Comments on: The Value of Struggle http://thepracticenotebook.com/the-value-of-struggle/ flutist Zara Lawler shares tips on learning music Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:46:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: zara http://thepracticenotebook.com/the-value-of-struggle/#comment-8648 zara Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:46:05 +0000 http://thepracticenotebook.com/?p=862#comment-8648 Thanks for this comment, Janel. I'll be posting your memorization question soon. Thanks for this comment, Janel. I’ll be posting your memorization question soon.

]]> By: Janel Caine http://thepracticenotebook.com/the-value-of-struggle/#comment-7632 Janel Caine Fri, 06 Sep 2013 16:12:52 +0000 http://thepracticenotebook.com/?p=862#comment-7632 This was an awesome article to read; so full of truths! Absolutely, in America, at least, we really emphasize the obvious smarts or talents, while struggle is downplayed. Just listen to any NPR commentator about a particular performer. Rarely do we hear much of anything about the work it took for a performer to make it to a particular competition or career accomplishment. Instead, we hear an emphasis on how YOUNG the performer is and the outright or implied statements about the musician being a PRODIGY. (Tho' when it comes to athletes, the media LOVES to milk the sob stories during the Olympics!) In my teaching, I really believe students with less talent can often surpass those with obvious talent through enough hard work. I also believe, many talented people lose out on accomplishing things because they don't sruggle. This may be demonstrated in doing only what comes so easily and not much more, or in not applying oneself to true excellance or growth, taking things for granted. In the end, it's a balance of both talent and work. Both sides of the ocean would benefit by incorporating both. Musicians would especially be better off with the change of attitude. Thanks for sharing this thought provoking article! This was an awesome article to read; so full of truths! Absolutely, in America, at least, we really emphasize the obvious smarts or talents, while struggle is downplayed. Just listen to any NPR commentator about a particular performer. Rarely do we hear much of anything about the work it took for a performer to make it to a particular competition or career accomplishment. Instead, we hear an emphasis on how YOUNG the performer is and the outright or implied statements about the musician being a PRODIGY. (Tho’ when it comes to athletes, the media LOVES to milk the sob stories during the Olympics!)

In my teaching, I really believe students with less talent can often surpass those with obvious talent through enough hard work. I also believe, many talented people lose out on accomplishing things because they don’t sruggle. This may be demonstrated in doing only what comes so easily and not much more, or in not applying oneself to true excellance or growth, taking things for granted.

In the end, it’s a balance of both talent and work. Both sides of the ocean would benefit by incorporating both. Musicians would especially be better off with the change of attitude.

Thanks for sharing this thought provoking article!

]]>