Finishing tracks: Something that helped me

[futuremoves]

I watched this video on TED that presents a very simple, but I think, powerful idea:
https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_tr ... or_30_days

The idea is you commit to trying something new for 30 days. Seeing as I have finished about 3 tracks in 7 years of on/off music making, I thought I would commit to 30 days of making one track a day.

Rules:
45 mins max. No exceptions.
It doesn't have to be great.
3 1/2 minutes minimum.

It's been brilliant so far (just over a week in). I have finished twice as many tracks in this time than the seven years before. They're still not great tracks but with every one I am learning and I see really quick progress. It's also letting me apply what I learn through tuts (rather than watching a tut and letting it fade from my brain, I apply it on my daily track.)

Like I said, my tracks are not great but the important thing is that i am making progress and actually finishing something. Best thing I ever did to advance my music making.

After this month I may select the best tracks and go and do a really proper job on them, but for now this is really getting me moving.

[yorkboy]

Its a great idea for getting things down i did a similar thing where i told myself i had only an hour to start a track and export it.
It helped me get over the "it has to be perfect thing" that is still there but i don't seem to be as precious now.

[futuremoves]

Its a great idea for getting things down i did a similar thing where i told myself i had only an hour to start a track and export it.
It helped me get over the "it has to be perfect thing" that is still there but i don't seem to be as precious now.

Absolutely same for me. Perfection was always my problem... and consequently I never finished anything.

[musikmachine]

Along the same lines check out The production game by Mike Monday, same guy who does SNFF. You don't have to watch all the videos, just check out anything that applies cause i think he's done about 50 now.

http://mikemonday.com/category/the-production-game/

[eyeknow]

Thanks for posting this

[chapelier fou]

http://www.enoshop.co.uk/product/obliqu ... egies.html !!

[H20nly]

Its a great idea for getting things down i did a similar thing where i told myself i had only an hour to start a track and export it.
It helped me get over the "it has to be perfect thing" that is still there but i don't seem to be as precious now.

Absolutely same for me. Perfection was always my problem... and consequently I never finished anything.

i'm guilty of this too.

i have dozens of half tracks. every time i open them i get lost in some lop sided battle about leaving things alone or adding effects and making edits... i end up pissing away a bunch of time but don't really know if i made the track better or if after listening to it 35 times in a row if i'm just hearing things differently. most likely the latter.

congrats on all your progress.

[irrelevance]

Spending less time on a track while it's still in the fun grooving phase has been helping me a lot recently
. Funny the Ted talk that inspired me yesterday was Rodney Mullen on the evolution of street skating as an an art form and expression of individuality. Keep it up all of you!

[oblique strategies]

It's been brilliant so far (just over a week in). I have finished twice as many tracks in this time than the seven years before.

You're speed dating your creativity!


P.S.: Thanks for posting the link.

[tkarmakid]

This is a good thread.

[ImNotDedYet]

I did some guys recommendation of a Live Productivity Challenge using only 2 synths for everything in 48 hours. The result was horrible, but it forced me to learn more about live and those synths while actually getting the whole process down for my first completed song in Live.

I think I may revisit that concept with different synths, effects, etc. just to better get to know all the stuff I have in suite and Komplete.

[musikmachine]

Its a great idea for getting things down i did a similar thing where i told myself i had only an hour to start a track and export it.
It helped me get over the "it has to be perfect thing" that is still there but i don't seem to be as precious now.

Absolutely same for me. Perfection was always my problem... and consequently I never finished anything.

i'm guilty of this too.

i have dozens of half tracks. every time i open them i get lost in some lop sided battle about leaving things alone or adding effects and making edits... i end up pissing away a bunch of time but don't really know if i made the track better or if after listening to it 35 times in a row if i'm just hearing things differently. most likely the latter.

congrats on all your progress.

This is good on perfectionism pointing to underlying procrastination. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTXRNbPCDKA

I've been as bad but i'm way more focused now, finishing tracks is fundamental even if they're not that great. I've gone from not finishing anything in ages to second track almost in 6 months and i've gotten good feedback on my music which was not my intention!

One track my be great, the next might be crap but i'll never find out if i don't actually finish songs and i'm ok with that.

[oblique strategies]

More in a similar vein:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=203891&start=0

[H20nly]

This is good on perfectionism pointing to underlying procrastination. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTXRNbPCDKA

I've been as bad but i'm way more focused now, finishing tracks is fundamental even if they're not that great. I've gone from not finishing anything in ages to second track almost in 6 months and i've gotten good feedback on my music which was not my intention!

One track my be great, the next might be crap but i'll never find out if i don't actually finish songs and i'm ok with that.

thanks for posting that.

[musikmachine]

No prob H2Only!

This is a really good inspiring and motivating video i meant to post, about art but applies to music.
http://vimeo.com/85040589