Why Do We Play?

If you are reading this, it probably means you that are a musician or performer of some kind. It may also mean that something has happened that negatively affects your ability to practice your art. Or maybe you are reading this proactively, before something happens. Either way, you are searching for the way to be able to perform your art in the most comfortable and productive way possible. Before you read any further, you need to consider “Why do I have to continue to perform? What is it about music/performance and my life that makes it inconceivable to quit, even if it is causes me physical and/or mental/spiritual pain?” If you have an answer to this question, great! If not, this is something that you should consider very carefully, as the answer can greatly impact the success of any treatment for any condition that you may be experiencing.


There are many reasons why people play music or are performers. Most start because they love the art and feel like they have a form of self-expression open to them. If someone is pursuing music or performance as a career and it is the primary or a significant part of their earning power, there can be many outside forces that can interfere with these pleasurable and positive aspects of the art. It is very important that you continue to find joy and fulfillment in your art. If performing or playing music has become painful in all aspects, mental, spiritual and physical, then it may be time to reassess why you continue.

Music making and/or performing involves a healthy amount of ego. You must be convinced that your contribution, whether as a soloist or in a group, is integral to the performance. If too much ego is involved then a musician/performer will suffer and make others around him or her suffer as well. Too little ego and the person is consumed with fear every time he or she has to perform. This can also lead to obsessive practice which in turn can lead to physical problems. It can also lead to “self-medicating”, using legal or illegal substances, to help “calm the nerves”. Either one of these can be destructive for the performer.

If a person’s’ sole purpose in life is to be the “best” at their art, this too can lead to negative consequences. While wanting to be the best is great in many ways, if it is the sole purpose, it will be a difficult goal to achieve. There will be people who are better than you at various points throughout your career!

As in any career, the music “business” and the “business” of performing any art, can be cut-throat. Competition is built into the system and thick skin and healthy self-esteem are necessary tools for survival. Knowing this and being prepared for it will help performers make decisions about their careers. Maintaining high personal standards of conduct may seem, in some instances, impossible. Nevertheless, by maintaining one’s own personal code of conduct and not being pressured into uncomfortable situations, a performer will be better able to maintain a healthy approach to his/her art form.

The healthiest approach is to be the best that you can be, both as an individual performer and in the way you interact within a group. Be confident in your contribution, but be open to growth, both as a performer and as a human being. By always being open to growth and change, you will be able to approach music in an exciting and creative way that will allow you to perform for the entirety of your life. Know that music and other types of performance are incredibly powerful forces in many people’s lives. A performance, musical or otherwise, can move people to action, for good or ill. It can rally the troops, soothe the soul, calm the baby and incite a riot. My favorite teacher had a plaque in his studio which read “The aim and final reason for all music should be nothing less than the glory of God and the recreation of the spirit” - Johann Sebastian Bach. A Japanese philosopher once said “Art is a weapon for realizing peace. It is also an expression of supreme victory in life. Every drop of sweat shed for the sake of art adds to the river of human peace and culture” – Daisaku Ikeda. By striving to create value with one’s performance, the artist can be proud of his or her contribution to society and achieve a mental and spiritual satisfaction with that contribution. And these two things are key to maintaining one’s physical health and the ability to perform unencumbered.