For example,
Let's take this song by Michael Jackson.
Number one the lyrics are amazing.
Number two at about 3 mintues into this song, I can't help but say "nice Key Change!"
Like, what kind of nerd am I that I can't just appreciate the song, I have to comment on the changes in the key. Are you serious Heidee? (Hint.. yes I am)
I don't know that a lot of you know this, but I also teach piano. I have since I was about 16 (I can't remember the exact year, but it was for a long time.) Every once in a while I get a new bunch of students. It's always exciting and also usually means that I need to have several pep talks to encourage kids to practice. Don't get me wrong, I get it! I remember being a kid and wanting to spend my whole life outside, or watching a movie, or taking a nap! Heck, I want to do that now, and I'm an adult. (At least that is what people tell me.) :) You would think that the "practicing lecture" would be the same for everyone, but you would be wrong. Each person has a different motivating factor.
Right now, one of my students thinks that I am a huge nerd because I play the piano. One time I was talking to him about Michael Jackson and he said "You know who Michael Jackson is?!?"
Number one, you're like 9, how do you know who Michael Jackson is. Number two, "What?"
He proceeded to tell me that I only listened to classical music because I teach piano. Apparently I am putting piano teachers to shame by enjoying something other than Bach or Mozart. (which, by the way aren't my favorite. I'm a Chopin and Debussy fan myself) Anyway, I'm proving this kids point right now.
So, obviously he didn't seem to enjoy my lectures. So, I told him that there were a lot of things that you could learn from music lessons that apply to everyday life. He didn't seem to believe me. I told him that a lot of the things that you learn in sports, you can also learn by playing the piano. Being a "Future NFL and NBA player," it was at this point that he listened to me a little more.
So, I present to you, the world of the internet,
Things I learned from Music Lessons
Discipline and Dedication- The only way that you can be good at anything is to set your mind to it. Music teachers don't want to tell you this, nearly half of learning how to play an instrument is self taught. Sure, a teacher can show you the proper hand positions, the difference between a half note to a quarter note, and coach the student on sound, but at the end of the day, the student has to figure it out in their own way. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and dedication! I know first hand how frustrating it is to begin learning a song!Just the other day I was trying to learn "Passepied" by Debussy.
I was only site reading and I thought that it was going alright. Then I went and listened to the song. It was then that the negative self talk began because I realized that I wasn't even close! It's frustrating and defeating! But the only way to get through it is to keep trying! (on that note, I should probably try and learn that song again....)
Humility- I know that I am all that and a bag of chips, but its not a good thing to go and tell everyone about it all of the time! I truly believe that music helped me learn this the most. It is always possible to play something better. There were many great people that came before to help music be the amazing thing that it is today.
Respect- Speaking of those that came before us to pave the great ways of music, I learned to respect those that know more than me. I had the pleasure of having two piano teachers for several years each. They helped create who I am today and I owe it to them! Shout out to Janet Cowells and Malinda Tall!
Love- Music expresses love in a way that words never will. Music helps people feel things that they didn't know were possible of feeling! I think that the word love was used to describe a song a long time ago.
Priorities & Sacrifice- When I was little, I always wanted to take piano lessons! My older sister, Kadee, played the piano beautifully. It was one of the many reasons that I looked up to her. When my mom found a local piano teacher, I had to make a tough choice. Did I want to continue with my horseback riding lessons/4-H? Or did I want to take piano lessons. It was one of the many times that I learned that great talent comes from sacrifice and priorities. Did I love my time being surrounded by horses? Yes. But that was something that I could do with my family and friends. It was worth it to me to put in the in time, effort, and sacrifice to find my love for the piano.
Emotion- Music without emotion is black circles on a white piece of paper. It is flat and meaningless. Don't get me wrong, growing up as a girl gave me plenty of experiences with emotion. But, the sequence of emotions is something that I learned from music. Music is never all angry or all sad, there is always a wave of emotions that build into something beautiful. And that doesn't necessarily mean that the ending is happy, but it will always be beautiful.
It's okay to mess up & Letting Things Go- Nothing ever goes exactly how we want it to. Everybody makes mistakes and has spells of bad piano playing. It is simply the way of life. But the real value and lesson learned is to let it go. Start a new day fresh and realize that the mistakes of yesterday make the successes of today seem all the more beautiful.
Perfect Practice Makes Perfect- I know what you're about to say. "Heidee, the saying goes Practice makes perfect, not perfect practice makes perfect!" I submit that you are wrong. If I practice a piece of music, wrong, for three weeks, it will still be wrong when I perform it! If you only put half of the effort into what you're doing in life, it will only be half as good as you anticipate it will be.
In closing.. ;)
Music lessons help build the great people of tomorrow. As long as the student is willing to put in the work, they will grow up to be more than they every thought they could imagine.
Until next time...
Peace & Blessings! :)
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