Building vs. Dreaming

How do I get better at playing the violin or viola? How do I get better at playing a musical instrument? Is there an easy way?

Last week I wrote a little about building vs daydreaming when it comes to learning an instrument. I wanted to follow up on that today with two lists of actions dreamers vs. builders take. Which list looks more like you? I want you to remember, as you look at both of these, that the best combination is one where you regularly build what you dream.

What Dreaming Looks Like

• Talking about practicing

• Talking about other players

• Talking about auditions

• Talking about rep

• Not practicing 

• Not taking auditions

• Not playing for other people

• Saving practice for tomorrow

• Putting off lessons until you’re “more prepared”

What Building Looks Like

• Practicing, even if it’s just for a few minutes

• Talking *with* other players and adding what you learn from them into your own musicmaking

• Taking auditions and reviewing them afterwards (“How do I want to prepare better for my next audition?” “How do I want to feel after my next audition?”)

• Downloading appropriate rep, chunking it, and learning it

• Playing small bits for other people, and encouraging them to play for you

• Practicing today

• Scheduling regular lessons (if able) and sticking to them

• Surrounding yourself with reminders of what you’re building

• Assuming breaks and setbacks will be part of your journey so you can always pause as needed, then resume in the smallest way possible when you’re feeling up for it

Building can be as small as a couple minutes of practice. Dreaming doesn’t tend to involve much practice at all. Both matter, but please don’t let your dreaming get in the way of actually making your dreams happen, a little bit at a time.

I’m building right along with you!