Why don't I want to pursue my passion anymore?

Question

I have been a musician for most of my life, I over analyse every note, every mix, every structure change, every thing!

I'm still only young (20years) but I just don't feel the need to practice guitar anymore. I never want to listen to music, I don't want to start bands anymore.
I used to play guitar with my best friends every day, all day. Now I don't even want to play by myself anymore.

It started a few months after I got my job, but I got the job so I could a new guitar and other instruments but now that I can afford it, I don't want to purchase these items.
Can anyone explain? It is getting me down.

Answer 1

Really? I doubt that very much so. Think about it, as you've said all your life you've been a musician. Now think about this... how many months or weeks have you been without that passion? Compare that to how long you've been a musician. 3 measly months or 1 year does not compare to your 20 or so years. 20 years you've been a musician, how does that even compare? I've had bouts like that too, where all the motivation dries up and you feel as if you can't create anything worth a darn. You get scared, even though you're reassured somewhat that you've created something amazing before in the past, but you feel as if the magic that was around has dried up... it's as if it's gone.



I'm a budding artist, I'm 17 years old. I always get those dry spells and I always wonder If drawing's going to let me go and be out of my life forever, but somehow It always comes back to me... the longest I've gone is four weeks, and I tell you... I got so depressed that It felt as if a part of me was missing, because drawing is who I am, In fact it's the only thing I'm truly good at. There are times where I hate my drawings, I don't believe what other people say... and I want to let go of drawing because of all the pain it causes me, but drawing is like that girlfriend/boyfriend you can't be without, the one that's annoying but has that endearment that makes you fight for her/him.



So what I'm trying to say is that, Music is apart of who you are. Even if it leaves you for a couple of years, you can't deny the fact that you started the first module of your life dedicated to music... so now it's engrained in you and it is the essence of who you are. Your music will come back to you. You're only 20 years old, you've got years ahead of you. Music will come back to you, but it seems as if you've reached the point where you need to give the music a break. Give it a break and you'll realize life is empty without it, you'll appreciate it more and it will come back to you. I promise.

Answer 2

You must be a very talented and dedicated musician. If pursuit of your passion was easy for you and underneath the passion is still there, why worry that you may have lost it? You may just need a break or a change in direction and you will soon re-ignite your passion again. Do you have a 'calling' for music? Is there another reason you would like to follow it through? Do you have goals, if not would that help? Perhaps a nickleback or U2 concert would re-inspire you ?? Are you a band manager? You sound like you could have a great career ahead of you.

Answer 3

Sometimes you do just come to the end of the road, I recently turned 30 and with that age, it means I have been playing drums for half my life and haven't played for the sheer fun of it for a long time. All I can say is that you should take your time and listen to your inner voice. If for weeks and weeks your inner voice is nagging you to stop, then you should, it's no different to your inner voice telling you to get out of a relationship. Getting over those feelings is a bit like suffering writers' block, either you write yourself out of it or you give up. I don't really buy all the "take a break and come back fresh" stuff, it's never worked for me, not with drumming, if I take a break I never want to come back to it!

Answer 4

Hard to say, I played on the road for 16 years straight and got pretty burnt out. I quit my current band, quit playing drums altogether and didn't even enjoy listening to music anymore. This went on for several years and finally I decided to pick up guitar and now I'm enjoying music again, but I just play guitar as a hobby, it isn't my job like drums were. To me taking a passion and turning it into a job just ruined it for me. Of course I have friends that have played for a living longer than me and wouldn't trade it for anything. Not really sure what to tell you other than to take a step back and re-evaluate what you really love about music and what you want out of it.