This document summarizes 10 ways to improve musicianship as outlined on the website The Future Muse. It includes suggestions such as practicing other genres to challenge yourself, recording live performances to identify areas for improvement, collaborating with musicians from different genres to learn new approaches, and setting goals to continually progress. The overall message is that dedicated practice and exploring new techniques can help musicians grow and avoid plateaus.

1. (https://thefuturemuse.com/)
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10 Ways to Improve Your Musicianship
How to be More Innovative and Creative as a Musician
(https://thefuturemuse.com/how-to-be-more-innovative-and-
creative-as-a-musician/)
Air Travel w
(https://thef
dos/)

2. It can be frustrating when your musical growth hits a plateau. Good news, you’re not alone. It happens to
all dedicated musicians. However, getting out of a musical rut can be a tough blow to your ego and
con dence. Here are 10 ways to improve your musicianship for continual musical growth for years to
come.
Table of contents
1. Practice other styles/genres of music
2. Record your live performances
3. Collaborate with musicians from di erent genres
4. Create new challenges using a metronome
5. Listen to the greats
6. Set new goals
7. Write/compose/produce new music
8. Train your ears
9. Pitch/intonation training
10. Re ne your technique
1. Practice other styles/genres of music
A great way to challenge yourself is to practice other styles of music.
For instance, I have transcribed solos of the great jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Stitt) and play them on the cello. I also have the Charlie Parker Omni
Book (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0769260519/ref=as_li_tl?
ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0769260519&linkCode=as2&tag=futuremuse-
20&linkId=974b6768413dec2e7911af8e1 1dccf) which I use to play along with Charlie Parker’s
recordings.
This creates both technical and musical challenges for me. This partly due to the fact that certain things
are easier on the saxophone. However, it forces me to problem solve, which helps improve my technique.

3. 2. Record your live performances
Photo by Samer Khodeir (https://unsplash.com/@samerkhodeir?
utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash
(https://unsplash.com/s/photos/zoom-recorder?
utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
Recording your live performances may be one of the fastest ways to improve your musicianship. It will
give you feedback and let you know what is working in the practice room.
Things like rhythm and intonation problems become more obvious when you’re able to listen afterwards
with a critical ear.
$19.99
Charlie Parker
Omnibook: For...
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4. It is also helpful to have other musicians that you respect to listen to your recordings and give honest
feedback.
Recommendation: Zoom H4N PRO Digital Multitrack Recorder
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DPOXS8I/ref=as_li_tl?
ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01DPOXS8I&linkCode=as2&tag=futuremuse-
20&linkId=4b05120dae12c2e97294fadc04d48936)
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DPOXS8I/ref=as_li_tl?
ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01DPOXS8I&linkCode=as2&tag=futuremuse-
20&linkId=711475e62d2cb01dfe249112adc72511)
3. Collaborate with musicians from different genres
Photo by Tim Mossholder (https://unsplash.com/@timmossholder?
utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash

5. (https://unsplash.com/s/photos/musicians-practicing?
utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
Collaborating with musicians from other genres is a great way to learn how other musicians approach
music. Folk, blues, and jazz musicians improvise which is a totally di erent mindset from musicians who
are used to reading sheet music (https://thefuturemuse.com/why-learning-to-read-sheet-music-is-gold-
for-the-freelance-musician/).
4. Create new challenges using a metronome
ID 119171044 © Péter Gudella | Dreamstime.com
Who says the metronome should count every beat? Most professional musicians can play with the
metronome counting on 1-2-3-4. However, we can create other challenges that help improve our rhythm
and improve our overall musicianship.
For instance, I often start by reducing the number of beats the metronome counts each bar. So if the
music is in 4/4, I will set the metronome to click on 1 and 3. When I practice Bach, I set the metronome to
click only at the beginning of each bar (1 beat per bar).

6. 5. Listen to the greats
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo (https://unsplash.com/@clemono2?
utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash
(https://unsplash.com/s/photos/record-collection?
utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
Sometimes musicians get so busy that we make little time to listen to other musicians. However, I try to
make it a point to listen to recordings of great musicians of the past.
Take note of what truly moves and inspires you. Sometimes recordings of musicians you’ve never heard
of have “that thing” that can bring you to tears. If possible, take note of what you enjoy most about these
recordings.
6. Improve your musicianship with new goals

7. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters (https://unsplash.com/@glenncarstenspeters?
utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash
(https://unsplash.com/s/photos/checklist?
utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
Let’s face it. Sometimes we don’t achieve great things because we have low expectations of ourselves.
If you struggle with a particular aspect of your technique or notice you struggle with stage fright, set a
goal to get overcome these challenges.
7. Write/compose/produce new music

8. Photo 102926970 © Light eldstudiosprod – Dreamstime.com
Very few musicians are proli c composers nowadays because it is challenging to write new music
consistently.
However, try setting aside a few days and write a song or compose a piece of music. Don’t become overly
focused on what others will think. Instead, strive to create something that inspires you.
8. Train your ears
I once heard the guitarist Pat Metheny say that he is simply striving to get to a point where he can play
whatever he hears in his head.
Playing what is in your head is easier said than done. However, training your ears really begins with pitch
identi cation.
If you do not have perfect pitch this will certainly improve your ability to memorize music for longer.

9. 9. Pitch/intonation training
ID 4696318 © Andreblais | Dreamstime.com
Truth be told, it is possible to make a career (in certain genres) with mediocre intonation.
The scary thing is that most people (including non-musicians) can tell when something is out of tune.
However, few people know how to x bad intonation (https://thefuturemuse.com/intonation-practice-
part-1-of-2/).
Spend time practicing scales and re ne your ability hear intonation.
10. Re ne your technique

10. ID 142085551 © Patrick Daxenbichler | Dreamstime.com
Some musicians approach technique as if music is all about technique.
I think a healthy approach to technique is that the listener should never be distracted by your lack of
technique. Also, we must be careful in not becoming hyper-focused on technique that we neglect things
like musical phrasing and overall emotion.
Caleb Vaughn-Jones (http://Regulus%20Sound%20Productions%20(Pty)%20Ltd)
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(https://calebvaughnjones.com) Founder at Regulus Sound Productions
(https://www.regulussoundintl.com/)
American cellist and music creator who regularly
performs in concert halls around the US and abroad
including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He has also contributed to soundtracks for the Civilization
(video game) franchise and movies such as Leprechaun Returns, Mandharam, and Lion King (2019).
For more info, visit calebvaughnjones.com (https://calebvaughnjones.com)
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