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Principle Number 3: Enjoy the Process!

Music is one of the most enjoyable activities known to mankind. It seems to fulfill basic human needs and can help us experience a wealth of emotions. It should go without saying that enjoyment should be a high priority in the process of making music. However, we sometimes forget that fact and become unhappy, uninterested, and indifferent to music.

Here are some ways to ensure that you enjoy the process of making music.
Practice and perform music that you love.
If you are in a situation where you have to perform music that you don’t like, try to find something enjoyable about it. Perhaps you just need to understand it better to find something you like about it.
Choose music that is appropriately challenging -- music that is stimulating, but not so difficult that you become miserable just trying to catch up.
Avoid tension in your practice and performance.
Practice in ways that are fun and involve games, when that is possible.
Remember the importance of communication in the music making process.
Know the music that you are performing well. Learn your part, and learn the parts of others, too.
Involve the creative process as much as you can. Write your own music and perform it.
Increase your musical awareness. The more aware you are of the music you are playing, the more you are free to enjoy it.
Make music with others.