How to Keep Motivated

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Hey Again Guys .
I am back here with another thread. It's been a while.
There are many people on this board and mostly people older than me,more life experience which is very valuable.
I struggle to stay motivated to about anything. When it comes to Keyboard practice it is even worse. My band rehearsals are not active for months. One going through divorce,other had a baby. So i havent touched Keyboard for months. Question is how do you keep motivated if music is not your main job. There are many distractions around these days. My setup is Midi Keyboard+external sound card+17inch Laptop which occupies area and my flat is small. If i pack them up, i hardly touch them for days. Anyway how do you keep motivated to Keyboard? Or well... to anything ? (work,gym,more reading etc....)
This thread might be weird, i can easily google it for tips. But i like to be a part of this community. And i value your opinions and enjoy to be in contact with you.
Thanks :)
 

happyrat1

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One thing that always perks me up musically is picking up a new CD or some small piece of gear.

For instance I picked up a Kalimba (African Finger Piano) on Amazon for $40 last month and now I'm trying to integrate it into my workflow.

But for that matter, sometimes it's best to just drop it for a month and work on other projects and come back a little later feeling refreshed.

Personally though, I experience as much joy listening to new pieces of music as I do creating them.

So many brilliant artists out there to be inspired by that i rarely get bored with music these days.

Gary ;)
 
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Sorry to read your post.

Staying motivated at anything, that is a concern.

I am an old retired guy who presently is not in the best of health but over the course of my non musical career (I am a Pro Engineer) I have had many ups and downs and 25 different jobs, I got bored easily and dealt with it by moving jobs to take on a new challenger.

My advice would be to create a time map for your week, plan out activities, social, work, travel etc but most of all spend the next two months exercising, a healthy body gives a fit, active mind. Put the earphone on and listen to new music as you exercise, by new I do not mean current I mean genres that are new to you.

As your fitness improves so will your mindset and you can refine your time map and integrate your music.

As Gary has picked up a new instrument what I would suggest is to buy a Ukulele for about $100 and start strumming, search locally for Ukulele Groups and go and join them, the music will be easy to play, the social side stimulating and the performances that the Uke Group will play at are probably Community related hence good causes and very enjoyable.

Is there something you have always wanted to do or learn, well now is the time?
 
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Physical activity is almost none in my life. Work doesnt count i think , where i am very active physically. Remember when i used to exercise actively , my mind was definitely healthier and active. I rarely leave my comfort zone , and my routine. That might be issue.
Also as Gary said trying new genres were my favourite back in the days. Youtube really kills it , keeps showing same stuff over and over :)
Well i really appreciate your advices. Already started making a small daily plans. At least i can see my progress. Let's see how it goes.
Btw i am a civil engineer. I dont work on that field though. There is a medium crisis in construction field. What engineer are you Biggles?
 
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Elamshin.

I was basically a Mechanical/Electrical/Design/Environmental Engineer with a BA and a BSc Hons and Chartered status here in the UK.

Primarily in Project Management of new builds and refurbs so I would commission and manage Architects, QS, Civils etc throughout the process.

So glad to be out of it now that I am retired and I certainly have much respect to the on site teams who are under so much pressure.
 

Rayblewit

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Also an engineer . . Mechanical!
My business was mainly design and manufacture of conveying systems for food processing, mining and pharmaceutical. Robotics and mechanical power transmission being the essence and specialty.

So now I have bored you all senseless.

How do I motivate myself?
Semi retired . . I still involve myself workwise. I am writing a manual for my industry. I know I have certain engineering knowhow strengths which I have developed over the past 50 years. It is very hard to just retire 100% and shut up shop.

Many other activities keep me from going insane or be coming depressed or getting dementia.

Table Tennis
Walking
Drinking with friends ( happy hour)
Meals with friends at various pubs and clubs.
Music . . Writing new songs
Heaps more . . That is me.

Actually life is too short.


I struggle to stay motivated to about anything.
You have strengths and ideas surely.
Every engineer does. Develop these ideas. Use your personal knowledge and experience to your advantage. Design something.
Set up a program for yourself . .join some clubs, write a story, write some music, play some sport even low key table tennis or darts.
Just keep your mind active and busy. Don't get bored because that is the quickest way to dementia.
 
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My setup is Midi Keyboard+external sound card+17inch Laptop which occupies area and my flat is small. If i pack them up, i hardly touch them for days.
Not sure if this will help, but I make it possible to always easily turn on a keyboard and practice if inspiration strikes. If I had to set up my entire gig rig just to make a sound, I'd probably never practice either.

I have a cheap little Roland Juno-Gi which does the job perfectly adequately.

Maybe if you can find yourself a small and inexpensive keyboard with built in speakers that makes some half decent sounds - it will be easier to fire it up and have a play on than having to connect laptops to keyboards, etc. It might keep you going until you are in the mood to get serious with your more advanced rig.
 

happyrat1

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Agree with Paul 100%. It's important to have a practice keyboard handy at the flip of a switch to explore musical experiments on the spur of the moment.

I used to keep a Casio SA-76 Child's Mini Keyboard handy in my bedroom for when inspiration struck in the middle of the night.

I wouldn't use it to score a movie, but it did have 39 musically tempered mini keys and 100 built in sounds from which I could always pick out a few EP or Brass or Organ or Synth tones when the urge came upon me.

Now I have a Juno DS88 set up and ready to go in my living room and my full studio in my spare room.

The Juno DS takes me less than a minute to fire up while simply turning on the studio for a session is more like a 10 minute affair.

Believe it or not that really makes a difference when it comes to acting upon inspiration.

Gary ;)
 
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Thanks for your replies. A little update here. I can motivate myself better in music these days.
Keeping my setup ready anytime i need helped me.Thanks for that. I have a midi setup. I've dug into Sampling and triggering them with pads. Making samples with Audacity etc. Working on them and seeing results and using them in our practice sessions boosted my motivation.
I was even considering selling all my stuff, now i am thinking of updating my setup. Thanks a lot. Haha !
Seeing any improvement in a field helps motivation.
 

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