Criticism in Music

When you start making music, sooner or later you move into the public sphere. By posting videos with content, your music, or anything else, you inevitably encounter criticism. Whether it’s a random commenter, a personal hater, or a neighbor who, while parking his car, leans out the window and says: I heard your music — total crap, get a real job)

In short, nobody likes criticism. Nobody likes hearing bad things about themselves. Anyone who says otherwise is either talking nonsense or has done the work and grown as a person. I don’t like criticism and never have. I simply didn’t like it, that’s all. Before, I got very angry when someone criticized me, especially when I didn’t ask for it. So I came up with my own system, and I’ll tell you about it)

1. Criticism is limited by money

Whoa, how does that work?) All the people who can truly give you constructive criticism are super competent. They studied in expensive courses, wrote lots of great songs, and won hundreds of awards. They studied, fell, got up, and fought. They’re in high demand in their field and very busy. They simply NEVER have time to criticize you or write nasty comments. You can get criticism from them (constructive advice or analysis) either through connections or for money. I got all the great criticism of my work and playing for money. And not cheap. I took lessons for $100 each, where the teacher would give one concept per lesson, and it was super effective. 45 minutes — and that’s it, bye.

There are great producers who tore apart my tracks and ripped them to shreds) So, for money. And I went to them myself) Friends/colleagues helped me a lot for free, as a favor. This isn’t about money, but about community. All people who have achieved something will try to help you, because they themselves were in your place. And someone helped them too.

2. Criticism when you’re being paid.

You write an arrangement for money, or guitar, or you mix. A person pays you money and can criticize you. They’re buying your work and can express dissatisfaction or make revisions. They pay — and that’s normal. Another matter is that everyone hates revisions, because they’re often completely insane and change nothing. That’s a debatable issue)

I accept criticism only from those I ask myself. Either insanely competent people for money, or colleagues I’m in a friendly community with, or people very close to me. I’m not interested in other people’s opinions. First, I didn’t ask; second, these people’s level of competence in my profession is usually critically low. They may have an opinion, but its value to me is approaching zero. As my dad says: I can have an opinion about nuclear physics, and you can too. The only difference is that I’m a qualified physicist, and you’ve read 3 Wikipedia articles. The value of my opinion is rubles, and yours is a kopeck. Or maybe even less)

As a rule, I don’t like music critics. They tell musicians how they would make music if they could. Not my thing, basically.

There’s another side to all of this — you need an inner judge who can critically assess what you do. How well you can compete with others at your level and how far you are from the pro standard.

Recognizing your own imperfection — is the key to self-development and progress. There is something called the Dunning–Kruger syndrome. It’s a psychological trait of people whose competence is so low that they aren’t capable of grasping it. It’s simply beyond their perception. Surround yourself with the right people who will help you set the right direction and goals. Understand what is okay and what isn’t.

When I enrolled at Gliier, there were dozens of super-talented musicians around me. We talked and played. My standard was set super high, because I knew who I wanted to become. Every time I asked for help, I got it) No one tried to destroy my self-esteem. Run from people who ruin it. run and don’t look back. Everyone has their own time and path. We all once didn’t know how to do something.

I entered music college at 25. I could barely play in keys with two sharps and didn’t know harmony, and couldn’t hear chords. As you can see, everything changes. I had an acquaintance in BC who was an absolutely fantastic guitarist. He practiced 24/7, even fainted from hunger a couple of times) Played like a god, but every time I asked him something, I got a lecture about how I was an idiot, didn’t know such things, blah blah. And вообще you’re all crap, and I’m a little darling. A dark toxic one. Without him my life became much better)

I had a personal hater) He still exists. No matter what I did, he would butt in with his nasty remarks about kilohertz and non-tube sound. I got angry, got into arguments, and always lost) And then I realized that the greatest happiness in his life is trashing what I do. I was wrong a hundred times because I was always moving forward. He was never wrong because he stood still. At some point I simply felt sorry for him, and I never replied to his comments again.

When someone is viciously criticizing you — think about the person writing that comment. The boss yelled at them, their wife scolded them, and even the cat peed in their slippers. Their only happiness is to trash and devalue someone in order to vent their anger somehow. If it really gets to you — block them) Thank the universe for this invention. Blocked — and there’s no problem.

Love it)

Friends, keep moving forward and don’t pay attention to criticism, especially if you didn’t ask for it) The dog barks — the caravan moves on. Wishing everyone success!