Become 1% Better Every Day in Music Production

I don’t know if you produce music just as a hobby or if you want to achieve something bigger. For me, it all started quite innocently over 12 years ago.

Back then, I decided to create my own hip-hop beat to use as a ringtone on my phone – something nobody else would have. That small idea pulled me into the world of music production.

I learned everything on my own: exploring Ableton Live, watching endless YouTube tutorials, and spending countless late nights producing. I remember sitting at my computer until 2 or 3 in the morning after work, while my wife and daughter were asleep. On the train to gigs, or even on flights, I always had Ableton open, creating something new.

Thanks to that dedication, my music quickly reached a new level. I started getting booked for bigger shows at home and abroad, and labels began reaching out asking for tracks.

But here’s the truth: setting goals alone is not enough. Sure, releasing a track with your dream label feels great. But once you achieve that – what’s next? And what if you fail to reach that goal? That’s why goals alone don’t guarantee progress or happiness.

Instead, what really works is building a system – a process that helps you improve a little bit every day. If you aim to become just 1% better every session, the results will follow naturally.

What does a system mean in music production?

Think about your creative process:

• Do you work chaotically, or do you follow a certain structure, like starting with a template?

• Do you keep opening new projects without finishing the old ones?

Ask yourself: what small adjustments could you make to improve by 1% each time you sit down to produce?

Some ideas:

• Utilize templates to streamline your workflow.

• Stop using hundreds of VSTs – instead, master a few instruments deeply.

• Go back to unfinished projects and finish them step by step (even writing 16 more bars is progress).

Why does this work?

These small improvements compound like interest. Over time, consistency will transform your results.

Practical tips you can try right now:

• Work with full focus: turn off your phone or at least disconnect the internet.

• Organize your projects: create a “To Finish” folder for promising tracks and delete the rest.

• Keep your space clean: both your desk and your DAW projects. Label every track.

• Keep learning: don’t binge tutorials; watch one or two valuable videos weekly and apply the knowledge in your DAW. Remember – tutorials are useless without practice.

• Learn basic music theory: it will make writing melodies and harmonies much easier.

This mindset doesn’t just apply to music. It’s the same in fitness, sleep, diet, and life in general. Everything you do impacts your creativity and results.

So my wish – for myself and for you – is that we all get 1% better every day.

This article was inspired by the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.
I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to grow in any area of life