Why Being a Musician Is Like Cooking Rice

Being a musician is like cooking rice.

Stay with me. I promise this isn’t as random as it sounds.

At first glance, the metaphor doesn’t quite land. But give me a moment, and I’ll show you how these two seemingly unrelated things have more in common than you think.

Let’s start simple: How many different types of rice can you name?

Go ahead, grab your notes app—or a piece of paper if you’re feeling old-school. I’ll give you 20 seconds.

Go!

Alright, here’s my list after 20 seconds:

I only managed five types. And yes, I wrote “rice” as one of them. If this were Family Feud, Steve Harvey would already be giving me that look.

But here’s the thing—most people would come up with the same few answers:

• White rice

• Fried rice

• Brown rice

• Jasmine rice

Ask someone who truly understands rice—someone from a culture where rice isn’t just food but a tradition—and you’d get:

• Nasi Goreng from Indonesia

• Hainanese Chicken Rice from Singapore

• Chicken Biryani from India and Pakistan

• Onigiri from Japan

And let’s not even start on rice desserts.

Here’s where it gets interesting: Being a musician is a lot like this.

Wait…what????

Well I’m glad you asked!

You see…

Most musicians see only a few paths:

• Release music on Spotify and hope for streams.

• Chase a record label deal.

• Play at local open mics.

• Dream of festival slots.

None of these are wrong. They’re still valid paths. But they’re not the only paths.

The music industry, like rice dishes, offers endless possibilities.

You can:

• Build your own website and sell music directly to fans.

• Livestream your performances from your bedroom.

• Teach others what you’ve learned.

• Create music for film, TV, or video games.

The pathways are endless, but most musicians don’t see them because they’re stuck thinking about the “usual recipes.”

My Story

When I was younger, I wanted one thing: to play music. Full stop.

I traveled the world, met my guitar heroes—Tommy Emmanuel, Mike Dawes, Antoine Dufour—and studied how they built their careers.

I played festivals, hoping that one person would come up after the show, buy a CD, and say, “I loved your music.”

But eventually, I realized something: Fried rice isn’t the only way to eat rice.

And performing on stage isn’t the only way to build a fulfilling musical career.

I have a friend who’s an instrument luthier. He started repairing guitars in his garage. Slowly, he built relationships with schools, ensuring every violin, cello, and guitar was polished, tuned, and ready for students.

When I asked if he loved his job, he said:

His job bought him a six-bedroom home in rural Sydney. He works quietly, without applause or limelight. But he’s proud of his work. And rightfully so.

For Me? I Became a Guitar Teacher.

At first, I treated it like a backup plan. A fallback.

But over time, I realized something powerful: This isn’t Plan B. This is my calling.

Between 2015–2024, I’ve taught nearly 1,000 students across Sydney:

• Kids who wanted to play along with The Wiggles.

• Teens who thought the guitar was cooler than piano.

• Retirees rediscovering music after decades of work.

My oldest student is 74. He volunteers at aged care centers and children’s hospitals, playing music to bring smiles to people’s faces.

When he plays, he isn’t thinking about Spotify streams or record deals. He’s thinking about connection, joy, and giving back.

So here’s my takeaway for you today:

Rice isn’t just rice. And music isn’t just streaming, touring, or labels.

The dish you create depends on how you use the ingredients.

So if you feel stuck, if you feel like your dream of “making it” in music isn’t panning out the way you hoped—breathe.

There are other ways.

Other fulfilling, joyful, impactful ways to make music your life.

Take the pressure off. Explore the recipes you haven’t tried yet.

You might just find a dish you never knew you’d love.

A Question for You:

👉 What are other paths musicians can take that aren’t the “usual recipes”, but are just as fulfilling?

Drop your thoughts in the survey below, or reply directly. I’d love to hear your perspective.

If this story spoke to you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

We’re building something special here—a space for musicians to feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Every referral helps keep this newsletter alive, and every share brings someone closer to the conversation they might need today.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving up 10 minutes of your time today to read my newsletter. It means a lot!