Musical Encouragement & Dedication
Heads up: before I get into specifics in this blog, I'll cover the basics so we have a base level to build on! :)
When it comes to playing an instrument, I think many can agree that encouragement is a crazy twisted thing. Sometimes you feel you can rule the world when you learn a song/groove/fill etc., other times you look at your idols, your teachers, or just listen to a complicated song and you feel so insignificant, like you'll never be able to achieve that kind of talent, or that you don't have talent but all it takes is dedication.
If you own an instrument you're sure to know the feeling of being asked if other people can play it, but they mostly lack dedication. Dedication is the key to mastering an instrument, from start to finish it is a necessity! Think about it, how many of those people who have tried your instrument actually went on to learn it? Or if you don't play an instrument, have you seen this non-dedication in yourself when you play other peoples instruments? For example, I've tried the guitar and poked fun at it pretending I knew chords and such, but I wouldn't consider learning the guitar! That's the kind of outlook I try to keep as a growing musician, you have to realize that your commitment and dedication to your instrument is what leads to the greats of music. If you set aside time for your instrument, you play it almost every day (or want to), and adore mastering all the small and different aspects of it, then you surely have a passion for your instrument! A lot of the time, it's not the accomplishment that counts, it's the dedication, the attempt and the belief that you could do it that counts.
There's magnificence in music and especially learning it YOUR own special way. Take a step back, you can see that music is about affecting people in a big way, about playing for something you care for. Take all the steps back as possible, look at the biggest picture, and you're left with the fact that music matters. I don't think you can find a lot of people in the world that haven't been moved by music, has my family been moved? Sure. have I? No doubt. . .
The message here is that music is not a race, it's not a competition, you have to learn music the way YOU want, YOUR way. Music is first and foremost about making and sharing something strong and meaningful to you. That is the perspective we should learn.
How has music moved you in your life?
~ Levi, the wannabe wisecrack
