It’s all too easy to stay within one’s comfort zone. After all, it’s there for a reason; to keep us safe. Oftentimes, discomfort is our brain warning us of a potentially unsafe situation. Fear has kept humans thriving for millennia, but there’s a difference between safety and inhibition. When fear and discomfort is limiting your life and growth as a person, it’s time to take steps forward. This year has been a year of pushing myself to try new things. It’s not easy; on some days, even talking to one person is challenging. As a whole, I'm pushing myself to take risks. This includes taking challenging classes, socializing with new people, and auditioning for select ensembles. I've received mixed results, but I've found that constantly pushing and challenging myself is rewarding in itself. Along the way, I’ve become more resilient, diligent, and efficient in my work. However, this doesn't mean I've always been successful. I've dealt with failures, some more defeating than others. I'm still figuring out how to move on and accept my mistakes. Hopefully, I'll get to a point where I can look back and feel proud about what I've accomplished, both internally and externally. How do you motivate yourself to improve? How do you handle defeat? I'd love to know. Bye!
2 Comments
I started playing the cello in fifth grade, because my school’s Fifth Grade Strings program made starting an instrument easy and accessible. The highlight of the year was when our high school “string buddies” offered us several free private lessons. Private lessons give beginning musicians individualized attention on both technical and musical skills, as well as confidence and accountability. In short, lessons are a fantastic thing to take. However, they can be expensive, and families might not be willing or able to fund their child’s new interest. Free lessons provide young musicians with a low-commitment trial. The experience is also useful to their high school instructor, as it requires them to be patient and understanding. It also forces the teacher to explain concepts and break down technical skills into small steps. This in turn makes them think about their own technique, causing them to break their own bad habits. I’m proud to be continuing this tradition. Last year was my first time as a “String Buddy”. I found that I needed to be more proactive when scheduling lessons and more prepared with supplementary music. In the few lessons I taught, I learned to think quickly and be patient. I teach my first lesson this weekend and I hope that it’ll go even better this year! Here's a short video lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz2PL3-1wA0 Image Credit: myorch.org |
AuthorMegan. Student. I wrote this. Archives
April 2015
Categories |