In the past, someone may have told you you have a tin (or musically insensitive) ear. Perhaps you can't sing or dance to a beat. You might have allowed your insecurity to convince you that you are tone-deaf or musically unskilled.
These are all falsehoods that you might have accepted as the truth.
Fortunately, I'm here to inform you that being good at an instrument is not a gift bestowed upon you at birth. Everyone can improve their musical skills and become talented singers, dancers, or musicians.
Being persistent and taking the time to practice are attributes of all great musicians and artists. Just because you feel you aren't talented at an instrument does not mean you cannot learn to play one.
Patience with yourself is vital for adults just starting to learn to play an instrument. A 60-year-old family friend approached me and expressed his desire to begin taking voice lessons. I told him his most significant obstacle in pursuing voice lessons would be showing up. Adults are constantly pulled in different directions by their busy lives. Hobbies like voice lessons are usually the first commitment adults cancel when busy.
The second biggest obstacle would be forgiving himself for natural failures. If events in his life become overwhelming and he was to miss several weeks, he needs to be patient and know that he doesn't need to quit just because his attendance has been inconsistent. If he quits, he won't be able to realize his dreams, but if he persists and is mentally committed to attending a certain number of lessons per year, he will be that much closer to achieving his goals.
Whether it is children or adults seeking to attend my music academy, I inform all potential students that success in their music lessons isn't just about the music but their perspective toward the journey.
As a musician, songwriter, teacher, and professor of music, I have witnessed thousands of students transform their lives and grow in ways they never thought were possible.
Many students experience slow and gradual improvement, but their persistence and dedication allow them to experience breakthroughs in their skills that many less motivated students never experience.
For this reason, I ask that parents let their child's journey move forward organically, not hold their child to an expected schedule of "achievement." Learning to play music is a living, breathing presence that begins with you as the parent simply asking the child to play a song for you.
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