I've become a bit obsessed with music. Problem is, I'm a pretty busy person. I have a small child, I'm in the final stages of writing up a phd, I work as a university lecturer. I sing in a choir, I take guitar, cello and singing lessons. I have a trombone.

My problem is that I'd rather be working on music than pretty much anything else. I love my job, but... music's even nicer!


I wondered how the rest of you balanced your life with your music? How do you get yourself to prioritise other stuff, when music is so much lovelier?

Maybe try writing lists. Write down a list of things that you need to get done in a day plus anything that you want to get done. Then list these in order of priority of the urgency that they need to be done. Get the ones that absolutely must be done that day done, and a few of the others, and then maybe use music as like a reward for getting so many tasks done in the day.

The only thing i would say is be very carfull. You love music as it represent your escape from the other things in your life, dont let it become a chore if you struggle to do it at the moment you appreciate it; some of that liking, fondness my disappear if you do not have to work to get it into your life.

I support the lists theory to .... never been very good at them myself though!

Shall we just say I'm sat at my desk, supposed to be writing a PhD thesis but instead I'm on this forum . Still I have written some today . I've actually set myself a target that I must write a certain number of words per day. I also insist that I remain at my desk until at least a certain time in the evening (and get up at a certain time). Without the routine and regulation I would not do all these things because I'd just want to stay at home and play the piano (or posting on here, or in bed) . I suggest that the best way to make sure that you get other things done is to have a regimented routine which you must stick to, doing work at this time, and a target that you must achieve (not too distant a target either, a daily one is good). Then any free time you set aside you can use as you please (probably playing music, but don't make that a chore that you have to do if you don't want to).

I went through a phase for a while (a couple of years ago) of hating being out and just feeling that I wanted to get back because I was wasting time that I could be playing the piano . Fortunately I'm feeling a lot more balanced now; I also have another very different hobby that I really enjoy too which I can't do as often (relies on other people being there) so I think that helps me put things into perspective. I don't care about it any less now but I'm certainly not as much of a piano nutter as I used to be .

You're quite a busy person! However I can relate somewhat to your situation. I work full-time as an actuary and I am currently studying for my final actuarial exam which will be in three months time. I also have two small children. With such a schedule unfortunately my piano progress has been very slow which is a bit of a disappointment. However I am looking forward to the end of April - April 27 to be exact when I will be sitting for my last actuarial exam when I can go back to living like a normal human being.

However I am determined to complete studying for the grade 5 theory exam which will be held on the beginning of March. I started preparing for that last year but had to stop so I have started preparing for it once again. I consider preparing for grade 5 theory my reward from actuarial studying. The good thing also is by learning more theory it should help me in my actual playing.

In terms of trying to find practice time, I'm still trying to work on that. Not much success. I guess I've decided apart from my family that passing the actuarial exam is most important and if I have to put music aside for now so be it. However, any further musical sacrifices will only be until April 27. After that date I plan to be back into the swing of things musically speaking.

I guess I had better get back to actuarial studying!

Best wishes

Musictuary

I've got to get the grade 5 theory done too. I'm hoping to have my phd fully drafted in three months, with submission a month or so after that. I am pretty familiar with music theory, but have never studied it formally. I'm also a quick study at most things, so the music theory part 1 book doesn't look too scary for me, and I've got some work books to play round with. I can't decide whether to get the theory over with in the summer, so I can progress to higher grades - particularly in singing and guitar - or to hang on till the phd is totally out of the way...

Balance is the challenge for most of us on this forum. If you have a look back you'll probably find several threads about the juggling act and lack of time that everyone goes through.

A lot depends on your perception of your music - is it your escape from everything else going on in life or is it just another distraction. And whether you are prepared to accept that you may progress a little more slowly if practice time is in short supply, but are able to take it on trust that progress will happen eventually.

And yes, I know I'm a fine one to talk since I ditched the day job to concentrate on the music but I do remember what it was like when I was too shattered to sing when I came in at night and could only put in real practice at weekends.

Best of luck

Cheers

katyjay

I had this dilemma. So i chose to throw my future away and study music at uni. Doesnt halp your situation, I am sorry!! But that's what I did. My job is full time music - teaching, giging, going to concerts... My 'escape' is a part time job as a web and graphic designer for the government!! ha ha!

Maybe you could at least listen to music while you are writing your phd - and maybe while you do all your house stuff you could listen to Holsts Jupiter??

Maybe you need to get yourself a little project and share you musical-ness - get a student

Sally

I know the feeling, I love music but also love doing my phd. I find that when I have a break from the phd work I end up doing something 'musical' .. it acts as an excape route, but I honestly love both worlds really. When I've had a stressful day with my phd work, it's nice to be able to pick up an instrument and have a good play - letting off steam in the process. I actually find that I get better results with playing an instrument, when I am stressed and under pressure from Uni.

As for balancing, I do my uni during the days and try to have the evenings off if I'm not teaching, that's when the music comes in, and also, like I already said, when I have breaks during the day from the work.. I must admit I don't have a small child to juggle too, so you do well by the sounds of things! Just don't work too hard in the process

Joy

I hate, loathe and detest my job (I work in a call centre and am vastly over qualified with my degree to be there but there isn't much else about at the moment and I need money) - I only do it because I have to make money to pay the bills. I rerally detest the place and have no interest in it at all, so you can imagine how much harder it is for me to have to sacrifice music for spending 8 hours a day there!