How to Stay Inspired During Long Practice Slumps - A Musician's Guide to Reigniting the Spark - Blog No. 112
There’s a peculiar silence that settles over a musician’s practice space—not when the room is empty, but when the heart is. The instrument is there. The sheet music sits on the stand. Fingers hover over keys or strings, but they don’t move. Days go by. Then weeks. Sometimes months. The slump has arrived.
Every musician—whether a beginner or a seasoned pro—hits a wall. It’s a place where inspiration feels dried out, where your passion flickers like a low flame. If you’ve found yourself in this foggy space, you're not alone. The good news? You can find your way back—and often, stronger than before.
This blog post is more than a guide. It’s a warm conversation, a collection of stories and strategies on how to stay inspired during long practice slumps—because the journey of music isn’t just about perfect scales or fast fingers. It’s about keeping the fire alive when the notes fade.
Related
The Slump Is Not Your Enemy: Understanding the Why
Before diving into solutions, let’s normalize the slump.
Musicians often judge themselves harshly for not “feeling it.” But creativity is not a faucet you turn on at will. It flows in rhythms. Just like seasons. The slump isn’t failure—it’s feedback.
It might stem from:
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Burnout: Too much, too fast, for too long.
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Perfectionism: The pressure to always improve.
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Comparison: Watching other musicians “seemingly” thrive.
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Lack of direction: Practicing without a clear goal.
A Personal Story: The Day the Piano Went Silent
When I was 17, I stopped playing piano for almost three months. I’d just failed an audition for a conservatory I dreamed of joining. I’d practiced hours daily. But when the rejection email came, I closed the lid on the keyboard. I told myself I was “taking a break.”
Truth? I was heartbroken. Not at the committee. At myself.
The silence in my room was deafening. But during that time, something shifted. I heard a street pianist one afternoon, casually playing Coldplay’s Clocks in a local park. Simple. Not showy. But it moved me. I went home and played for the first time in weeks.
That was the moment I realized: inspiration rarely comes from pressure—it often comes from play.
1. Reignite the Spark Through Curiosity, Not Discipline
When you’re in a slump, pushing harder can backfire. Instead of doubling down on technical etudes, ask yourself: what made you love music in the first place?
Try This:
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Revisit the first piece you loved. Not the hardest one. The magical one.
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Watch live performances—not to compare, but to feel again. Watch musicians who smile while playing.
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Explore genres you’ve never tried. If you’re a classical pianist, dabble in lo-fi or jazz. If you’re a guitarist, try fingerstyle arrangements of video game music.
2. Set Micro-Goals: From Mountains to Molehills
Long slumps often result from overwhelming goals. Preparing a full concerto or album? That’s huge. When progress stalls, we give up.
Instead, go micro.
How to Set Micro Practice Goals:
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One bar at a time: Focus on a single measure, perfect its phrasing.
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One new chord progression a week.
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One song for fun. Not perfection.
The Psychology Behind It:
Accomplishment releases dopamine. Tiny wins rewire your brain for motivation. You’re not just practicing—you’re winning, even in 10-minute sessions.
3. Change the Environment to Change Your Mind
Sometimes, your space holds the slump energy. The same corner, same lighting, same tired chair. It’s time for a refresh.
Ideas to Spark New Energy:
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Move your instrument to a different room. Even if it’s just a foot to the left.
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Decorate your space with album covers or quotes.
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Add natural light or greenery. Plants are known to boost mood.
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Create a “practice ritual.” Light a candle. Make tea. Start fresh.
Changing your surroundings can subconsciously signal a new start.
4. Collaborate: Music Is Not a Lonely Road
Slumps thrive in isolation. Reignite your passion by connecting with others.
Try This:
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Jam with a friend—even online.
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Join a virtual open mic night.
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Record a short duet on TikTok or Instagram.
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Find an accountability partner. 15 minutes of check-ins daily can reignite consistency.
Real-World Inspiration:
A flutist named Rosa, whom I met on Reddit, told me she hadn’t practiced for months. Then she joined a small Discord group where musicians shared 30-second clips of their weekly progress. No pressure. Just fun. She’s now recording her first EP.
5. Learn Something Completely New (Yes, Even Outside Music)
Sometimes, staying in the same field during a slump adds to the fatigue. Branch out to come back refreshed.
You Can Try:
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Take a drawing class.
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Learn basic music production.
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Try learning another instrument, even badly.
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Write a short story inspired by a piece of music.
These activities spark the creative brain—reminding you how joyful being a beginner is.
6. Create a “Joy Playlist” and Let It Guide You
Music heals. But when we’re stuck in our heads, we forget to let it in.
Make a Playlist That Includes:
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Songs that moved you to tears.
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Songs you danced to as a kid.
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Songs you never thought you’d play—but secretly love.
Let it play while you cook, walk, or lie on the floor. Don’t think about technique. Think about feeling. Eventually, the urge to play again will return—organically.
Many musicians searching for "how to get out of a music slump" find that listening before playing is the bridge back to the instrument.
7. Embrace the Slump as a Season of Growth
Here's the most paradoxical truth: slumps aren’t setbacks. They're part of the path.
Think of a farmer. There's planting season. Growth. Then... rest. Fields aren't dead in winter. They’re restoring.
What Your Slump Might Be Doing:
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Quietly rewiring your artistic voice.
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Allowing your body to rest from tension or overuse.
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Giving you emotional space to re-evaluate why you play.
Try journaling instead of practicing for a few days. Write not about what you play—but why.
8. Document the Journey (Even the Hard Parts)
One reason musicians lose inspiration is because they feel like their journey isn’t “worth sharing” unless they’re improving fast.
Flip the script.
Try:
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Recording video diaries of your slump experience.
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Sharing raw moments on social media with honesty (you'll find you're not alone).
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Starting a blog, podcast, or TikTok series called “The Slump Sessions.”
You’ll discover that vulnerability inspires more people than perfection ever could.
9. Return to Your “Why”
Every musician has a “why.” It often gets buried beneath technique, performance anxiety, or external expectations.
Take 10 minutes today to answer:
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Why did I start playing?
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When did I feel the most joy?
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Who am I when I play—regardless of how well?
Tape those answers to your wall. They’re your compass back home.
10. When All Else Fails: Take a Gentle Break
Sometimes, the most courageous thing is to stop for a while—intentionally.
If you've tried everything and your soul still feels tired, step away without guilt.
Go on walks. See nature. Read. Go to concerts not to analyze, but to feel. Let yourself miss it.
Sooner than you expect, a moment will come when you hear a song or see an instrument and feel that soft ache again.
When that moment comes—follow it.
Related
Final Thoughts: You're Still a Musician, Even in Silence
It’s easy to believe that if you’re not practicing, you’re not a “real” musician. But that’s a myth.
Being a musician isn’t just about consistency. It’s about connection—to music, to yourself, to your inner voice.
If you're going through a long practice slump, know this:
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It won’t last forever.
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You're not broken—you’re evolving.
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Your music is still inside you, waiting patiently.
Sometimes the best music begins not with sound—but with stillness.
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