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Andy Lykens

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Patterns

August 17, 2010 by Andy

If you’re a musician you’re use to living in patterns. iii-vi-ii-V-I, circle of fifths (or cycle of fourths if you prefer), and so on. Patterns literally surround and encompass everything musically and help give loose structure to the art form. This structure can be manipulated, modulated, changed, transformed and broken altogether for the sake of making a great new sound.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about what advice musicians should take to heart; how to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to all the questions that entail getting a song licensed or expanding their audience.

In the end, it comes down to recognizing patterns in everything you do and improving them. Music practice applies to everything in life – business, health, success and failure in general. So what can you learn from yourself? What lessons might you already know?

Approach every problem or obstacle in your life like practicing your craft. Identify the goal of practicing (is it notes in a particular phrase? a complex rhythm? or do you just want to improve your fluency in a given key signature?), set out the tasks to help you improve at it (slowly go over notes, break down complex rhythms, identify scales/chords/passages in the key), and most importantly get started.

Even if what you decide to work on or how you start to solve a problem doesn’t turn out to be the most efficient, you’ll still learn a ton – both about yourself, and the problem at hand. Set a goal, make a plan, and get started.

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