What to do when being a beginner makes you feel like a failure

For beginnersFeeling lowShifting perspective
Written By Erica Bramham

How to rethink learning music as an adult

Includes a guided meditation for musicians and music students.

Practice Space

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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.

In today’s video, I share a story about learning double bass after finishing a music degree, and how I lost confidence in all my instruments for a while. This video offers a different way to think about being a beginner—especially if you’re feeling stuck or discouraged.

You’ll also get a guided meditation at the end to help you reconnect with the feeling of capability, and build trust in your long-term growth as a musician.

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Should practice always be hard?
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How to make it easier to start your music practice