sticktopicking.com

Music...music...music.  As musicians that is what we are here to play and learn.  Whether you aspire to greatness or just to entertain yourself, there is a responsibility that every musician has....to get better.

You might not have thought about that before but it is true. 

I have taught music for the better part of 10 years and everyone that comes through the door for a lesson has the desire to improve.  A desire is not necessarily a responsibility but the dividing line between the two can be rather blurry.  

My intent in writing this is to attempt to place the desire in the context of intention.  What I mean by that is that if you are not intentionally trying to get better, then you should be.    

Many musicians float along and are satisfied with the status quo.  I have been there before and know what it means to not be conscious of what I’m doing with respect to musical growth.  For the most part, a professional musician performs at a level that enables him to get paid for his or her efforts.  You have to be pretty good to be professional, but it shouldn’t end there.  

No matter what kind of pro musician you are, you have to make an effort to grow and improve or else you will be overtaken by the competition. 

As a student you should determine what you want to accomplish with your respective instrument.  You should also remember that your goals will probably change as you improve.  I have heard so many times at the beginning of a students lesson journey, .... “I just want to be able to play a bit at home and have fun.”  Just about everyone that says that eventually says.... “hey..do you know of any jam sessions in town here that I could play in?”  So, those students have just decided to take their playing to another level....without knowing it.  

Sometimes musical growth can unintentionally take you somewhere that you weren’t planning on going. 

What would it be like if you did that all the time.....intentionally.?

Just a thought.

Stick to picking,

Robert