Struggling to keep motivated

Plateaus are normal in every instrument.

I've been there for sure. I think anyone who has ever gotten anywhere on any instrument has had to get through what you are experiencing.

My suggestion is to stop trying to advance for a bit and try to just use what you've already learned to have some fun for awhile. Maybe just do some rhythm to jam tracks?

Maybe just find a Blues song your really love and try to just play backup or see if you can figure out what's going on in that song? 

Maybe jump ahead and watch the inteviews with David's band that come later on in the course? I found that really motivating.

I am actually watching all the videos to get myself really hyped about being able to even take on this instrument because when I got it I thought it was going to be easy. Isn't the harmonica one of the easiest instruments on the planet? Who'd a thunk that it would be so hard!?

If there is someone who gives lessons where you are or a harmonica meetup, those can be very motivating.

We've got to figure out ways to get motivated and keep motivated while we sound horrible for at least a year. That's actually not that long for an instrument, but as adults with a million other things we "should be doing" it's too easy for us to make excuses. 

Maybe using your 15 minutes a day for awhile to listen to a great player and imagine yourself on stage as the person playing would be better than nothing if you can't get yourself to pick up the harmonica? 

Use the time to pick out a song that you would love to play and listen to as many people playing it as you can find?

When I've gotten to the point you describe (has happened too many times to count)  I just stop and find something that tickles me. With the violin, I've had to stop and learn another instrument even! Hence, me here with the harmonica. That makes me WANT to play my violin some more. 

If the blues is feeling too hard, maybe some folk or bluegrass or world music or simple classical?

I did the opposite with the violin. I feel like I'm just never going to get where I want to be with classical so I thought, let me try the blues!

Another trick with a chorded instrument is to play while watching some wonderful stupid thing on TV that you think is a waste of time but great fun and afterwards giving yourself your favorite drink or food as a reward. May be kind of simplistic Pavolve stuff, but getting to zone out and then to have something I normally wouldn't allow myself to have for me I find jumpstarts the "motivation" pretty fast. :)

Whatever your favorite "nugget" or reward is, that's what you use. Beer, coffee, sweets, TV, Music, Hugs, Asking someone close to you to say "Good Job!" - I've used them all! 

I'm sure you will find a way! The upside of being eventualy to play is massive. It's also really only 15 minutes a day for a year or two before it gets to be easily fun. That's onloy a drop in the bucket. I'm not above tricking myself into it! :) Hell, I'm not even above tricking myself into getting good on the violin by learning the harmonica! 

I wish you all the best Scorny and hope that this can spark some idea for something that will work for you.

I like Dorothy's advice "to stop trying to advance for a bit and try to just use what you've already learned to have some fun for awhile. Maybe just do some rhythm to jam tracks?" After all, did you pick up the harp to have fun or to press through a 10-level course?

I first got started in order to learn some simple songs, just on a lark. Once I got into this course, though, the numbering system for the levels trigered my competitive nature and I just felt I needed to advance at a rapid clip. I covered three levels in one year, but now on level four I've just kicked back a bit. I'll finish this when I finish it.

I guess what I'm saying is that you should focus on enjoying the instrument rather than pressing through the course levels. Also, remember, there's much more to this site than the levels of achievement. Try to enjoy those as well. Find one song you like in the repertoir builder and try to master that song. That alone might take three or four months.

Kick back and enjoy the ride.

Hi Scorny,  I recently passed LOA#8 and suddendly felt overwhelmed.  I decided to review what I have learned over the past 5 years.  I started to memorize all the study songs, review music theory, delve into and memorized the Bonus Songs and review many of Davids lessons. I am now more relaxed and see many of the concepts with fresh eyes.  I will eventually continue my LOA studies but only when I develope a better command of past, in a relaxed state of mind on all the previous lessons.  Like David says, "Enjoy the Journey"  Mic