A big part of taking piano lessons or classes is the try what the teacher suggests, and then add other things that you try on top of that, but not instead of the teacher’s recommendations.
I’ve recently learned this again as a student myself, by taking a few drawing lessons. I haven’t done visual art since I was about 7 years old, and it’s fun being a beginner again! Maybe because I’m a teacher myself, I enjoy “not knowing” how the drawing will come out as I explore new techniques and try the art teacher’s suggestions. This particular art teacher wants me to experiment by drawing lots of shapes and seeing what they lead to. Of course part of me wants to say “Please just show me how to draw a cat!” but I know that she wants me to discover a style that’s unique to me, and then apply those natural shapes to my cat drawing. She’s right, and I’ve learned to trust the process. Two nights ago I was laying in bed, sketching, and I came up with a cat’s tail that was totally unique and inspired. The class loved it when I showed it to them the next day.
(Hopefully you’ll see my new drawing in a couple of weeks!)
The big lesson here is the same whether you're studying piano, art, or whatever else interests you. Once you’ve found a teacher you like and respect, do what they suggest and you’ll go far!
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Wow! It’s amazing how ideas manifest themselves when we are genuine in our pursuit of them! “Build it and they will come” Isn’t that the Field of Dreams reference. Lol!
I was just thinking about how silly I felt playing the lines in the Flowing Water exercises and here you come with an analogous situation. I think it is extremely difficult to experiment with anything new especially, at an advanced age because of the need to humble oneself.
The irony is that this seems to be the requirement that God has established in order for us to be allowed to become as creative as we would like to be. We’re like, show me your power and then I’ll believe! But He’s like, “Believe First”, and then I will show you my power!
I don’t know how many times that I have heard people who are considered great at what they do express the same or a very similar sentiment. There is something pure in humility and I don’t understand the correlation between it and accomplishment but I am certain that it exists!
Pardon me! I am going to explore, “Speak Like a Child” from a different perspective. Lol! I think there’s something to that!
Well put, Will, and I’m glad you’re doing the Flowing Water lessons. They have a very powerful effect on our playing, but it may not be obvious at first.