You have a serious regimen there, sir! Since you asked for advice, here goes:
1. Ease up on yourself! I know it sounds cliche, but remember music is supposed to be rewarding, fulfilling, and ultimately shared. Your diligence is genuinely admirable, but if rigor supplants your joy, then back off on the former to allow room for the latter.
2. Performance fluster: welcome to the human race!
![Smiley :)](https://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
I've never found a shortcut for addressing this. Continued times at bat reduces stress of being at bat. I've never found any way around performance angst outside of performing
more. Again, go easy on your self critique. Critique in the objective sense is essential for growth, to be sure. But allow yourself mistakes ...heck, it is entirely likely no one even noticed. And if any do,
smile : it's better for both you and the audience! And on that note, play through whatever mistakes you've made and finish that song well. It's a genuine confidence builder to power through a real flub!
3. Books and lessons: my view on instruction is to keep my goal clear.
Why am I learning this or that? Ask and answer that for yourself. Then revisit #1 above. I'm not being flippant. If my learning something doesn't translate to me enjoying playing more, or reigning victorious over a difficult song, then mere academia is pointless. Utterly pointless! Question your motive in order to focus your goal.
4. Disclaimer: I am a hack, precious little music instruction as a kid, got through the school of hard knocks, put down music altogether for over a decade, and in the past several years the passion has been relit in my soul. I've forever been busy with a day job and family to raise, but music was
always that continual tug in the depths of my gut that kept nagging at me, always wanting to break out. Playing with others who are better than me (not hard to find that!) has propelled me forward; playing in various band situations taught me things I'd never have learned in formal instruction; and finding joy in whatever little victories reminds me there is lots to enjoy in this endeavor called music. Now I hunger for the next gig; it's become an unexpected craving ...weird! But it's a
good weird. All of which to say that you are "stressed" and "frustrated" with your process now. Change your process! Re-read your second line in your post! Now read it again. Re-evaluate my aforementioned babble, and if anything I've said sounds nuts, feel free to ignore my meanderings! I do hope something here is of help.
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Edward