They say music is a powerful form of self-expression.
But how do you express yourself when you’re not quite aware of what’s going on in your head and your life that you could write about?
What’s interesting that also comes straight from the heart?
Who are you, and what do you want to say through your music?
Enter: journaling.
There’s so much you could dig into to create songs laced with raw, riveting emotions.
But that’s not it.
There are so many other benefits of keeping a journal when making music that you’ll wish you had started doing it sooner.
Let’s explore some of them to inspire you to keep one when creating your next masterpiece.
5 Benefits of Keeping a Journal When Making Music
1. It Helps Process Your Emotions and Experiences
Most aspiring music artists struggle with deciding what to write about when making music. Journaling solves this problem by allowing you to express yourself creatively and removing emotional blockages.
When you dump your feelings, ideas, and experiences in the journal every day, flipping through the pages when you sit down for songwriting might get you inspired. This is regardless of the type of music you wish to make.
Being in touch with your feelings will become your most powerful tool as an artist.
2. It Keeps You Focused on the Process and Goals
Keeping a journal helps you stay organized. This is extremely important when creating music, as there are so many aspects to consider – melody, harmony, rhythm, etc.
By keeping track of your thoughts and ideas in writing, you can ensure that your music is cohesive and well-constructed.
3. It Accelerates Learning
You could accelerate learning and connect more deeply with your craft if you decide to write about the chords, song rhythm, sheet music, production techniques, or any other aspect of your music in your journal.
On top of this, you can take notes of any helpful information you get from books, podcasts, or lectures to incorporate it into your songwriting process faster and more efficiently.
4. It Helps Track Progress
You could write about what you learn, practice, and compose every time you sit down to make music.
By documenting your progress over time, you can see how far you have come and identify the areas in which you need to improve. This is important if you feel stagnant during the songwriting process and need a push to keep moving forward.
5. It Makes Your Voice More Powerful
One of the biggest benefits of keeping a journal when making music is getting comfortable with your ‘voice.’
This confidence boost is critical for any new artist as they must be prepared to deal with inner and outer critics and challenges like writer’s block to power through on the exhilarating journey ahead.
Concluding Thoughts
One of the simplest ways to improve your music-making process is by keeping a journal.
While you’ll need some discipline to get into the habit, it’ll quickly become a part of your daily routine. And soon enough, you’ll witness the benefits of keeping a journal when making music.
Happy journaling!
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships.Along with his work at MuzicSwipe, he also conducts in-depth interviews with prominent entrepreneurs on his weekly podcast “FULLSPEED.” Eric also dedicates himself to educational initiatives through the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” which provides four scholarships to US-based students. Keep track of Eric’s endeavors on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,YouTube, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.