So if he doesn't get to play Carnegie Hall, he just ups and drops the whole thing? Yeah, well, welcome to the topsy-turvy world of rock and roll. I'll admit I only skimmed it, because the opening came across as whiny, but I guess the gist is that practicing should be taken as a pleasure unto itself. Well, duh. If you don't like playing your instrument for its own sake, I would guess you'd never make it as a pro regardless of your skill.
It became evident at an early age that I was not the next Jimmy Page. That didn't keep me from continuing with the guitar for the next forty years. Oh, I've been paid for my playing from time to time, but I'd never make a living at it. Just like the huge numbers of musicians who are far, far better than I'll ever dream to be: they can't make a living at it, either. It's a tough business. Oh, you had to go be an editorial assistant? Hey, beats waiting tables, which is what even more skilled musicians are doing every day in cities around the world.
There is no danger of anyone paying to hear me play the mandolin I bought this year, either. Doesn't stop me from playing the hell out of it. I like playing it, knowing I'll never make a dime off doing so. I've not even concluded that I'll ever be any good at it, let alone paid. But my wife doesn't mind my playing (that she says, anyway), I like it, so I'll stick with it.
The imposter syndrome part I never got (I might have skimmed the article, but I specifically looked for that). How can a musician have imposter syndrome? Developers, eh, I may not find out for a month or two that they suck (which is what "imposters" worry about). A musician? Pick up that Fender, knock out _Crossroads_ for me, we'll find out really quick whether you're any good.
(Feel free to down vote me for mouthing off about an article I barely read, I probably deserve it. I'll take the hit, but frankly what I read was whiny and kind of boring/obvious, yet I couldn't let it go without comment.)
It became evident at an early age that I was not the next Jimmy Page. That didn't keep me from continuing with the guitar for the next forty years. Oh, I've been paid for my playing from time to time, but I'd never make a living at it. Just like the huge numbers of musicians who are far, far better than I'll ever dream to be: they can't make a living at it, either. It's a tough business. Oh, you had to go be an editorial assistant? Hey, beats waiting tables, which is what even more skilled musicians are doing every day in cities around the world.
There is no danger of anyone paying to hear me play the mandolin I bought this year, either. Doesn't stop me from playing the hell out of it. I like playing it, knowing I'll never make a dime off doing so. I've not even concluded that I'll ever be any good at it, let alone paid. But my wife doesn't mind my playing (that she says, anyway), I like it, so I'll stick with it.
The imposter syndrome part I never got (I might have skimmed the article, but I specifically looked for that). How can a musician have imposter syndrome? Developers, eh, I may not find out for a month or two that they suck (which is what "imposters" worry about). A musician? Pick up that Fender, knock out _Crossroads_ for me, we'll find out really quick whether you're any good.
(Feel free to down vote me for mouthing off about an article I barely read, I probably deserve it. I'll take the hit, but frankly what I read was whiny and kind of boring/obvious, yet I couldn't let it go without comment.)