What’s Your Why?
The moment you make the conscious decision to learn an instrument is a big one. Something moves you; a wave of enthrallment and determination sweeps you into a state of emotion and frame of mind you perhaps didn’t even know existed. You find yourself in a sea of thoughts where you’re a different version of yourself. A new you- one with an instrument in your hands and a spark in your soul. It’s in that beautiful moment you begin redefining yourself as a musician.
I vividly remember my “moment.”
As an oblivious third grader, I marched single-file down the hallway for what I expected to be “just another assembly.” Taking my seat criss-cross on the cold floor of the cafegymnatorium, my boredom and dread quickly transformed into curiosity. Light danced around the room like a disco ball reflecting off the brass and wood display on stage. When the lights dimmed, my life was changed forever. A mystery man demonstrated every instrument the band and orchestra had to offer, gauging interest for new ensemble members. And boy, was I interested. With each note that sounded, I was filled with glee, awe, and excitement. My heart pounded. My imagination went wild. I had never felt so inspired in my entire eight years of living.
When the time came to enroll, I waited my turn in line to proudly exclaim my instrument selection to my new teacher. Before I could, he looked me in the eye and said “a violinist, right?”
I thought the man could read minds! I smiled and nodded my head with enthusiasm. Suddenly, he brought himself close to whisper in my ear as if he didn’t want the other students to hear, “Violinists are a dime a dozen, Lisa. If you want to be great, if you want to excel, pick up a cello. You’ll love it. It suits you.” And with those few words of wisdom, I was born again as a musician.
Years later as an adult and public school orchestra teacher myself, I now know this is a fabulous recruitment technique when your ensemble is lacking in a certain instrument and you need to balance out your ensemble (so don’t be too offended, violinist)! Regardless, my teacher wasn’t wrong. I didn’t know it at the time, but I actually prefer the sound of lower pitched instruments. There’s a good chance I may not have loved the violin quite as much.
My “why” may have started as a basic fascination with musical instruments and the unexplained feeling it gave me, but it’s served me far beyond that over my 32 years of playing.
So why does your why matter right now? Because not only is it your flame, but your fuel. Every musician knows it’s not always easy to keep fighting the good fight. Practicing becomes part of our routine, which is fabulous for habit building, but can sometimes cause us to forget what made us so pumped-up to begin with. Remembering your why and the moment that brought you to it can keep you grounded and motivated to push forward through those less-than-stellar days.
Your first challenge as part of “No Excuses November” is to recall the moment that made you want to learn how to play an instrument. Then, consider your current whys. How does playing and practicing your instrument benefit you? How does it enhance your life?
A few examples:
Social benefits- teacher/student, fellow musicians, music enthusiasts, etc. This could also include learning alongside someone else such as a friend, child/parent, or other family member.
Physical benefits- with proper form, playing an instrument can lead to improvements in dexterity, range of motion, and strength. It also burns more calories than you think!
Cognitive benefits- improved memory, verbal fluency, and information processing, to name a few.
Mental health benefits- reduces stress and depression by inducing positive mood states and helps us to escape our every-day worries while musically engaged. Additionally, when we work towards being the best versions of ourselves in any way, this increases our self-esteem.
Creative outlet- composing, arranging, etc
Promotes time management skills
As a path to something bigger- a career, being part of an orchestra or other performing group, playing for weddings
Just because you love it! It’s important to make time for ourselves, hobbies, and things that make us feel good!
In need of extra motivation? Check out this powerful motivational speech on finding and defining your why.
I encourage you to write both your “moment” and your why down somewhere. Keep it visible in your practice space. If you feel comfortable doing so, I’d love to hear what got you here and what keeps you going.
Email: lisaxyoung115@gmail.com
Happy practicing! More soon.
Lisa
