In my last post I wrote briefly about why practice is a prerequisite for fun. To have the most fun in music, we have to practice first. We have to practice our scales, we have to practice counting rhythms, we have to practice reading the notes. And then we have to practice putting it all together into music. Why? Because music involves all of these elements, and if we don’t get them right, understand them, if our fingers, hands, mouths (embouchure), and breathing aren’t right, the music won’t come together. But when all of these things are in sync, the music plays, it is beautiful, it sounds good, and it is a ton of fun! That’s our goal, to help you get there, over and over again at new levels and with new experiences every time.
Most of our students are with us for years, and we love that! It is so beautiful to see students grow and take music to so many different levels and places. But beyond that, an essential part of our mission is you—the student and family. We love getting to know our students and families and developing relationships with them which is why it is always so sad when we see a student leave. Some students leave to go on to college, to move—and that’s bittersweet because they are moving on. But when a student leaves because they are giving up on the journey of music as a discipline, that’s tragic. Mostly we will miss them! But also, we fear the missing of so much joy and experience in music that they will never have.
My hope is if you or your child have ever considered ending music study, or you already have, that you would reconsider. Here’s a primary reason why. Because music is so much more than music. If you give up on music or stop pursing music when it becomes a struggle or less fun, then what if you responded to the same to other important areas of life?
My challenge to you; don’t give up but give more of yourself to it!
In the last post I quoted Michael Jordan. He knows frustration and losses, and he knows pushing through them, that is why he became so excellent at what he does.
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”-Michael Jordan
Next time you get frustrated, don’t give up but give more of yourself to it! Practice the fundamentals several times a week, and after each period of focused practice, just play, forget everything else, and enjoy the music! And I am here for you, as are all of our faculty! Need help, encouragement, give us a call!