In this week’s episode of the ArtistWorks Music Series podcast, our co-founder Patricia Butler sits down with Grammy-nominated singer and ArtistWorks’ instructor of bluegrass vocals, Michael Daves, to discuss the concept of “How to Get Out of a Musical Slump.” Together, they explore different techniques for tackling difficult musical passages, methods for staying motivated, and how to avoid plateaus in your musical progress. The show is available wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can listen here at ArtistWorks.

LEARN MORE: Want to learn how to sing from a master bluegrass vocalist like Michael Daves? Try a free vocal lesson now!

One of the most difficult things that we face as musicians and vocalists, regardless of our skill or experience level, is navigating a path to avoid plateaus in our musical growth. Consistent improvement is an enormously powerful motivator and keeps us inspired to take on the next big musical challenge. So, what do we do when we find ourselves stuck in a musical slump? How do we regain our motivation, confidence, and inspiration to take on that next challenge and overcome it?

“Sometimes a slump is a practice mentality,” Michael explains. “Practicing singing can sometimes feel like tedious work, or a lot of vocalists may simply not have a sense of how to go about it. The latter is common among folk singers.”

Whether you’re a vocalist, instrumentalist, or both, forming a consistent habit of setting aside time for structured practice, even if it’s only for a brief period daily, can be an immensely effective way to tackle challenges, make steady incremental progress, and stay motivated and inspired.

“Come up with a ten-minute practice regimen,” Michael explains. “This will give you confidence. You’ll know that if you do this most days, your efforts will compound and you’ll really build something. Even if you don’t see results every single day, I’ve never seen this method fail.”

To learn more about how you can get out of a musical slump, find inspiration, gain confidence, and grow as a musician, regardless of your instrument of choice, listen to the full podcast with Michael Daves here:

If you’re interested in studying bluegrass vocals and learning even more about Michaels’ approaches to developing an effective practice regimen and growing as a singer, check out his online vocal lessons right here at ArtistWorks!

ABOUT THE ARTISTWORKS MUSIC SERIES:

On the ArtistWorks Music Series, CEO Patricia Butler speaks with master musicians across all genres who teach at ArtistWorks. Join them as they dive deep into topics like becoming a musician, playing at all skill levels, and the journey of learning music.

Looking to dive into more music podcasts? You’ve come to the right place. Investigate previous episodes where plenty of topics are explored with fantastic, hand-selected, and knowledgeable guests.

Tune in for new episodes released every other Wednesday on all platforms, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show!

Want to get started on overcoming the roadblock on your musical journey with our online music lessons? Try out some free sample music lessons with any of our master musicians and learn from the best!

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