Are you the type of person who picks up a mystery novel and turns to the end of the book first, to see “who done it?” Well, if you are, I can make this really easy for you. I will tell you the secret of becoming a Music Master. Are you ready?
The secret is practice. Thats right! Practice makes perfect, as they say. So, now you can unsubscribe to the newsletter and go on your merry way. You now know the secret! But of course, If you stay subscribed, there is a lot more I’d like to share.
So, why does practice make perfect? And what the heck is practice? So, let me tell you a story:
Or better yet, let me ask you some questions. Let’s try multiplication. What is two times two? What is four times four? What is five times five? Do you know? How did you know? Well, if you are like me, we learned multiplication tables somewhere along the line, in grammar school. We all learned it, because we had to. So now we know it. Before that, we didn’t know it. But we had to go through the ritual of learning it, so the teachers made us learn it, and so we did. Does that mean we are math geniuses? Probably not.
So, it is the same way with learning music…. whether it is singing, playing an instrument, reading music, or whatever. Sure, anyone can sing! Or borrow, or buy, an instrument, and fool around with it, and in a little while, you may be able to sing a song, or play a melody, or whatever. And for some folks may learn a simple song in a very short time. And for others, it will take a very long time, and be very frustrating. And for others, it may be impossible! But here is the thing: If you learn about music, in a more methodic way, and if you study a little bit each day, then gradually you will be able to learn to play songs, or read music, or write music, or do whatever you set out to do. And, the reason you need to practice every day, is because you need to train your hands, and your ears, and your mind, to make coordinated efforts to work together to create the music.
Oh dear, now everyone just unsubscribed! Maybe I should have started off telling you all the latest gossip about Lady Gaga?
But wait!! There is good news! First of all, you do not have to be a “perfect” musician to appreciate and enjoy music. In fact, you will be in an even better position to enjoy music if you are not “perfect.” “Perfect” musicians are not necessarily happy people. I’ve known a few… okay, I’ve known many!
Master coach, Steven Chandler said, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing badly.” I love that quote! I say it to myself every time I go to a yoga class! I took up yoga on my own at age eighteen. It was just me, another kid at my college, and a book that we found. Since then, many decades later, there are hundreds of yoga classes, full of young, flexible students who can do all of the various positions, while I can barely do anything! So I approach yoga class with “beginner’s mind.” This is helpful for music as well.
When I tell you that practice is the key to learning music: that’s true. But I also know that everyone is going to miss a few days - or weeks - of practice, no matter how good their intentions. So, just know that. It is useful information. Useful, because if you are trying to learn an instrument, and you are having a bad day with your progress, it is not because you are stupid, or untalented, or whatever other negative thought you may have. Rather, it is just because you missed some practice.
And here is some more good news! Those folks who you think are great musicians because they are “naturally talented?” They got good by practicing! They were not born that way. (Although perhaps their talent was their ability to practice for long periods of time.)
So, what is practice? In music, it is getting into a daily routine of going over your music. In the classical music world, this may mean using a method book, going over a few pages per week, learning a few notes, and gradually progressing to more difficult and challenging music. A serious music student will often establish a routine of going over scales and other technical exercises.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. If can be a lot simpler. If you play an instrument, you can just set aside a time to play a few notes on it every day. For example, if you want to play the piano, start by just sitting at the piano at a certain time each day. Just put your attention on it. That is the first step.
And, it gets better! Nowadays there are new method books that are geared towards a more modern student, who may be more interested in non-classical music. It is a new world out there!
And here is even more good news! Learning to practice is learning to focus. Is this a lost art among young people today? No. Kids can focus intently on video games. I have seen this in my teaching studio. I have seen parents actually having to drag their kids, crying and screaming, away from their iPad game to get up and go home. Sometimes, when a kid could not play their music, claiming it was too hard, I would ask them to explain their latest video game. Then they would go into a highly detailed explanation of the seven levels of the game structure, what tools were needed to succeed to the next level, and what strategies were needed to move to the next level. In other words, they were capable of a very high level of focus needed for practice,,,, but they were busy using that focus for something else.
By the way, I did not start this newsletter just for music students who want to learn an instrument. I started it to offer my tips - and hopefully insights - that will help folks understand more about music. Maybe to understand things that I have learned,,, that you may have not learned. Because in the US, generally, music has not been taught very well. I was pretty much the exception. My mother was a trained musician. She studied classical piano for twenty years. She was a patron of the arts. We attended concerts, and always listened to classical music, folk music, and show tunes. My public school had singing class (choir) at every grade level, kindergarten through eighth grade. My grade school vice principal was a very skilled pianist, who played for all the assemblies. Also, because my mother was a musician, she always found me the best music teachers. Few were so lucky!
Would it be helpful to know more about the musical instruments that create music? Most everyone these days can recognize a recorded voice, but many folks cannot recognize what instruments are on a recording. Considering that there is a tremendous body of non-vocal music created over the last five hundred years, not just in Europe, but throughout the world, would this be interesting?
How about reading music? Did you know music notation is an international language? In fact, it is the only international language that I know of, understood and read in all countries.
Let me know your questions and I will try to help. Thanks for reading my newsletter; and if you know of other folks who would find this interesting, please let them know as well.
The author and classmates with composer Aaron Copeland. ©1967 Interlochen Arts Academy, Michigan
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Who I am and why I am doing this.
I had a great musical education and studied with many esteemed teachers. I went to great music schools. After that, I toured and performed, eventually working freelance in the music industry. Through working as a musician, educator, and music service provider for many decades, I was able to gain some insights about how folks learn and perceive music. I’d like to share these with you.
Visit my website for more information about music instruction and Mansfield recordings: Mansfield Music
For all recordings, visit: Windsailor Music