In a 50 year career of helping people select a musical instrument or piano for their home I heard some version of ‘I can’t do it’ almost daily. Almost always, this was something they were told at a young age, or they had a failed experience with a poor teacher. Or, they were given an instrument they did;t particularly want to play. Sometimes the piano they were expected to play was an old, out of tune upright in the basement with sticky keys. My wife was given an old clarinet that needed new pads and to this day she thinks she didn’t have talent for woodwinds.
People internalize these early experiences and they became true to them. But it isn’t truth.
My standard responses were, “if you can type on a keyboard, you can play the piano, it’s the exact same neurology. If you can whistle, you can improvise, and it’s actually easier with fingers than lips. If you can dance, you can count and find the down beat”. I had others, but little success. I’d like to believe maybe I stopped some of them from similarly branding their kids.
I probably heard “I can’t”, more than any other response over those years. It’s just not true. It is a self perpetuating lie. The only thing you can be sure you can’t do is something you haven’t made a serious effort at. I never thought I would be a good bough bass player to play upright in a big band. It’s an intimidating responsibility. But, then I started playing some simpler parts in a community band and brushed up on my reading. Practice, practice practice and then I was doing it. But, being self taught, I wasn’t doing it as well as I thought I could (a big mental shift from not thinking I could do it at all). So last summer I took 10 weeks of intense private lessons at PMAC and guess what? I’m playing better than ever, but not as good as I think I can with more effort.
In the words of Mr. Obama….”Yes, we can!”
Thanks Russ and Katie for PMAC. It’s an incredible gift you have given us.
Dear Russ. Thanks for your wonderful messages this year. Last night I wanted to give some light to the dark night and cold snowstorm out there, so I decided to visit an old favorite piece of music for flute: The Moldau by Smetana. I managed to play both flute parts from beginning to end, mind you, not at Carnegie Hall level yet😊, but I surprised myself that I could do it. I would like to thank you for all the great education you have provided me with this year. It is people like you that make me look at music making in new, fun ways and strengthen my confidence. I would like to wish you and Katie and your wonderful family Happy Holidays. I am looking forward to a lot more music fun next year.🌸 Irene
In a 50 year career of helping people select a musical instrument or piano for their home I heard some version of ‘I can’t do it’ almost daily. Almost always, this was something they were told at a young age, or they had a failed experience with a poor teacher. Or, they were given an instrument they did;t particularly want to play. Sometimes the piano they were expected to play was an old, out of tune upright in the basement with sticky keys. My wife was given an old clarinet that needed new pads and to this day she thinks she didn’t have talent for woodwinds.
People internalize these early experiences and they became true to them. But it isn’t truth.
My standard responses were, “if you can type on a keyboard, you can play the piano, it’s the exact same neurology. If you can whistle, you can improvise, and it’s actually easier with fingers than lips. If you can dance, you can count and find the down beat”. I had others, but little success. I’d like to believe maybe I stopped some of them from similarly branding their kids.
I probably heard “I can’t”, more than any other response over those years. It’s just not true. It is a self perpetuating lie. The only thing you can be sure you can’t do is something you haven’t made a serious effort at. I never thought I would be a good bough bass player to play upright in a big band. It’s an intimidating responsibility. But, then I started playing some simpler parts in a community band and brushed up on my reading. Practice, practice practice and then I was doing it. But, being self taught, I wasn’t doing it as well as I thought I could (a big mental shift from not thinking I could do it at all). So last summer I took 10 weeks of intense private lessons at PMAC and guess what? I’m playing better than ever, but not as good as I think I can with more effort.
In the words of Mr. Obama….”Yes, we can!”
Thanks Russ and Katie for PMAC. It’s an incredible gift you have given us.
Merry Christmas
Dear Russ. Thanks for your wonderful messages this year. Last night I wanted to give some light to the dark night and cold snowstorm out there, so I decided to visit an old favorite piece of music for flute: The Moldau by Smetana. I managed to play both flute parts from beginning to end, mind you, not at Carnegie Hall level yet😊, but I surprised myself that I could do it. I would like to thank you for all the great education you have provided me with this year. It is people like you that make me look at music making in new, fun ways and strengthen my confidence. I would like to wish you and Katie and your wonderful family Happy Holidays. I am looking forward to a lot more music fun next year.🌸 Irene