Some things in life occur instantaneously. Learning to play a musical instrument is not one of them.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t prevent many an aspiring musician from entertaining grand visions of becoming an overnight virtuoso. Here’s how it usually works: You hear someone perform a musical selection that sends shivers up your spine. Inspiration strikes and you determine that you, too, can learn to play that piece. So you set out to acquire the necessary equipment, music, and instruction to make your dream a reality. This is the oft-traveled path of an eager teenage student to the door of my piano studio. And so begins my role as teacher-turned-cheerleader-turned-counselor as I try to keep the dream alive amidst the rigors and realities of the daily discipline of learning a musical instrument.
In his book, The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, Thad Carhart recounts a master class he observed in which Gyorgy Sebok responded to a student who was trying to achieve a particular effect in his playing, “Leonardo spent years developing a codex of body parts. He drew ears, he drew elbows, he drew hands, he drew all parts of the body in as many different aspects as he could. Then he forgot about it and painted what he saw. You must do somewhat the same.” We err when we fail to learn the parts in our impatient quest to become experts of the whole. With this in mind, let me offer three suggestions for all aspiring musicians:
Vigorous self-education.
This is a term I adopted last year when I was preparing for the publication of my first book. I knew absolutely nothing about the field of publishing, and knew that in order to be successful I needed to develop a working vocabulary, ask lots of questions, and search persistently for the best answers. This same principle applies equally in the world of music. If you want to learn an instrument, you have to first of all take responsibility for your own musical understanding and growth. Learn as much as you can about the instrument and about the techniques employed in playing it. Study the history of the instrument, the composers, the music.
Once you are armed with this knowledge, you will be much more capable of mapping out your objectives and an appropriate plan of action.
Study with great teachers.
There is just nothing that can take the place of the experience and expertise of another person. Find someone who will walk you through the process of understanding and learning how to effectively execute a tough technical exercise. Utilize another pair of ears to help you catch inconsistencies that are unconsciously compensated for when you’re the one making the music. Learn to more precisely convey the desired musical nuances from a fellow musician who is passionate in his musical expression. Almost any musician and experience can be a great teacher for the student who is eager to learn.
Practice early and often.
You can hope all you want to become a great musician, but good intentions are worthless if they are not accompanied by hard work and discipline. King Solomon, in one of his many proverbs, reminds us that “in all labor there is profit.” This bit of wisdom alone has prompted me on many occasions to “roll up my sleeves” and get to work when I had no other inclination to do so. Drilling some difficult passage may not yield immediate results, but the one who keeps at it day after day will reap the rewards of his labor. Both the one who bemoans his lack of proficiency and attempts to remedy it in one sitting, and the one who fancies himself gifted enough to require only minimal effort sabotage their own potential; they will never know what could have been.
In our quest to become great musicians, let us trace greatness back to its source. Ultimately, the ability to learn and make music is a gift from God. And some are undoubtedly endowed with a greater gift in this area than others. However, even the acclaimed child prodigy Mozart recorded the following in a letter to a friend, "People err who think my art comes easily to me. I assure you, dear friend, nobody has devoted so much time and thought to composition as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied through many times."
Let the dream of becoming a great musician live on, but remember that the dream will be achieved not in a single glorious exploit, but one day at a time.
Natalie Wickham is an Independent Music Teacher who loves motivating her students to develop disciplined practice habits so that they can achieve their musical dreams. She is also the founder of the popular Music Matters Blog. Her book, Pajama School – Stories from the Life of a Homeschool Graduate, was released in April, 2009.
Some things in life occur instantaneously. Learning to play a musical instrument is not one of them. 
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