I wanted to share a few things I discovered while trying to work on music daily — things that surprisingly few people talk about, but that make all the difference when you’re actually in it.
- Setbacks are normal.
You sit down to work, something breaks, your studio misbehaves, your computer decides today is the day — and suddenly hours (or days) disappear.
That time wasn’t wasted. You just worked through a barrier that stood between you and your music. That challenge was inevitable, and getting through it is progress — even if no notes were written.
- Going in the wrong direction is part of the process.
Creative work isn’t linear. Some of your best results come after a period of heading the “wrong” way — sometimes for days, sometimes longer.
What feels like a detour usually sharpens your taste, your skills, and your perspective. You’ve seen the song from more angles, which makes the final version stronger and more intentional.
- The first day back is the hardest.
After a break, working on music can feel strangely uncomfortable — even wrong. I noticed an urge to do anything else first: chores, distractions, busywork.
Underneath that resistance was an emotional response — fear, sadness, insecurity. That’s normal. The good news is that it fades. Once you push through a few sessions, things settle into a neutral space, and confidence follows. You realize you don’t need to know everything to make meaningful music.
- You will still have bad days.
Progress doesn’t eliminate low points — it just makes them less frequent.
Some days you’ll go to sleep excited about a track and wake up convinced it’s terrible. That doesn’t mean you’ve lost the plot. It means you’re doing something interesting.
The key is to keep showing up and trust that clarity returns — usually within a few days.
- Big breakthroughs often follow breakdowns.
Your strongest creative moments tend to arrive after frustration peaks — right when your brain is telling you to quit.
That voice isn’t truth; it’s resistance. If you keep going through that moment instead of giving in, you’ll often land somewhere far more interesting than you planned.
- Keep showing up for the same song until it’s finished.
The temptation is always to jump ship when the fun part turns into the hard part.
What separates professionals from amateurs isn’t talent — it’s consistency when things stop feeling easy. Stay with the song. Face the challenge of finishing it to the best of your ability.
- Finishing isn’t a time to rest.
It’s tempting to finish a track and wait for validation — feedback, reactions, approval.
That pause kills momentum. Instead, start the next piece while the energy of completion is still fresh. Don’t worry if it feels weaker at first — every song starts that way. Waiting for reactions is just another form of procrastination.
- Don’t be too precious about what you work on.
You might worry that the next song isn’t “the one.” That doesn’t matter.
You chose it for a reason. You started it — so it’s worth finishing. Maybe it becomes your best track, maybe it doesn’t. Either way, it teaches you something the next song needs.
That’s the work. Try not to judge it too early. Just stay present and enjoy the process of discovery.
Now — here’s why I’m sharing this with you.
I’ve watched these exact challenges stop so many talented producers — not because they lack skill, but because they’re trying to do this alone, inconsistently, and without support.
That’s why I created The 15-Minute Producer Group — a focused Discord community (primarily for Ableton users, but welcoming to all) where producers show up daily, work on music for just 15 minutes, and check in with what they actually did — or where they got stuck.
No pressure.
No perfection.
No grinding.
Just:
15 minutes a day.
Small steps.
Real progress.
I’ll be there regularly — answering questions, helping people work through resistance, and sharing short masterclasses based on what actually comes up in the group.
We’re opening the doors on January 5th. This is a soft launch, and I’ll only be opening enrollment a few times a year so the group stays focused and supportive.
If you’ve ever thought, “I know what to do… I just can’t stay consistent,” this might be exactly what you’ve been missing.
You can learn more or join here:
https://5970130242179.gumroad.com/l/15MinuteProducerGroup
No hype.
No obligation.
Just a simple, sustainable way to finally build a music-making habit that sticks.
Happy music making,
Jason
If you are benefiting from these posts, you will absolutely love my 2 bestselling books:
The Mental Game of Music Production
The Process for Electronic Music Producers
To level up your Ableton Production Skills: Ableton Courses & Instruments
Take the Free Music Production Mastery Assessment Test. Discover your current strengths, weaknesses with your music making journey. You will get a personalized response directly from me as well as your next best steps to help you reach your goals faster. https://musicsoftwaretraining.com/evaluation
Happy music making!
Jason