I have been studying and teaching music for a long time and I can now say confidently that there is nothing more important than the beginning. The decision to take music lessons is always momentous, isn’t it? You were just another woman/man in the crowd and, all of the sudden, you’ve decided to claim your identity, your right to exist by making harmonious noises. In other words, you chose to make music.
This is crucial because most of us are aware that it is a commitment. You’ll have to study a bit in order to develop your skills. Like I said it is not a light resolution. Especially if you get a good teacher, someone that will not only help you develop your skills but also stoke the fire of your passion ( I know a great teacher that does just that, by the way).
The beginning is also important because that’s where we often go back when we need to remember the to dream of what it’ll be like to play a piano Sonata from Beethoven or a song from Toto on the drums. We had that enchanted vision of ourselves in total control, radiating creativity and mastery at the elm of some fantastic horse that spits fire and emotion. Wouldn’t it be great if an adoring crowd was to cheer me once I’m done playing? I would feel so good. I believe I can fly (Oops, it’s a different song. My bad!).
I tell my student sometimes to remember what motivated them to start the journey. I invite them to get to their inner self the one that was imagining of a better world because of music. I know I hit the right tone when I see them smiling with a light in their eyes.
As for me, at the beginning I loved music. More than that, I loved the drums. Just the drums. That’s all I listen to every time I would listen to a song. So I decided to become a drummer. That was a bit of a project, let me tell you, because I wanted to be a pro, to make a living at it. I had no idea what I would have to go through in order to fulfill my dream. The vision of the young man I used to be has evolved, but I still feel the fire burning inside. The day the fire stops, I quit. That simple.
