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July 31, 2022

Music Life Lesson #11: Connecting Emotion

The craft of music is generally taught prior to the art of music. Students begin their studies at an age where an appreciation for music’s humanity has not yet been developed. (Some never achieve this). It is our duty as educators to assist student musicians in connecting their personal expression and emotions to what may be to them simply a physical and mental exercise.

July 31, 2022

Music Life Lesson #10: Setting Goals

Each time a goal is set and met, the process is reinforced for the student. While they will need to be taught and encouraged to actively set and monitor goals, they will soon adopt the process as their own modus operandi as they experience successes.

July 31, 2022

Music Life Lesson #9: Leadership

Leadership comes so naturally within a musical organization because music itself demonstrates leadership. We follow the score written by the composer. The audience is led emotionally by the band. There is a proper blend of individuals within the ensemble to create a successful sound.

July 31, 2022

Music Life Lesson #8: Self-Confidence

… But for those who stick with it, the payoff is well worth the struggle. As the bar is continually raised through advancement in music, a child’s struggles and eventual successes compound upon each other, building faith in oneself and bolstering one’s musical mettle.

July 31, 2022

Music Life Lesson #7: Personal Responsibility / Punctuality

We have a responsibility to know our parts. We have a responsibility to focus and play musically during rehearsal. We each have a responsibility to better our ensembles. But if we are not at rehearsal, even for a couple of minutes, we are failing in these responsibilities.

July 31, 2022

Music Life Lesson #6: Situational Awareness

As musicians, it is our duty beyond awareness of the sound itself to be fully aware of the music that we are creating. We need to know the music on a personal level both phrase by phrase and as an overall composition. Are you familiar with the music in all of its complexity or are you simply reading one note following another?

July 31, 2022

Music Life Lesson #5: Getting Along

It is our nature to make strong bonds with those with whom we share our struggles and later successes. A band becomes a team. You can not successfully perform music without constantly observing and reacting to your band-mates. Even the lines and phrases within the composition are a conversation; a cooperative narrative being spun for the audience.

July 30, 2022

Music Life Lesson #4: Critical Thinking

Metacognition with regard to music is not something that will necessarily happen on its own. Students should be encouraged and directed to think through their own process of learning and growth via musical performance. Being aware of how we think, how we learn, and how we understand the music we are performing clarifies and strengthens our musical thought processes.

July 8, 2021

Music Life Lesson #2: Perseverance (Overcoming Failures)

My previous post spoke of discipline and work ethic being lessons gained through the study of music. Perseverance is an outgrowth of those strengths. Regardless of the amount of one’s focused attention to the details of perfecting a craft, failure is inevitable. Not complete failure, of course, but small failures daily and larger ones from time to time. Our humanity ensures these struggles.