CHLOE’S MUSICAL JOURNEY
This is the fourth in a series of blogs centered around our adult students who offered to share their perspective and their musical journeys. We asked questions to initiate a conversation and our adults gave us heartfelt and soul warming responses that will inspire you as they inspired us!
Here are some of the questions we asked…
How long have you been playing? What are some of your favorite songs, works and artists? Any other musical studies? Did you like playing music as a kid, did you take lessons, did that change in adulthood? Was it hard to start with lessons as an adult, -obstacles, challenges? What motivated you and is it what you expected? What keeps you going? What's your favorite thing to play? What would you tell someone who wants to play and take lessons but has hesitations? Any other thoughts?
I have been playing cello for a little over three years. Almost a year with Joshua at Music By Tritone. I “instrument hopped” as a kid; I started with violin, then moved on to piano, cello, and finally guitar. I loved playing music as a kid and I took lessons for each instrument I played.
It was definitely hard starting as an adult. The first 2 years of playing I wasn’t trained properly, so switching to being taught by Joshua I had major anxiety in doing so. I think for the first few months I was shaking at every single lesson. I expected a level of anxiety, being a perfectionist. Some lessons we simply worked through hesitations about playing. Also, as an adult we generally have less time to practice so I anticipated that being an obstacle.
I think it is so important that, no matter what our age, we have some creative outlet no matter what that would be. I have always loved the cello and I felt at this point in my life it was something that I was really able to give dedication to despite a busy schedule.
It is different in the aspect that I never thought I would get over my anxiety with playing in front of people. Joshua really encouraged me to participate in the adult ensemble, and while it was a challenge to go every week, I feel like in the end it really transformed my cello playing. It gave me a level of confidence to not only be able to play in front of people but to really be comfortable in my one-on-one lessons.
Overcoming a challenge despite any fears that we have is so important. It gives us confidence when we accomplish something we never thought we would and in the mean-time, we create something beautiful with our instrument.
I enjoy playing low register pieces the most and I can’t believe I am admitting this, since I was so against it at first, but I have come to greatly enjoy playing in an ensemble environment. Learning to play with others yields so many benefits and it is so enjoyable because the music really comes to life with so many instruments.
In my personal opinion, as adults we have this overwhelming sense that we will be judged in some way or something to that effect. Through my lessons I have learned that being able to play the cello, doesn’t mean every note has to be perfect. No one expects our playing to be perfect and those around us are there to work with us not only musically but with facing the fears we may have. In the end the product will be rewarding. As adults it is also expected that we have less time. It is not expected that we will be able to play for 3 hours a day. Small increments throughout our week, even 10 minutes at a time, are really beneficial.