somebody deeply involved in music and not someone which is only looking for opportunities to grow into career no matter what!

00:14:58: So the more we focus on making music it's the more that will grow our careers And never the other way around.

00:15:06: And this does not only happen while you're studying music, for example I don't know when someone invites to join a project whether it is an orchestra or ensemble or anything else?

00:15:18: The first thing that happens is so do feel happy very happy because somebody invited you i call these like flames fire inside of your head said yes and got invited!

00:15:31: So and the question pops up and said can I do it well?

00:15:36: Were they happy with me?

00:15:37: are you going to be happy with Me, are they going to call me again.

00:15:44: Am i going to have another project because of this And notice that all of these happens long before you start thinking rationally about a project itself.

00:15:54: It's like a system that pops up.

00:15:58: You are very happy and then you're like all these insecurities, and all this questions that acts as a system.

00:16:07: And of course we want to do good job!

00:16:09: Of course you wanna play well... Your contribution will be useful in the best case but being called again cannot be reason for your movement.. You have to connect with music No matter which is the project, you want to connect with this music.

00:16:30: You want to see how can you do your greatest?

00:16:36: With this music and it doesn't in my case.

00:16:38: It doesn't matter if he's new music If his rock music if it's orchestral music If its improvised music.

00:16:46: you want To Do the best with the music you have to work with at that moment.

00:16:54: And this being called again should be a consequence of connecting with the music.

00:16:59: So you connect with your music, a lot!

00:17:02: The most you can.

00:17:04: and then things happen... And THEN You have the opportunities and then they will call YOU again.

00:17:10: And for sure they'll call you again.

00:17:12: Number four is the importance of starting to ask yourself why do you play?

00:17:18: What kind of performer are you?

00:17:20: Because all our musical actions are connected to our intention.

00:17:26: For example, if I play so I do not make mistakes or and i Do NOT Make mistakes in those passages where?

00:17:37: I believe.

00:17:38: I must not make mistake.

00:17:40: So I practice that way.

00:17:43: I practiced in order Not to make mistakes And I listen That Way.

00:17:48: so what do I Listen?

00:17:49: I listen for mistakes I listen the person who is playing.

00:17:53: Where is he or she going to fail?

00:17:58: And I only criticize the performance.

00:18:03: That way, i become this person who's looking for errors and mistakes.

00:18:11: Usually these patterns make me look only for mistakes also in other people and use them as a reason why something did not work For example.

00:18:22: This person is like that.

00:18:24: So, that's why we cannot have a good relationship.

00:18:27: I'm always looking what are the other people doing wrong?

00:18:34: and this is wrong because i think it's wrong but i can not accept how they are.

00:18:39: so she's like dad he's like Dad And thats why uh... The relationship doesn't work or It works the way it does.

00:18:49: when you start asking yourself why you play, you will recognize two things.

00:18:53: The first is that you probably do not have an answer... You don't have a clue why you're playing and ...you DON'T know WHY for what or for whom you are playing.

00:19:03: so YOU ARE playing but WHY are you playing?

00:19:06: And the second thing this requires little deeper investigation Is that for a long time you may have been playing to be accepted to achieve something bigger in your career, or so that a certain person let's say a teacher colleague jury member likes what you do and accepts you.

00:19:27: And as already know we talked about this here This is part of building a career... ...and it would be good to be aware of it and understand.

00:19:34: We are not connected with the musical act itself.

00:19:38: So ask why do play?

00:19:42: Look which is the answer!

00:19:44: The last of the points for today.

00:19:48: This is number five and this really, it's also a revelation to me doing these podcasts talking about people I talked with and the people that i'm going to talk with.

00:20:00: It appears... let us say.. this message!

00:20:05: And everything is still to be made.

00:20:09: Everything is still.

00:20:13: If there is one thing I've learned during these last three months making this podcast and interviewed the amazing guest that i have, it's nobody.

00:20:23: Absolutely Nobody!

00:20:25: It's going to give you permission to launch your idea Your project or whatever belongs to You In some way.

00:20:32: we are all me as well.

00:20:35: We're all waiting for That Permission because of The same Thing we talked about before We are used to play for someone else.

00:20:44: We're used it, we learned that our teachers taught this... ...we are educated to believe that someone always has to give us approval before doing something.

