I’m not a big fan of change. I know very few people that are. I know that in my music, sometimes change is necessary. Changing keys can help build intensity. Changing tempo can add help return focus. Changing instruments can add flavor. Changing volume can place emphasis. Sometimes my music gets into a groove and I know that something has got to change just to keep the listener’s interest. But change for the sake of change can lead to a different kind of rut where change is anticipated and expected and thus is no longer change. Change must have purpose.

Changes in music can be small and almost negligible. For instance: slipping from a violin line to a viola line in your melody. Sometimes they are hard and dramatic; let’s add a crashing cymbal. Sometimes it can mean just slipping in a little swing or syncopation to lighten the mood. The point being that the change should be for the benefit of the listener, not the composer. You have to ask yourself where you want to take your listener and how best can you get there. The last thing you want is for your listener to get bored and move on to something else.

Now, I say that from a musical standpoint. There are times when the composer has to change as well. We get stuck in a rut writing what is comfortable and what we are writing lack substance. That means it is time for a change: time to open up our mind so fresh ideas and embrace the high road even if it is the more difficult path.

I think my life is like that. I get comfortable and balanced in a routine. I don’t want to upset the apple cart because it is much easier to keep the status quo. Unfortunately, everything in my life suffers when I do that. I don’t pay as much attention to the people that are important to me. I have trouble focusing at my job. My music becomes lackluster. The only way to deal with it is to recognize it for what it is and embrace change. Change in attitude. Change in spirit. Change in the way I do things.
Sometimes it doesn’t take much to get me back where I need to be. I take a different route to work. I listen to some music that I don’t normally listen to or don’t listen to any music at all so I can hear the sounds all around me. Sometimes I swap my prayer time around or spend more time in the Bible. Other times, it’s much more difficult. But half the battle is realizing it for what it is and accepting the fact that I have to do something about it.

No excuses. Stop being fearful of change and embrace it. It doesn’t have to be drastic but let the change take you on a slightly different path so that you can experience something different. Your music and your life will be the better for it.