I have some encouraging thoughts this week for the music student. Once in a while, we all need someone to remind us to be brave and perseverant in our work. Here are some helpful thoughts you can refer to when you need positivity.

I have been away for the past weeks, playing some concerts with different orchestras. I am back with some insights I have gained, as there were many learning moments during this time.

Years ago, I spent my vacation time traveling by car through designated States like Arizona and Oregon. I had specific ideas for spending my time driving through these States and organized everything beforehand. I ensured I got to experience worthwhile sites that catered to my interests. Those adventures did not include musical performances at the time. But my trips led me to parts of the world only found in fairy tales and enchanting stories.

What happens when we have been working on a particular piece for quite a while and have not experienced significant progress? What should we do when a piece does not work out after six months of playing? We have done everything, but there is a standstill.

It happens often when a musician is unhappy with their musical instrument. Is there a perfect instrument that can satisfy all the needs of a player?

Student Preparation

I have always discussed practicing habits and perseverance. However, one aspect is vital in learning how to play an instrument—the teacher. The job of a music teacher is no doubt challenging. What does the work of a music teacher entail?

Recently, I came across this question about our takeaway from classical music. Is there anything we can learn from it? And is it necessary at all to care? As a listener or a performer, I can provide my understanding of this question as I am both. While my comments in this post might be a minuscule fraction of what we can learn, they shed some light on a musician's point of view of some of the things one can benefit from classical music.

You have prepared for an audition or competition for months, and you think you have done your best, but the day comes when they tell you that you did not make it to the final round or were not accepted into the orchestra of your dreams. And as sympathetic as the messengers might have been, you are left alone with the problem of what now. Where do I go from here?

Whether you have played your instrument for so many years or are a beginner, there is always that aspect of being consistently motivated to practice. Most of us have been there. Deep down inside, we want to practice and do our share of the work, yet things come up in life, and we waste time on things we don't want to. By the time we know we are ready mentally to focus on our work, the day is over, and we have not done the most important thing for us. Practicing has fallen by the wayside.

A classical musician encounters many different pieces in different settings throughout their career. Is it acceptable to play all these pieces by using the manuscript up front in a concert, or part of the musician's requirement is to memorize everything?

It is common to tell budding and professional musicians to practice long hours and do the required due diligence when playing an instrument. However, it is equally essential to offer some strategies to employ during our practice hours so that the time we spend in the practice room counts.