00:20:55: and That strange and comfortable unsettling feeling you get when You start doing Something.. that Feeling that you Are Doing something wrong or that voice that tells you maybe don't do It!

00:21:09: or see nobody needs this.

00:21:11: That feeling is the price you pay for doing something yourself without waiting someone else's permission, and hold on!

00:21:20: This is very important.

00:21:21: so... The guilt that you feel because your started to do it in some way.

00:21:26: Or let say the guilt of insecurity when you start doing something else It´s a price to pay Because You are doing it And you're not waitin' for somebody To tell you Do it.

00:21:38: Yeah, you can do it.

00:21:40: It's good...it is bad!

00:21:41: No?

00:21:41: Its like the tax that you have to pay.

00:21:44: And The truth is..It is very difficult To start an idea or a project Or anything else without feeling insecure and full of doubts.

00:21:54: If your studying You are always waiting for and need the approval Of your teacher if u can play exam If go further in your studies you can pass the year Play this concert play this audition and so on.

00:22:09: But when you go out, a real life starts... Real musical life start.

00:22:17: it's very difficult to start the project because You are not going to have disapproval And It is hard!

00:22:27: I tell how it works.

00:22:29: The most important thing is that you must start small One idea Bringing something into the light that has been inside you.

00:22:41: I don't know, let's say a song Let's say A composition or video?

00:22:45: A picture of yourself doing something?

00:22:48: A sentence, poem anything!

00:22:51: Anything with art Has to see the Light First in small amount.

00:22:58: Don't wait for the feedback if you have nothing else.

00:23:01: Patricia said last episode If want play concert make first playlist.

00:23:06: And once it comes into light, It starts taking its own path while you keep worrying and doubting.

00:23:13: This is the most amazing thing if you start this project.

00:23:17: This idea started his own path!

00:23:22: Of course he keeps working on it but there are so many things that happen.

00:23:28: They happened because you started it and when it survives over time, It starts evolving into places.

00:23:35: You never expected And the feeling is still there but it becomes smaller.

00:23:41: Do I keep going or not?

00:23:46: Keep this idea!

00:23:56: Because you realize that you have the power to make whatever decision.

00:24:01: You want for your project?

00:24:02: YOU HAVE THE POWER!

00:24:05: So, you didn't wait for recognitions and said I'm going for it all in.

00:24:11: And now we have the Power to say okay i stop it I, myself... I started a podcast with one episode a week and then I said Okay Wait no..I need more time.

00:24:21: I need more Time to process It anymore time to think about it.

00:24:24: Now Im seeing.

00:24:27: maybe I need two weeks for every episode and this doesn't mean anything.

00:24:33: It's still there, it's still rowing!

00:24:38: And as i said you have the decision in your hand.

00:24:43: You can continue ,you can change direction .You can transform it !

00:24:47: You can even let it completely and start again... You can do that today now.. You don't need permission ..it is one button ...and just like that It's gone.

00:24:57: so you can do that today.

00:24:58: You don't need permission it's only one Button and just like that, it's gone.

00:25:06: So these are the things The five things I wanted to share with you today.

00:25:10: five Very very important things for me And hopefully for you after listening to this podcast.

00:25:19: Each one of them could easily be an episode on its own.

00:25:22: I know because there is much more to say, much more explore and much more understand And i always like give example what happened with me Like a real example so you can address your life and compare how it's in YOUR case.

00:25:41: For me the important thing simply knowing that these things exist.

00:25:46: So this five points they exist And there are not small topics, they're fundamental and very deep questions that influence the way we make music.

00:25:55: The way we build a career in the way related to ourselves as musicians.

00:25:59: so this is why I believe it's important when you talk about them even more important than will continue exploring together if you have any doubt or question If want share your experience.

00:26:12: i think this part of growth community is living the same thing when you see that uh, You are not alone.

00:26:21: That your case It's like this and the case of someone else is also very similar to you.

00:26:27: So let's keep it together.

00:26:30: Thank you for listening And I will see in next episode.

00:26:34: Take care to yourself Bye bye.

00:26:41: If something in this episode resonated with you, I invite you to take a look at mental notes.

00:26:46: The link is the description.

00:26:48: there You'll find texts videos and short resources that can help you explore these ideas further And most importantly spaced to talk about them.

00:26:57: Thank you for taking the time to listen to me.

00:27:00: see you next time.

00:27:01: Take care of yourself.