We're thrilled to share a new installment of our Passing the Teacher Torch Q&A series, proudly sponsored by KHS America! This time, Lessonface instructor Zach Marley reflects on the meaningful influence teachers have on their students and invites his former student Eddie Gonzalez to share his perspective.
I was asked to comment on the importance of the role of teachers in the lives of their students. The following are responses to a series of interview-style questions answered by one of my former students, Sarah Anne Wolkowski, whom I taught from the age of 12 until she left for college. It was during that transition that our relationship evolved, as she became more of a mentee and I, her mentor. Sarah has crafted a career as an influential saxophonist, teacher and writer.
The ancient Aboriginal Australian musical instrument, the didgeridoo/yidaki, saved me and gave me consequential lifelong missions. It came to me at a critical time in my 20s when I was without direction, working in a series of meaningless, poorly paying hourly wage, dead-end jobs. Before the didgeridoo arrived, my 20s were a deeply depressing period. Luckily, I was awake enough to accept the didgeridoo’s invitation to a new, healthy way of life and a lifelong allegiance. I owe a lot to the hollowed-out tree branch from the indigenous people of Northern Australia.
As a guitarist and guitar teacher, I’m often asked something along the lines of “How hard is it to learn to play guitar?” It’s a fair question, and like many questions that mirror this one, there isn’t a one size fits all answer. The idea is too large, even though the question is an appropriate one. The really unsatisfying short answer you’ll hear is “It’s as hard as you make it.” Instead, a better question might be “What can I do with the guitar, and how can I get there?”, though that is also asking something too big.
Playing music improves our mood, benefits our long-term emotional health, connects us to those around us, and is the best part? Playing music is fun and personally rewarding. If happiness and enjoyment alone aren’t enough to justify making space for music lessons in your busy schedule, learning music is also one of the best things you can possibly do for your mind.
As if you needed more reasons to learn an instrument, this article will explore some of science’s discoveries on the subject of the benefits of music lessons. This topic is also significant as more and more arts programs are cut in schools around the United States due to economic restrictions. The benefits of music education underscore the importance of keeping these programs in school curricula.
Advice from teachers on making your practice routine sustainable and fruitful.
1. Start with goals
Ambitious, sometimes stretch, aspirations push us to be great. Piano instructor Elina Christova uses this to her advantage by, "pursuing challenging projects to keep me motivated. If things get too comfortable then I know I need to turn it up a notch."
In order to answer the question of “How much practice is enough?” we've broken it down into three categories of musicians: professionals, aspiring pros, and casual musicians/beginners.
