Hey bloo64,

As a fellow creative (visual arts), I can speak to what you’re going through a bit.

Music, like any passion, has its ups and downs. If you’ve ever been in a relationship, I’m sure you can remember the rush of falling in love, and then discovering that the object of your affection could not continually sustain such ardor indefinitely. On top of that, you find out things take work, which makes you question and doubt. Soon you are asking yourself, “is this right for me?”

One of two things happen: 1) you ride out the wave of insecurity and the work you put in pays off – you feel re-energized, and “fall in love” all over again…or 2) things get worse, what once was the center of your world is now a burden, and eventually you realize this is no longer right for you. You let it go.

So you see my friend, what you are experiencing is normal. I’ve fallen in and out of love with art multiple times. Sometimes I needed distance from it to re-ignite the flame, other times I just had to press on and make improvements to *myself* first (learn better time management so I could carve out an hour in the studio – eat better so I didn’t feel so drained and unable to sketch).

Taking a creative passion into a profession is no easy thing. Often this is what does people in. Music has become a chore for you. Don’t be afraid to take a break from it if need be. When you’ve re centered yourself then you can decide to continue on your education.

Julia Cameron’s book “The Artist’s Way” goes into your issue and many others facing visual artists, musicians, dancers, writers like you – I highly recommend.

Good luck!