Summer is a season of rest for many of us. Kids have summer break, families plan vacations, and the warm weather and long days make the perfect case for playing outside and grilling out. It should come as no surprise that the break from the routines of life can interrupt your musical motivation, right? It’s such a common phenomenon that music educators have a couple names for it: the summer slump or summer slide.
While it may feel tempting and even rewarding to completely shut off from all thinking for the next 2-3 months, there’s value in sticking with it. If you decide to take a break, know that there’s no shame in it if you need rest! But also know that especially as you’re honing in on your skills as a musician, summer brings a lot of freedom to explore. For those of you that are students, you can focus on the things you want to learn, instead of just the things you have to. And, with fewer obligations, you can level up your chops even faster!
But the pluses don’t stop there. Here are 5 more reasons why you shouldn’t quit playing music this summer:
Defeat Boredom
With freedom often comes analysis paralysis. An open schedule means a blank slate, and blank slates can be daunting. There are so many options on what to do with all that free time. We might start to chase entertainment like spending time at the movies or playing video games, sitting by the pool, or spending all our time scrolling the latest trends.
By choosing to play your instrument (and setting fun, achievable goals like learning a favorite song!), you can occupy your free time, feel productive, and have fun all at once! If you need some help reaching those goals, there’s no better time to sign up for lessons. When your schedule opens up in the summer, finding time to meet with a teacher is never easier.
Make New Connections
By pursuing music, both adults and children can gain a strong interest in playing. Sharing something in common like playing an instrument is a fantastic way to make new friends. Not only does it lead to having more to talk about, you can sharpen skills together by sharing wisdom, reinforce learning by teaching what you’ve learned yourself, or even hone your talents by playing together!
You never know what interesting combinations you might get to hear.
Build Your Brain
Personal connections aren’t the only connection you get from playing music. Your brain’s neural connections get a boost from playing music as well. Learn more on our blog about the benefits of learning an instrument.
Getting that extra push in the right direction means a lot for kids as their brains stay stimulated and primed for growth going into the new school year. But that benefit applies to adults, too.
Create Something All Your Own
Few things are more rewarding that building something all your own. As a musician, if you’ve never tried writing your own music, the time you have during the summer is the perfect time to explore! If you don’t believe you’re that creative, you might surprise yourself when you sit down with it. Contrary to what society tends to tell us, creativity is a skill, not a talent. That means when you practice being creative, you get better.
Interested in exploring? Maybe consider grabbing a looper pedal and recording yourself and building new ideas on top. It might take a little patience figuring out how to layer your recordings, but a little persistence can pay big dividends.
One of the best parts of writing your own music is that there are no rules. The only constraint is whatever you can dream up!
Show Off
Performing is a great way to prove just how far you’ve come as a musician. Whether it’s a more formal performance like putting together a band and playing a show, or if it’s just an impromptu showcase of your skills to friends and family, sharing your skills with others can give a real sense of accomplishment.
Not only does it feel great to realize you’re good enough to play for others, but hearing encouragement and constructive feedback from your friends and family can really help you grow. Just be sure to only take the constructive comments to heart!
The Sky Is Truly the Limit
There is so much you can accomplish with your instrument over the summer to defeat the summer slump. How else will you keep up your skills over the summer? Let us know in a comment!
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