Journaling for Young Musicians

Why write when you can sing, dance, and create music? And why write as often as possible when you can be outside playing soccer or even indoors practicing piano? Fair questions deserve reasonable answers! Read on.

As musicians, we are constantly investigating new sounds, new techniques, and new expressions. We listen to and create an audial world that invokes inspiration. Writing, like music, is another highly introspective way to investigate the world, one that is filled with ‘aha’ moments and more. So, let’s go there for a moment and see what it has in store for young musicians.

The type of writing that I am speaking about is called journaling, and it does not require that you write in any particular way, just that you write often, write authentically, and write about something that interests you – music! (and other things, too). You can add a few sketches, paintings, doodles, and photos to your journal in order to highlight and inform your entries.

Engaging in multiple art forms allows you to hear, see, think, and create in new ways. Drawing, for example, can open a person up to new ways of writing. Painting can sometimes help an athlete overcome an inhibition and advance in their game. In essence, art demands that we open our minds through our senses, something we do respectful of our minds and bodies. In this way, art helps us grow as artists and as people. So let’s get started.

How to Begin

I recommend you begin journaling using an enhanced “Dear Diary” / Journal format. What’s the difference between a diary and a journal? In brief, a journal is topic-oriented whereas a diary is temporal. My writing prompts below will help us sort this out and allow you to begin today!

First, you will need one pencil, one eraser, and either a sketch book or a diary.

Second, write your name on the inside cover of the journal (in case you lose it). You can minimize the likelihood of losing it if you keep it in your room at home, but in case you want to take it to the park, for example, to write, then make sure you have contact information next to your name. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR ADDRESS – ONLY PHONE AND/OR EMAIL. Sorry to ‘shout’ in all caps, but we do have to be careful about our personal information.

You are now ready to begin your first (or next) journal.

Journal Writing Prompts

Elementary School

Start with a “Dear Diary” entry in which you list one or two interesting things that happened during the day. Plan to write a “Dear Diary” entry once a week. After you write your “Dear Diary” entry, then write a journal entry that pertains to music. You might use the following prompt for your journal entry: Write a sentence or two that describes your weekly piano study. Describe what you have learned and what you like best.

Middle School

Start with your “Dear Diary” entry in which you list three interesting things that happened today. Plan to write a “Dear Diary” entry as often as you like, but at least once a week. After each “Dear Diary” entry, then write a journal entry that pertains to music. You might use the following prompt for your journal entry: Write a paragraph that describes your weekly piano study, your practices, and 2 things you like best and 1 thing you like least about your overall piano study so far.

High School

Start with your “Dear Diary” entry in which you write about three interesting things that happened to day and elaborate on at least one. Write as often as you like, but at least once a week. After each “Dear Diary” entry, then write a journal entry that pertains to music. You might use the following prompt for your journal entry: Write a paragraph that describes your weekly piano study, your practices, and your goals. Reflect on whether you are meeting your goals. Are there obstacles? If so name them.

NEXT

Once you try the above writing prompts for a few weeks or months, come up with your own writing prompts, which can be fun! Make sure that you continue to describe, assess, evaluate your progress in music through journaling. And try out a few mixed-media doodles, etc., too. Try a sketchbook, a graphed or dotted journal, and different kinds of paper as you expand your journals over the years.

Once you get started, you can continue journaling throughout college, the workplace and beyond!

All photos used in this post are stock photos found on Pexels.com