There is no denying that it takes a lot of dedication and personal motivation to succeed in achieving one’s musical goals. Nevertheless, there is also something to be said for those external influences who are there to encourage, push, and inspire fellow musicians to improve their craft. These influencers might go by several names; however, they are typically referred to as music mentors in the industry.
Unlike teachers, music mentors aren’t just there to share knowledge, encourage practice, and guide. Rather, they share perspectives, provide their insights based on past experience, and help mentees move to the next level of training. In this article, we explore why you should hire a musical mentor.
1. Improve More Quickly
Rather than practicing on your own, a music mentor can share with you what they have learned. This way, you can steer clear of the mistakes they made and progress much more quickly.
In just a few minutes, a music mentor can teach you something that would otherwise have taken you several years to learn.
2. Help You Set Goals
After you have been practicing for some time, it can be more difficult to know what type of goals to set to make sure you are continuing to enhance your craft and advance to the next level. In such cases, a music mentor will be extremely helpful – they will surely have valuable advice on how to make the most of your practice time.
3. Increase Confidence
A mentor can analyze your career objectives, achievements, and failures in an objective manner. Then they can tell you if you are on the right path or redirect you to it. This will boost your confidence levels as you advance through your music career.
4. You Are Not Bound by a Contract
You don’t need to enter any contracts with a music mentor. Mentoring typically isn’t free; rather, it’s something you pay for as and when you need it. If you need some advice before a gig, you can hire a mentor to offer some words of encouragement. If you’re at a crossroads in your career, you can talk to a music mentor to help you think clearly about what to do.
While some mentors work for free, most charge fixed rates for consultations. Either way, you don’t need to worry about any contracts.
5. Network with Other Experts
If your musical prowess and drive to success impress your mentor, you could get some great networking opportunities.
With experience comes connections. Thus, your mentor could perhaps introduce you to experts who could take your musical career even further.
6. Keep You Motivated and Encouraged
A good mentor will always be there to encourage you. They will notice your hard work, your progress, and your success potential.
If you find yourself feeling discouraged after meeting your music mentor, you either need to hire a new mentor or you’re too tough on yourself.
Last Few Words
Having a mentor or mentor isn’t about becoming dependent on them. Rather, it’s about wanting to push boundaries, grow, explore and learn, and be willing to let someone guide you in the right direction. Music mentors can also pave new internal grounds, giving you higher confidence and self-trust in your purpose and path.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe. Eric Dalius is also the host of the Weekly podcast program named FULL SPEED. Eric Dalius is also a philanthropist, who has established four scholarships for US based graduate & under grad students.