Is everyone cut out for music?

[monkfish]

I'm feeling a bit discouraged :/

I've been producing, well attempting, music for about a month now (I know that's not enough time to learn much or feel distressed -- but read on) and I don't think I'm cut out for this. I love music. I grew up with music and always wanted to make music, primarily dance music. I dabbed a bit with House music in my FL days, but that was nothing dramatic (I had no clue what I was doing). My true concern is that I generally have no ideas for tracks. I sit there, and nothing. I can make a few drum patterns here and there, but other than that, nothing. It's frustrating. It makes me doubt my abilities. I don't have much hobbies, bar programming and web development; I hoped to attend a computer music college which specializes in sound engineering, amongst other things. But I generally feel that will be a waste of time. Time I could have been spent doing something else -- not as if I do anything else. I know I need more practice, but I feel like I'm wasting my time doing so. I say to myself, "Imagine yourself in your 20s (I'm 16 now) all the things you would have learnt!", but still nothing. Haha, I feel so depressed. My question is simple: are some people just not cut out for music production? No matter how hard they try.

If anyone went or is going through this "state of mind", I'd appreciate the feed back. Cheers for reading (:

[jrisreal]

DUDE YOUR 16!!!! CALM DOWN haha I'm 15 but I've been doing music since I was a baby man. Just give yourself some time and maybe take some music theory classes or join the school band

[jaimelee]

Yeah I feel like that every second am in studio.

Don't worry about a thing, just need to think up new ways to bring out music onto your piece.
Try humming melodies or just think of rythmic musical drum patterns. If all else fails, find some mediocre song on tv, remember the melody and rip that shit to bits! ( You know who you are! )

There is a learning curve to this sort of thing, once it clicks you're flying.
I started production when I was 12. Took me a long time to finally get to where I am today but it clicked with me about a year ago and never went back.

Keep up the work mate, everything you make will have use!

[mks]

I didn't start electronic music production until I was 21 or 22, though before that I played bass, sax and drums.

But I'm not gonna lie to you. It takes patience, practice, dedication and passion. It depends on what your priorities are.

[Crosby]

Don't try and produce when you cant, your only going to get angry about it.
But yeah story of my life haha, when I'm stressed and want to produce electronic music to relax, i cant. That's when i switch to play drums or bass. Maybe take up playing an instrument? that's what helps me anyway

[monkfish]

DUDE YOUR 16!!!! CALM DOWN haha I'm 15 but I've been doing music since I was a baby man. Just give yourself some time and maybe take some music theory classes or join the school band

Haha, Madeon is 16 and he's already better than Deadmau5 (in my eyes). I know comparing doesn't help, but it's almost like a milestone and realization.

Don't try and produce when you cant, your only going to get angry about it.
But yeah story of my life haha, when I'm stressed and want to produce electronic music to relax, i cant. That's when i switch to play drums or bass. Maybe take up playing an instrument? that's what helps me anyway

That's good advice. I never even thought of taking up an instrument. I've always loved the blues; always wanted a sax and trumpet. I always did like the club styled basslines the best, haha.

I didn't start electronic music production until I was 21 or 22, though before that I played bass, sax and drums.

But I'm not gonna lie to you. It takes patience, practice, dedication and passion. It depends on what your priorities are.

I don't know. At all. I'm 16 and I don't remotely have an idea what I want to do. All of my hobbies revolve around one thing: will this land me in a career where I can make money. I always thought this was a bad way to look at life, but my dad gives me no choice. He's skeptical of me even wanting to take sound engineering courses, haha. He's old school, but hey.

I do hope I can make a career out of this. But I feel like I'll be one of those guys with a standard job, who makes music on the side as a hobby.

[Gusto]

But I feel like I'll be one of those guys with a standard job, who makes music on the side as a hobby.

If that doesn't sound fun to you, then you're probably not cut out for music.

[monkfish]

But I feel like I'll be one of those guys with a standard job, who makes music on the side as a hobby.

If that doesn't sound fun to you, then you're probably not cut out for music.

You're probably right. I do love to mess around with tracks, and love it when people give me feedback; but I do have high standards in life and I'd probably just be frustrated if I got nowhere with it. Well, I can only try harder.

[mks]

Follow your heart. I chose to do music despite what everyone else told me.

[monkfish]

Follow your heart. I chose to do music despite what everyone else told me.

Oh, that's beautiful, haha. Thanks for the inspiration and confidence boost guys. Appreciated (:

[paravrais]

Don't try and think of an idea for a track, instead think of a feeling or event in your life or person or animal you love or anything that *isn't* music. Then try and recreate that idea in an audio form. That's what I do anyway.

[Radiant]

Haha, Madeon is 16 and he's already better than Deadmau5 (in my eyes). I know comparing doesn't help, but it's almost like a milestone and realization.

There's a lot of luck and variables involved into developing your skills.

