Sharing Music Knowledge is Not Enough
I struggle with the teachers philosophy that we can exchange a few words and knowledge to the student and expect results. It seems to me, a muddling through of the study and practice time is more the case than the exception.
We work with them and try to stir a desire to practice more, study harder, and focus on specific music elements to improve their playing abilities.
This brings me back to the ownership requirement. I can speak from personal experience that it is easy to slip into “I'll get to it later syndrome.” I've done it and continue to do it on numerous occasions.
When I had decided to take on a big project things suddenly changed for me. I wanted to learn the entire three movements of a 25 minute Beethoven Sonata, and that's when I moved into the ownership realm.
Focus On The Outcome
An attitude change took place when I started focusing on the outcome. Approach didn't matter. I decided that I would break it down and go for it. I started with the phrases and sections that were easy to define in my mind as achievable pieces between music lessons.
Accomplished By Ownership
This focus and purpose put me in the chair of ownership. I was completely responsible for accomplishing the outcome I had created.
I would go to my lesson and my teacher would reinforce this ownership with a direct question:
“So Where Do We Go To Today?”
This question simply implied I was in control, and had possession of the direction we were going.
It wasn't her goal, it was all mine. Ownership was completely mine. Just that one statement told me I was the owner of my outcome.
The issue is to determine how do we get others to take that same ownership. I submit that it's in not defining the goals for the student. It's in having the student define the goals they are going after.
That will take some time to explore. Everyone of the members of the Music Learning Workshop can achieve this standing by simply stating I want to (fill in the blank) and then take ownership for accomplishing that outcome.
Let's all take some time to think about our music outcomes and how our own ownership is the key to really making it happen.
Share your thoughts…