Organizational Tips for Musicians!

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I cannot tell you how much time and energy I could have saved by making sure my music space was neat and organized. I promise, decluttering your spaces may take a little more effort than what you'd like to give but it will help you focus on creating music. But more importantly, it will just make you feel better!

An Organized Music Space means Better Focus 

Speaking from my experience as a professional musician. Piles of music just "randomly" appear... Okay really it's more like I go on a practicing frenzy and mountains of staff papers slowly start to build. Theeen, I cannot find anything! Now I spend more time looking for that one specific piece versus actually practicing.

Plus on top of all that, having a neat musical space can help you on your creativity, focus and most importantly peace of mind. Make this space a sanctuary, make it desirable to practice. The easier it is to practice, the more you will do it.

Start with your Sheet Music and Learning Materials

This is the easiest place to start-- it's the thing that gets most chaotic and it's the most used. I like to use binders to maintain loose sheet music and I categorize my binders based on what they are for (i.e. music I'm practicing and then my teaching binder). Anything else? Needs to go straight into the recycling bin.

Once I have that organized suddenly my mind is clear! Eventually, when you become a sheet music/method book collector like myself, you will have to eventually organize your bookshelf... which is a whole other venture.

Box Up Your Music Gear and Gadgets 

I used to just have all my flute gadgets everywhere, some would be in my case, some in my studio space, and others at my house. This way of living has made me buy doubles on accident! And I really don't like spending money like that so I decided all my gizmos and gadgets are living in a singular box. Everything from metronomes, to extra cleaning cloths, tuners and rhythm sticks--- all in a box.

Plus this gives you an opportunity to get rid of doubles-- Those extras make great gifts to to students as well!

Go through Your Digital Music Space and Files

Say whaaa? It's not real you say? You need to optimize every aspect of your space to clear your mind and think efficiently. As professional musician, I have a variety of calendars to keep track of it all. And outside of my career, I gotta make sure I'm tending to my personal life events as well. That said, a person may cancel here and there or life just gets the best of us but we don't update it and now we don't know if we are actually booked or what. It is good practice to review your calendar at least on the monthly.

I keep digital files of my student's music and sometimes that gets crazy and unruly. Or perhaps, you are downloading memes and somehow it made its way into your files. Start clicking and get rid of stuff you don't need and use the folder function as well! Your digital space also contributes to your productivity.

Create an Organized Music Gig Bag for Easy Access 

I will always bug my students about this one. It's so easy to misplace sheet music or have it all crumpled up and then you are spending precious time and energy trying to figure out where the first page of your sheet music is at. Literally it can be any bag like our backpacks with a couple of sheet music binders and some pencil cases.

Our if you want to be a fancy pants, check out our favorite sheet music organizer: this music portfolio from Protec.

Take care of yourself and Celebrate the Wins

Finally, don't forget to take care of yourself physically and mentally. There is no use in pursuing music without self-preservation. Sleep, rest and manage with what you can. Balance is the key for being the best musician you can be in this life. Within that balance, make sure to celebrate the small wins as much as the big wins!

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