As a musician, I've noticed a few facts of life that don't quite apply to anyone else. Only other musicians can really, truly relate to these particular facts. Just for fun, I put together a small list of some of these facts of life for a musician.

1. Learning a New Instrument

Whether you're learning to play your first instrument or picking up another, there are countless struggles that come with learning a new instrument. You constantly compare yourself to people who seem to have mastered that instrument and dream of the day when you can play like them. It takes time to master that instrument. It's frustrating but you persevere. Your family complains if you live at home. At first, you really...let's say lack experience. But, the more you play, the better you get.

2. Hours and Hours of Practice

In order to learn your instrument, you have to play. All. The. Time. When I decided to learn to play guitar, my dad told me to practice until I felt like my fingers were going to bleed, then play some more. He wasn't kidding either. I had to keep playing like that to not only learn my instrument, but I had to build up calluses on my fingers. Those calluses are the lifeblood of a string player. They make it so you can play longer. Without them, your fingers hurt after 30 minutes, if you're lucky.

3. Learning New Music

Remember all that practice? Yeah, you spend a ton of time learning new songs too. It takes time to perfect a new piece. Even then, you may not have it exactly where you want it. But you never give up because you never know what new song will be your new favorite piece.

4. Sheet Music Everywhere

All those songs come with sheet music. Whether you learn from chord sheets or straight written notes, you have to learn that music from a sheet of paper. You get piles and piles of music. You can fill shelves with the books. And your collection never ends. If anything, it's keeps growing.

5. Surrounded by Music

You are always listening to music. No, not all of it is what you play yourself. Music has become an integral part of your life. A friend of mine accurately described both of us as being 50% music.

6. A Song is Always in Your Head

Because you're always listening to music, it's really easy for songs to get stuck in your head. Sometimes, it's not just one. I tend to have about three song playing in my head at once. Sometimes it flips around which song, like they're playing on a loop. Sometimes it's a random tune that you have no idea what it's from. All you know is that it's in your head.

7. Tapping out Beats

As a musician, you tend to want play unconsciously. So you start tapping out the beats of the songs in your head. Sometimes, it's just a random beat. You don't even notice you're doing it.

8. Craving to Play

It comes with the territory. Just like an painter gets the urge to paint or an athlete wants to go and play their sport, you start to crave playing your instrument. You get to a point where it could even be relaxing to play. Sometimes when I need a break from school work, I head out to my practice room and just play for a while. Not only do you get to hear the music you play, but you can get lost in it. There's something about making music that you can't quite describe.

9. Carrying the Equipment

Your instrument comes with equipment. Every instrument comes with equipment. If you sing, you have to bring water, maybe move a stand, set up a microphone or monitor. Monitors are not light, I can tell you from experience. Other instruments require you to carry the instrument itself, plus any of its accessories. You develop a skill for carrying more than a single human should, kind of like a pack mule, but better.