Psychologist Dr. Herbert Freudenberger is the first to coin the term “burnout” when he used the analogy of a building that has burned out and compared it to the clinical syndrome created by unchecked stress. Picture the vitality of a beautiful architecturally-designed and lovingly built structure that, after burning up, is only a shell of the energy and vitality it once contained.
The rigors of a music school curriculum and a professional life as a performer puts us at great risk for burnout. Some of the symptoms one might feel include fatigue and loss of energy, an emotional numbness and loss of idealism and a distinct dissatisfaction in one’s personal accomplishments. Often, people suffering from burnout have been diagnosed with depression because some of the more acute symptoms of burnout are similar to those of depression. Where depression appears to be endogenous or coming from within the sufferer, burnout is specifically described as relating to the surrounding culture, the work place and the very nature of the work itself.
Some of the causes of burnout in the music world can include intense competition, a large work load, frequent risk of rejection that can lead to a sense of never progressing and the constant repetition required of professional level musicians. Overwhelming stress from the demands of our art create an imbalance in our lives that can lead to the crushing feelings of despair that accompany burnout.
Understanding our innate susceptibility to burnout and then being keenly aware of the warning signs can often head off an episode of burnout.
Here are some helpful hints to remember when you enter the stressful arena of the arts:
1. We are all imperfect human beings. Striving for perfection in our art is part of the reason we became artists. But allow yourself off the hook some of the time and let a stray note slip or chalk up a “bad day” to being human. Being kind to yourself is the hallmark of a healthy balance.
2. Remember we are part of a larger community. When you give and support to others, they will in turn support you. This is especially important at Music School where intense competition plays itself out on a nearly daily basis. Instead of always trying to best your colleagues, look for the beauty and unique qualities in their playing. There are a multitude of valid interpretations. Sometimes your are the spotlighted one, other times it is a colleague. Being able to live in community with others can help us to avoid burn out.
3. Try to see the big picture of your success. There are countless anecdotes of musicians who persisted after the twentieth audition and finally landed the job of their dreams and others who blossomed later in their careers. Our instant gratification society contributes to our sense that what we are doing is not enough and thus isolates us and can lead to burnout.
4. Don’t forget to take time to smell the roses. This may sound cliché, but without a fully developed mind we often have nothing of substance to say with our flashy technique. Read the classics, take up a hobby, exercise. When the practice rooms got too oppressive for me at the Cleveland Institute, I would cross the road to the Cleveland Museum of Art and look at some of the masters. It cleared my head and refreshed me. I also felt the stress drain away and a new energy take its place.
Try some of these techniques when you feel overwhelmed and good luck!