It really depends on when the opportunity arises for you, you're definitely going to need equipment and a lot of knowledge to be able to really put out quality tracks on your own, some people get into it early thanks to help (for ex. having a father that's also a studio engineer/musician himself), and some have to do it all by themselves(average joe that doesn't have access to a full fledged studio). Age is only a state of mind in that sense, just keep practicing like you do now and if you really want it, you can achieve great things.

As for the statement whether or not you're cut out for music, it's possible to enhance your creativity through inspiration, if you listen to a lot of music and get really involved with the music, you'll have a strong referencing point, based on which you can differ from and make your own variation. But I think in your case you're already into music, you just need to practice and develop your own skills/style, this can take years to perfect, and it's up to your motivation to decide whether you can keep it up or not!

That's pretty much my view on it, hope it helps you get closer to the answer!

[erratech]

If you dont know what is possible (basically anything) and how to achieve it you might find it a bit hard while you are beginning. The way i normally work is to make a patch/chord/drumkit/some kind of element, listen to it for a bit and go 'what does this sound WANT?" then i add the sounds or notes it wants and build from there. Sometimes I have a fairly complete idea, but its an easy way to get dissapointed when it doesnt work exactly as imagined, especially as a beginner.

[amidoinitrite]

Age has nothing to do with it.
Someone could be 46 and be dropping dope tunes under an alias that everyone thinks is 14.
Or better yet.. there could be a 46 year-old producing tracks for a midget who is missing half their hair.

if you enjoy producing or think you might enjoy, then just stick with it.
Whenever you feel like producing, produce, and eventually you'll get better.

i don't like the idea of giving up..
once you can say that you've fully put the effort in and have decided that its not what you're into, then its safe to move on,
but don't give up just because you don't have instant success.

[Exert]

I'm 22 and just started producing EDM these last few months. When I listen to the pros there are times when I think, "I'm nowhere near these guys..." and I get pretty discouraged. But I took a step back and went over what I've actually accomplished since I began. And its a lot more than I could have hoped for.

If your heart is in it, then make music. You will STILL hit roadblocks, times of negative thinking and frustration but hey, we all do. What sets you apart from all those other people who wanted to make music but just gave up and pursued another avenue is the dedication to the music. Maybe I'll never make it as big as Tiesto, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, or all those big name producers but I will be damned if I don't give it my best fucking shot.

Is everyone cut out for music? Nah, I don't think so. But you're here asking for advice because you WANT to make music, right?
You're cut out for it, kid. Just keep at it.

[amidoinitrite]

its always good to take a step back and look at what you've learned.
This helped me a lot growing up playing guitar.. I'd get discouraged watching videos on youtube of the best guitarists I could possibly find
but then I'd take a step back.. hold my guitar left-handed and realize how far I've come.

there is no need to be better than anyone.. have fun and make tunes you enjoy and you will be proud to play out..

[nowaysj]

If you can manage to do anything other than the arts, DO IT BY ALL MEANS!

[hifi]

Haha, Madeon is 16 and he's already better than Deadmau5 (in my eyes). I know comparing doesn't help, but it's almost like a milestone and realization.

There's a lot of luck and variables involved into developing your skills.

It really depends on when the opportunity arises for you, you're definitely going to need equipment and a lot of knowledge to be able to really put out quality tracks on your own, some people get into it early thanks to help (for ex. having a father that's also a studio engineer/musician himself), and some have to do it all by themselves(average joe that doesn't have access to a full fledged studio). Age is only a state of mind in that sense, just keep practicing like you do now and if you really want it, you can achieve great things.

As for the statement whether or not you're cut out for music, it's possible to enhance your creativity through inspiration, if you listen to a lot of music and get really involved with the music, you'll have a strong referencing point, based on which you can differ from and make your own variation. But I think in your case you're already into music, you just need to practice and develop your own skills/style, this can take years to perfect, and it's up to your motivation to decide whether you can keep it up or not!

That's pretty much my view on it, hope it helps you get closer to the answer!

age kind of does matter in a sense. if someone is 16 and someone else is about 21 the older man would have an easier way of learning since his mind is far more developed than the 16 year old. it may not be a big difference in some peoples eyes but it is. And I'm saying if those 2 people have the same state of mind as in none of them have any disabilites/mental disorders. I am not trying to compare a 21 year old down syndrome to a 16 year old einstein thats stupid

[Basic A]

Even Mozart had to learn to play.

Just stick with it.

[reignstep]

If you are worried about the musical part of production, then why don't you open up a music theory book? Music is nearly pure math, learn simple chord progression and you'll find that writing an easy, catchy melody ain't that hard.

About the sound design part, that comes with excercise, but also with alot of reading/'studying'. I remember roaming these threads for days after days (aswell as alot of threads on sounddesign on DOA forum) just to remember what I read , it always might pop up in your memory and come in handy.

Basically, if you REALLY WANT to become a music producer, you will succeed, but your success will be as just as big as your motivation towards your cause