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| Sheryl Olguin |
A great musician has a passion
for music, and sticks with it. This may seem obvious, but you have to really
love music to stick with it. Many have started but didn't continue (how many
folks can remember taking piano lessons and quitting, and then saying years
later, "I wish I had stayed with it"?) Countless fledgling players
have dreamed of a career in music, but were discouraged by the well-meaning
folks who warned them, "You need to get a real job! You can't make a
living playing music!" Those who stuck with it have either discovered that
they could make a living, or that they could enjoy making music as a rewarding
hobby.
A great musician has the right
attitude. I rank attitude before talent, before technical ability, before
practically everything else. I would rather work with a musician with slightly
less ability, but a great attitude, than with a monster player who firmly
believes that the world owes him stardom. Why? A guy or girl with a great
attitude and less impressive "chops" can always practice and develop
awesome "chops". However, a great player with a poor attitude? Well,
apart from a 'tude-ectomy...you get the idea.
What makes for a great attitude?
That's another article in itself, but it includes respect for others,
willingness to work at their craft and improve, and a sense of self-confidence.
To those who may say, "Hey! It's a dog-eat-dog business! Ability counts
more than attitude." True, this can be a tough business, but you're better
off spending your time and energy on your craft than on eating dogs (at least
according to Buddy our studio dog...). Which leads to the next point...
A great musician never stops
learning. To be a great musician is to be in school forever. The great
Beethoven, near the end of his life, received as a gift, the complete works of
Handel, a composer he had long admired. (If you don't know whom Beethoven and
Handel are, then its time to get some music history books!) When the 40 (!)
volumes arrived in December 1826, Beethoven was lying ill and had not much
longer to live. He would lie in bed and lean the books against the wall. As he
read through the music, he would occasionally break into exclamations of praise
and joy. Reportedly he said, "Handel was the greatest, most skilled
composer who ever lived. I can still learn from him." No one to my
knowledge has ever accused Beethoven of lacking anything as a musician, but he,
one of the greatest composers who ever lived, still wanted to learn. What will
you do this week to keep learning? Listen to a CD of a style you aren't
familiar with? Try a different lyric form in your writing? Get out your
instrument and practice, practice, practice? Whatever you choose, learn
something this week to improve your art.
A great musician never stops
growing as a person. To me, truly great musicians are often truly great people.
They have learned how to accept constructive criticism and use it to improve
and grow. They are filling their soul with good things and life experiences so
when it comes time to write, sing, or play, they have something very valuable
and real to express. They have learned how to treat others. A great musician is
the kind of person who has a life, stories, and emotion that seem to just jump
out at you when they perform, and it makes you want to hear more.
A great musician has talent. OK,
I had to include talent eventually. But notice I didn't say they had to be
"the most talented in the world." Some raw ability is needed, and not
everyone in the world will be a musician (though all can be taught to
appreciate good music). Along with that ability must come the desire to work
and improve. And now we're back to "they never stop learning." Of
course, when talent and raw ability is exercised and honed into great musical
skill, the result is "Wow!" So, keep practicing your craft, maintain
your good attitude, treat people right, and your talent will shine.
Narasumber : [ VISIT HERE ] By Leon Olguin, Edited by Sheryl Olguin
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