Practice Makes Perfect
One of the things I have spent—and continue to spend—a great deal of my time on is practice. Music, just like most skills in life, requires commitment and time.
As a teacher and instructor, one of the things I see frequently is students feeling like they aren't progressing and/or feeling “bored.” I always tell my students that I understand and sympathize with this feeling. Not everything in music is always “fun,” even if you love it and have a deep passion for it.
Let’s face it:
Long tones and scales can be very tedious.
Tackling hard material can be frustrating.
Not being able to hit a certain note or play at a specific dynamic can make a person feel defeated.
With all that being said, the “secret” to getting past those moments is simple: practice.
It might sound too simple to be true, but the fact of the matter is that most of the time when I feel stuck, or feel like I can’t play something quite right, it’s simply because I haven’t put the time in to get to that next level.
If you feel lost on where to start, asking your band conductor or booking some private lessons can be of great assistance. Learning how to practice and learning the correct techniques is arguably as important as practicing itself.
Learning to structure your practice sessions helps you:
Set clear goals for yourself
Cut out distractions
Keep a record of your work
Focus on the right fundamentals (embouchure, finger patterns, posture, tuning, etc.)
Doing this will not only increase your productivity and skill as a musician, but it will also give you transferable skills for school, the workplace, and life.
Let me end by saying this: I know that not every musician wants to play at a college or professional level. I have worked with and taught many musicians who simply play as a hobby and pastime. But I have never met a musician who didn’t want to get better.
Take it from me—sometimes it is hard to put in the work, but ultimately, it pays off in big ways.
