If you find that you compare yourself to Chick Corea (or Keith Emerson, or Diana Krall, or Billy Joel), please stop. Chances are, it’s holding you back much more than you realize.
Yes, by all means let yourself be inspired by the pianists you admire. Yes, study and enjoy their music. Yes, aspire to be as great as they are. But if it’s making you depressed, frustrated, or melancholy, then please stop right now. It’s not worth it.
Music is one of the wonders of the world, and these constant comparisons may be preventing you from fully entering into the sounds you’re playing on your instrument.
The irony about all this is by ceasing to compare yourself with Chick Corea and the others in this way, you’ll begin to enter into the musical experience in much the same way that they themselves do.
It’s time to stop comparing yourself to Chick Corea. After all, he’s not comparing himself to you.
Enjoy the journey, and “let the music flow!”
Ron
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