We’ve all felt jealous of other musicians — the friend who won an award, the colleague getting recognition, or the person sharing their music boldly. Jealousy can feel painful or shameful, but it can also teach us something powerful about what we really want.

Sometimes we feel inspired by something — a performance, a painting, a moment in a film — but we don’t know how to bring that feeling into our actual music practice.

Many musicians flinch at the sound of a squeak, a rough note, or a moment out of tune. We tense up, recoil, and let our desire to sound “good” take over. But what if sounding bad was actually part of the process?

It’s so easy to get pulled out of practice by a ping, a message, or the temptation to scroll. Even when we’re trying to practice, our devices often make it harder to stay focused.

There’s a popular saying that if your practice sounds good, you’re doing it wrong. But is that really true?

Sometimes starting something new—especially as a musician—feels awful. You might have had success in the past, maybe even studied music seriously, but right now you're struggling through the beginner stage of a new instrument. And it’s hard.

Sometimes the hardest part of practicing is just getting started. The music stand is empty, your instrument’s still in its case, and everything feels like a chore.

If you've ever felt stuck or blocked in your music practice, it might not be a lack of talent — it might be the method you're following. When a trusted teacher or book lays out a clear path, it can be easy to believe that's the only way. But what if that path doesn’t suit how you actually learn or create?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when your practice list just keeps getting longer. There’s so much you could be doing—and it can start to feel like you’re always falling short.

Sometimes the fastest way forward in your music practice is to pause and slow things right down. It can feel frustrating — like you’re not progressing — but learning to focus with patience is one of the most effective tools you have.

We all go through plateaus in our music practice. Even when we’re showing up every day, it can feel like we’re not making progress — like something’s stuck, or we’ve lost momentum.

You might feel proud of squeezing your warmups into your commute, or getting through scales while watching Netflix. But if your practice time feels stale or ineffective, this might be why.

There are so many things in music we can't control—competitions, critics, followers, algorithms. It’s easy to get caught up in chasing outcomes that are ultimately out of our hands.

Many musicians find themselves stuck in a cycle of “productive procrastination” — spending hours reading, watching videos, or buying gear without actually practicing.

Do you ever find yourself zoning out during scales or running out of steam before you get to the hard parts? It’s easy to fall into autopilot when you always do things the same way.

It’s a frustrating feeling: you’re trying to be a good student, but the practice tasks you’re given feel boring, confusing, or disconnected from what you want to play.

Do you avoid the metronome? Feel like it’s out to get you? Many musicians struggle to play along with a metronome — it can feel awkward, frustrating, or even like a personal failure.

Do you ever rush ahead in your music practice — thinking about the next note, the next section, or even what’s for lunch?

Taking a break from music — whether it’s been days, months, or even years — can stir up guilt, self-doubt, or a fear that we’ve lost something we’ll never get back.

Feeling too tired for a full practice session? It’s okay to turn back halfway.