KEEPING THE FIRE IN YOUR BELLY:
A summertime guide to motivation
Originally Posted 12/12/05
Summer stretches ahead, enticing you with sleeping in and hanging out with friends. Who wants to mess with practicing music or guard work for a marching show that doesn’t mean squat to you now? That sheet music tucked neatly inside your instrument case is probably the last thing on your mind…. right up until the night before band camp despite your good intentions. So how do you keep musically motivated over the summer?
Famous, successful people are masters at being motivated. They weren’t born that way! What is their secret? Let’s look at two things that are the cornerstones for motivation. First, think about why you chose band in the first place. Was it a fascination with music? A form of expression? Did you take up band because it was a good way to get out of gym? Let’s assume you’re in this for the right reasons: the love of playing, the joy of creating, and the satisfaction of mastery. When you've lost motivation to practice, keep in mind what got you here to begin with. Dig down deep and ask yourself why. To keep the fire in your belly, you must have passion for what you are doing. Then write the reason(s) somewhere you can see it and refer to it. Keep the "I" in why you are in band: I love to pay; I want a music scholarship; I love being section leader; I want to make finals at BOA. No one can motivate you better than yourself!
Second, find out what is making you unmotivated. Is it because you don’t know the part and hate what you’re trying to play? Get a recording of the entire song/show. Listen to it from the standpoint of the whole piece, not just your part. Listen to it to enjoy it. Learn to feel the music and anticipate what's going to happen. Then listen just to hear your part. Is the music too difficult? Don’t tackle it all at once. Master a little bit each day and add to it. Before you know it, you will have learned it. Next, you can't create if you don't understand the show. Figure out what the director's concept is. Is it just playing music, or an interpretation of the music, or telling a story on the field? If you're using movie music, rent the movie and understand the story behind the music. Learn all you can about what you are being asked. Take away the fear of the unknown. Finally, if you're not motivated because you think you've got all summer, think again. Life gives you no summers off. Musical mastery and creation is a daily, never-ending road. Don’t put off learning your music. Do a little at a time-today. If you keep delaying until "tomorrow", pretty soon all you will have is a lot of empty yesterdays.
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