I'm a jazz musician, although I don't claim to be a "professional". I fluctuate from being a talented amateur to

"pro sounding" when at my best.

It's usually a struggle to get things accomplished, I have found that keeping things interesting and exciting helps to sty focused. I try to find new and interesting material to learn and practice, or create a new arrangement of a standard tune. Novelty is stimulating, in any field. Whether you ADD or not , it's always more fun to have other musicians around that you can connect with. Having that also helps with the focusing

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Well, I'm not a professional musician because I kept getting discouraged about my skill level and quit trying to learn how to really master my instrument (drums, percussion, voice). I just never figured on ADD as a big part of why I never could stick with drum lessons and dropped out of bands and choral groups. I'm feeling hopeful, though. It's only been three days since I started taking Wellbutrin and I can already feel some of the endless fog starting to slowly creep away! This has to work because I have to get a job and start living... I've been on Social Security Disability since my early twenties and I'm now 41!

Anyway, I know this didn't really address your comments but when I saw Professional Musician as the thread title, I just wanted to chime in with my own limited experience.

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I've been a professional musician in a symphony for over 20 years. I have the most difficulty with staying focused while playing, and find my mind wandering even during a performance. I really have to focus hard and make a conscious effort to stay in the moment. Because of this I had difficulty with jazz, as I kept forgetting where I was in the form. I do much better with the music written out, even if it's just a simple chart; it's easier to find my place again if I space out. For gigs, I just keep everything written down and keep a weekly calendar on the fridge so I don't forget a gig or rehearsal. Tax deductions are the hardest thing for me to keep track of. I find I must diligently write them down (like on a spreadsheet) or I'll forget them by the end of the year (or the end of the week- ha), including mileage.

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I know this is an old thread, but I've been looking everywhere to find resources on ADD/ADHD for musicians. I am a college student and aspiring professional musician. ADD has been good in one way, because I've managed to learn to play several different instruments (harp is actually the most recent but now my primary instrument) because I like to have some new challenge all the time. My biggest problem since I've been in college has been working on the same music for long periods of time and consistently making progress. If I really like a piece, I can do it, but when a piece gets very complicated or I don't like it as much, it's very hard for me to practice it. I also have a lot of trouble knowing how to plan my practicing. I tend to learn part of something and play it over and over again. Not very productive. I've found that if I practice at the right time of the day, when I am most alert and focused (surprisingly enough, early in the morning and also in the evening) I get a lot more done. I have to eliminate any distractions and work on one thing during a practice session. I take frequent breaks. With harp I have the added difficulty of trying to watch music, sometimes a conductor, look at the strings and move pedals. It gets a bit overwhelming when it comes to performing. Anyhow, my post is getting too long. I'd be interested to know if anyone has suggestions for practicing. I've gotten a head start by keeping all my music super organized. Thanks!

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hey harp guy....i'm an aspiring musician too, and struggling with what I think are add issues. yep I play the part I like over and over and can never remember the bridge because I haven't played it in while.....been in 3 bands none of which worked out due to issues that are probably related to my add some of which are related to the music and the add and some the social skills (or lack there of)....I'm too intense......I can't seem to get that bridge or I spaced out and didn't come in on the one.......I make my parts more complicated that my ability.....I feel like I don't fit in ... I get really down on myself when I can't execute what I hear in my head....I'm a perfectionist with an inferiority complex.... One thing that one of my teachers used to force me to do which really helped was to teach me to focus on exactly where I was making mistakes...the exact measure or even part of the measure....get that measure down then the pickup to that measure....then the two measure before it into the difficult measure...then add on the following measure....It was brutal but effective. I also find I learn the music better when I make the charts for whatever band I'm trying to work in. That forces me to really learn the songs...and then we are all working off the same page, and if we decide to tweak something, then I make the changes in the charts, this reinforces the changes for me. I also wonder if I have some trouble hearing the big picture, the overall sound of everyone playing together, when I'm one of the players....not sure if that is an add issue or just an immature ear. Another issue is that I'm not sure I ever play a piece the same way twice....that's got to be an add thing! I'd love to hear from others about their experience. Anyone out there?

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hey harp guy....i'm an aspiring musician too, and struggling with what I think are add issues. yep I play the part I like over and over and can never remember the bridge because I haven't played it in while.....been in 3 bands none of which worked out due to issues that are probably related to my add some of which are related to the music and the add and some the social skills (or lack there of)....I'm too intense......I can't seem to get that bridge or I spaced out and didn't come in on the one.......I make my parts more complicated that my ability.....I feel like I don't fit in ... I get really down on myself when I can't execute what I hear in my head....I'm a perfectionist with an inferiority complex.... One thing that one of my teachers used to force me to do which really helped was to teach me to focus on exactly where I was making mistakes...the exact measure or even part of the measure....get that measure down then the pickup to that measure....then the two measure before it into the difficult measure...then add on the following measure....It was brutal but effective. I also find I learn the music better when I make the charts for whatever band I'm trying to work in. That forces me to really learn the songs...and then we are all working off the same page, and if we decide to tweak something, then I make the changes in the charts, this reinforces the changes for me. I also wonder if I have some trouble hearing the big picture, the overall sound of everyone playing together, when I'm one of the players....not sure if that is an add issue or just an immature ear. Another issue is that I'm not sure I ever play a piece the same way twice....that's got to be an add thing! I'd love to hear from others about their experience. Anyone out there?

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ms.k, so much of what you said describes me. i also have trouble with playing the same passage over and over...and over, while neglecting the things that i should move on to. also, i'm a perfectionist with an inferiority complex. i've realized that the difficulty that i have in preparing/practicing leads to no confidence in my ability when i do perform, or, if i do well, to chalk it up to luck. the systematic learning of measures that you mentioned is the kind of thing that works for me, but i have to really force myself to be that structured. i also have a tendency to hyperfocus, a big ADD thing, on stuff (like playing passages over and over) that distracts from my practice regimen. it kind of sucks to be super structured when i practice, but i've found that the longer i can go with a steady, structured practice routine, the better (WAY better) the performances are. one more thing. i'm not sure if you're this way, but, as a perfectionist, i often get discouraged if i don't get imediate positive results. i also tend to bite off more than i can chew. these two things lead me to get so discouraged, that i want to give up (or throw something). i know it sounds cliche, but slow and steady is the way to go. braking what you do down into manageable tasks will get you used to the feeling of moving forward and growing, plus the info will stay with you much longer. thanks for the reply. i hope this helped.

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thanks for the quick reply. Yep biting off more than I can chew......getting down on myself for not performing up to my (over inflated) expectations. I was in a virtual panic state for a while with one group I was trying to work with because of these problems......getting started on practicing is also a problem sometimes....I'm off to a lesson this afternoon and I'm going to ask my teacher to help me structure a practice routine. I might even go so far as to type it up, print it out and have little check boxes to make sure I do all the different parts of the routine. Sometimes I hate that I have to set up charts like this to keep myself on track, (I have one to try to keep my house and kids in order), I think that I should be "smart" enough to do what needs to be done, but as we know being smart and being orderly are two different things. I also think there is a tiny dopamine shot you get when you check off one of those boxes, and having to keep referring to the "to do" list sometimes can help to redirect my attention to what needs to be done.

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