Without flexibility, you’ll devote more energy and time to being frustrated and disappointed than putting in the work. There are countless things outside of your control in music – from whether anyone listens to your music, to the reception of your latest release. A rigid mindset limits your perception, and doesn’t offer alternate plans for when things don’t go your way. However, approaching music flexibly gives you multiple ways to respond to challenging situations. Here are just three out of many situations in music where keeping a flexible mindset will help your career:

Finding new fans can feel like one of the most arduous tasks emerging musicians face. Faced with an innate desire to make music that resonates and reaches their ideal audience, it’s easy to feel discouraged when you miss the mark. However, there are so many unique ways to expand your reach and connect with your audience. There are new fans all around you, just waiting to discover your new song. Here’s are a few innovative ways to catch their attention:

Curiosity is by far one of the most important traits to possess as a songwriter. It’s a quality that asks what’s possible in music. Imagination unlocks new ideas as you write, and curiosity acts like a bridge that leads you there. If it doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t fret. Here are three ways to foster curiosity in your songwriting practice:

Despite what you may have heard, songwriting is absolutely a skill you can improve with time and practice. Having a natural knack for making music is clearly a huge advantage as a songwriter, but the truth is that a willingness to work hard, ask questions, and be willing to fail in music is arguably a bigger asset. Here are five ways to develop your skills as a songwriter:

Inspiration can be hard to find if you’ve been a musician for a while. Similar to the cliche telling lonely people that love will find them when they least expect it, it can feel like the harder we work to feel and express inspiration, the farther away it moves from us. One of the most frustrating things about making music is that we can set aside all the dedicated songwriting time we want, but there are no guarantees that we’ll feel inspired as we work. Here are three reasons why inspiration can’t be forced in music: