Being a beginner on an instrument is first and foremost to dream. That’s how we all started. We saw a band, heard a track, attended a concert and the drummer or the piano player inspired us. Was it the dexterity? The technique? The flow? I think that in almost every case the charism, the charm, that X-factor both subtle and powerful we witness in a great performance spurs our enthusiasm.
We decide to go to the next step: playing.
We then imagine the wonders of mastering an instrument, how we can express ourselves, project our very personality through the means of sounds. I am not sure we are conscious at that moment of the efforts it will take to acquire the skills for that. And why should we think about it? After all, we are in the secrets of our minds, exploring the marvelous hallways of a dream. We don’t need to put discipline and sweat in the mix, at least not yet.
Once we start studying, there are more surprises in store. Manufacturing our first beat on the drums and playing along a song is a delight like few others. Tickling a tune on the keys that resemble something we’ve been humming all our life is another one. The heart races when we understand we can create something sounding like music.
The next step can take different form but generates as much awe. You might discover you’re good at reading for example, or that speed is your friend, or that playing with a metronome is easy. We all have treasures hiding inside. The journey becomes a revelation of our inner potential(s).
I have witness the different stages I just described many times during the course of my 40 years teaching drums or piano in Chicago. I try to keep the dreams of the beginners alive and burning strong. This is one of the reason why I love my job: to preserve people’s passion about music.
