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Some thoughts you didn't ask me for:
>The first year is the hardest.
Just figuring out a DAW is really difficult when you're new, so be kind to yourself and realize hanging in there for that long is an accomplishment on its own. It eventually gets more fun.
>Your first attempts at music won't be great, but you should save them on a hard drive anyway.
It'll blow your mind when you compare your progress in a few years (and you'll also find your early stuff charming because of nostalgia).
>Remember to judge your music, not yourself.
Critical listening is an essential skill to develop, but self-loathing only stunts your growth. Your music might suck right now, but you don't. You're just learning and practicing, which takes time.
>Approach music with curiosity.
You don't need to set out to make something good every single time you open your DAW. Sometimes your objective can be to explore different approaches without caring about how the final product turns out. Listen critically to what you've made and reflect on the process AFTER THE FACT, but don't bog yourself down with worries and expectations before you even start. You can't get any better if you don't explore/make stuff.
>Zoom out and reevaluate your creative process/workflow every so often.
I try to do it once or twice a year. Given all you've learned in that time, is there a better/easier/more efficient way to get things done? What approaches worked best for you, and which ones didn't? What were your biggest obstacles, and what are some ways you can minimize them? Consider writing it all down when you reflect.
>It helped me to make a physical list of things I didn't know or needed to figure out as I thought of them.
That way I didn't forget anything, which really sped things up for me. Plus, crossing off a bunch of shit on a legal pad feels good, and when you're doubting yourself, you can flip through and visually see all the stuff you've learned.
