Tips For The Young Musician Vol. 11
The Perfect Musician
By Stephan Hume
When it comes to perfection, I have yet to see it. Is it because I am incapable of being perfect, or is it because perfection actually does not exist? By what standards do we define something as being perfect? Is it something quantifiable? When we have had a “perfect day,” what happened to make it so? Did we have a really great hamburger, ace the test, or avoid the lines at Bed, Bath, and Beyond successfully?
The truth is, we are striving for a feeling. The feeling that comes when our expectations meet the outcome we conceived of. This has happened so rarely in the life I have experienced, that it almost seems like perfection is the fairy-est of all tales. Yet, why do so many of us become wrapped up in trying to attain it?
Having high expectations is one thing; high standards tend to make us stronger. But when we obsess over our own idea of being perfect (or even more toxic: someone else’s idea of being perfect), we are left with an endless chase to try and enjoy the lives that are right in front of us. Trust me, I have been guilty as charged more often than I would like to admit.
In my profession, I have watched hundreds of kids and teens work through their own goals and standards. I have seen them nail that perfect guitar solo and they are on Cloud 9. I have also seen them prepare for months the “perfect” performance only to accidentally step on their guitar cable, knock over their amp, or forget the words. What happens then? I can tell you that I have learned a lot about myself in these moments. I cringe because I have been there. I want to jump up on stage and save the day or even explain to the audience that, “this kid usually NAILS this, trust me!” I want to own their mistakes, but that is impossible. I have enough of my own to own, thank you very much. 🙂
Clearly these moments, the expected and the unexpected, are what make our lives truly great. The dynamics of what we strive to accomplish are learned best at times when we actually do see something fail to meet the mark. The idea we had of playing the perfect drum fill can die instantly when a stick slips from our sweaty hands. Then what are we left with? Are we not still the same, radiant person?
I once heard the phrase: “Anyone will fall 9 times. The strong ones get up 10 times.” There is a lot of truth in this. Not just in performing music, but in any endeavor, passion, or dream. Young musicians, if you get this early in your life, you will save yourself years of suffering music, instead you will always just be playing it!
Category: The Future
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