A Spotlight on Classical Music Training

Here is just a little piece of what I feel was missing from my classical music training...

I don't remember my teachers ever talking to me about THEIR process of learning music, how they practice, and prepare for performances...what kinds of joys and struggles they encountered in studying music. I know some of my peers in music just knew how to practice, and how to work through their issues naturally, but not every student knows these things. I believe that part of a teachers responsibility, at any level of teaching, whether youth or college level, should be to share, as in depth as possible, good practice techniques with students, and as importantly, initiate dialogue about the ins and outs of being a musician and performer---what this means both personally and professionally, and share their OWN stories, not just hypothetical ones. And then, encourage the student to share their experiences of this process, on an ongoing basis.

I always saw my teachers as more than human. I assumed they bypassed all of the struggles and work I was engaged with. Therefore, I didn't think they would understand what I was going through, and so I never initiated dialogue about my personal relationship with music. My lessons were filled mostly with discussions about the notes, and interpretation. I remember one teacher gave me a piece of paper, when I was about 15 years old, and it had the word discipline on it, with its' definition. And then she went on to say that all the talent in the world means nothing without discipline behind it. Now, this is all well and good, and makes sense...but at the time, I had no idea what the translation of that was into the day to day scenario of practicing. I don't think she knew this. She probably just assumed I was lazy.

Now that I am a teacher, I notice the most difficult part of teaching the music is facilitating the students interest in practicing at home, on their own. It is not so different for yoga, or any other discipline for that matter. It is always easier to work in a group or with a teacher than on your own. So, I have started to talk to my students about my own process, and share with them, that yes, indeed, it can be the most difficult part of learning music, to sit down, by oneself, and listen, and alter, and repeat, and ask questions. And, I also let them know how many different ways we can sit down and play the instrument on our own, that it can fun, and challenging, and difficult, and frustrating, and completely fulfilling. I think it's important for them to know these things, because that is the reality of the nature of practice. I want to go back in time, and be a fly on the wall as my teachers practice on their own, and not only as they were adults, but also when they were just learning to play. It would be so fascinating!

After all, the PROCESS of learning the music is where we spend most of our time, not on the concert stage, so why not study the PROCESS more!

That's all for this edition,

Until then,

XO

Meg

Music---Incomprehensible Comprehension

In connecting with that which I cannot comprehend the past few weeks, I notice that music is EXTRA SPECIALLY made up of just this---incomprehensible comprehension!

I have been practicing a lot of piano these days, and have discovered that I am more fascinated by the music, and the act of making it, than I have ever been. I now really GET the magic that happens. The process of learning a piece of music is a miniature journey in it of itself, and requires much patience, trust, perseverance, love, and dedication. It requires an open ear, a settled mind, a flexible body, creativity and multiple perspectives. It demands that the musician be completely in the present moment. Music asks us to be our most authentic selves, whether we are playing repertoire already written by someone else, or composing our own music. The music asks us to bring it to life and give it groove. It asks that we give ourselves up totally, yet at the same time, give all of ourselves to it...How is this possible?

In a sense, making music really just mimics the way we live our lives. We learn to take a step, we learn to ride a bike, we learn to love...and in this process, we learn to listen, and to hear the beauty of our melodies. We work on the inner complexities(the phrasing) of ourselves and our relationships. We then put it altogether, and finally---let go, and trust that we know ourselves, and are taken care of. Then, hopefully, we see the beautiful, complete piece of music we are.

Until we meet again,

XO

Meg

Recent Developments

For those of you that have been reading my blog, you will notice that the address and format has changed. The initial blog site has been hacked into, so I needed to change hosts. The address of this new blog is http://groovieruby.blogspot.com and if you would like to subscribe to it, you can...so that it is automatically sent to you. My website, www.megruby.com will eventually connect to this new address as well...it may take a few days. Thanks for your patience.

You know,

last night I wrote a really long blog,

it took me hours.

It told the history of my relationship with the piano.

Last night I couldn't publish it though. It didn't seem right, for some reason.

I think I am done rehashing the past...I'm just not sure that it serves me right now, and I don't know how much it would interest you.

What does that leave me with to share with you? Good question.

I can tell you what has been coming up for me as of late...

1. I have been experiencing a profound connection to that which I cannot see, hear, touch, understand, or feel.

2. I have been questioning what it means to love something, anything really, but especially for me, my love of and for the piano.

3.I have been working with trust, and letting go of that which I cannot control.

4. I have been noticing tremendous tendencies to worry and also to project that onto others.

5. I have been accepting others more for who they are, rather than who I would like them to be.

6. And basically, I have just been noticing, for the sake of noticing.

7. Joy, sadness and pain arise spontaneously, and I appreciate that I can feel it.

8. I am noticing that the body needs constant attention and care, just like the homes we live in, and the children and other living things we care for. Any neglect shows up in some form or another. Nurturing of the self, and nurturing of others is very gratifying.

9. I notice the tension that arises when I "try" to figure something out, or know an answer that cannot be known.

10. I suppose that doubting is a part of being human. It arises, just like everything else. It is familiar. No need to take it any further than that.

Enjoy,

Until we meet again,

XO

Meg

A Few Words

It is true,

sometimes you just need to start writing before you know what you are going to write about.

Tonight is yet another one of those night's for Yours Truly.

The past few weeks have been heavy, on many fronts.

Without going into details, I will just leave it at that.

There has also been a lot of beauty and realization coming up and around,

and again, without going into it, I will leave it at that.

The dichotomies of life continue to emerge.

Observing without getting lost in it, this is happening a lot.

I was listening to a "teacher" speak online yesterday, and he said many things that rang true for me, but one thing in particular he said really hit home, and it went something like,

"You know you are doing the work you need to do, and yet life still seems to be chaotic, or strange, or challenging...at the same time, you have a feeling, way deep down inside that something right is happening, that you are on the right course, that all is well...that you are taken care of and safe..." It was not those exact words, I am interpreting in my own way, but hopefully, you get the idea.

That's really all I have to say right now,

except,

Happy Mother's Day, Mom,

I Love You!

Until tomorrow,

XO

Meg

The fluctuations of life, of living,

it is all around,

It is indeed the one thing we can count on,

that "this"never stays the same.

I'll tell you this though,

love is constant.

Sometimes we think we have lost it,

but we haven't,

we have only lost what we thought love was, what our idea of it was,

we never actually lost love at all.

I don't know who or what gave me the idea that life was supposed to be comfortable...

From this expectation, and the failure of life to live up to it,

a lot of frustration, anger, sadness, and disappointment has arose in me.

I am beginning to see things more clearly now.

Until we meet again,

XO

Meg