| Happy St. Patrick’s Day! |
When you were growing up, how did you feel about learning to write in cursive? Did you think it was a waste of your time? I know I thought it was stupid. Often now, with pen in hand, I think back on those hated lessons – and see how wrong I was.
Now when I look at my penmanship, I see more than ink. I see insights into my development as a person. I see what I feel is important to me. I see how I have changed as I’ve grown up. I see that I’m in a hurry!
Many of us only write with a pen to sign greeting cards, make lists of things to do, or pay bills any more(because we’re old!). But still, the writing we learned as children really has stayed with us. For all the angst we underwent, we have the product – something we use daily. But even in the face of that utility, we don’t focus on the positives that can come from learning something we didn’t want to do.
Just like when we’re working on our music. We have to focus, even on the things that aren’t fun. Or that don’t come easily. Or those things that don’t seem to relate directly to anything else that we think are important. But there’s really something to be gained by pursuing “learning the cursive” of our music. And it ‘s not just finally “getting” it – but also that wonderful feeling of conquering something that has stymied us until then!
So, this week, try pulling out something you don’t want to do or a piece you don’t want to play because it’s not fun. You know – the cod liver oil of practicing, the “Brussels sprouts” of our learning (this is a bad analogy – I love Brussels sprouts, but you get the idea!). Whether it is making your own exercise of a trouble spot, doing the lessons in a primer, or sitting and working with Madam Grossi, channel all that hatred of cursive. But this time, apply the wisdom you have gained from experiencing success from practice.
What is your “cod liver oil” of practicing? What has given you the kind of trouble that makes you avoid working on it? What are you going to work on? Let me know in the comments!