Admission: I’m not your typical trumpeter.
After playing through college, I hung up my trumpets for a career with more perceived stability and potential: information technology. I enjoy what I do, and I’ve never regretted my decision. Between building a career and raising a family, I didn’t play for a couple of decades. And for most of that time, I didn’t realize how much I missed it.
Once our daughters began playing violin, I took up the trumpet once again. To make a long story short, I got some good instruction, invested a lot of time and study (and self-study), and have actually surpassed my ability when I was a “playa”. 
Not bad for a part-time musician, I suppose. But maturity (or old age, if you must!) brings a certain introspection that makes one acutely aware of every fault, great or small. There is no room for a “trumpeter’s ego” when you have a lifetime of polishing ahead of you.
During that same time, our daughters also had excellent instruction, and any “headstart” I enjoyed vanished embarrassingly quickly. Today, our oldest is a college sophomore majoring in Music Performance…and one of her courses happens to be a brass class. Which brings me, finally, to the topic of the post. How does one share knowledge with their more-talented kids??!?
I’m not really teaching my daughter how to play, of course. Her instructor for this class is an outstanding trumpeter and excellent trumpet teacher. But between classes, daughter #1 asks questions of me to “fill-in” the inevitable gaps. Topics run the gamut, from mouthpiece buzzing to building range, breathing to fingerings. I am careful to preface everything I pass along with “this is what I’ve learned/what works for me” and end it with “check with your instructor”…and say a quiet prayer of thanks that my daughter – already a better musician than I will ever become and just getting started, really – is so eager to learn and grow as a musician that she is willing to collect knowledge from even the unlikeliest of places.
Regardless of your past, your present, or your future abilities, I’d encourage you to recognize your abilities and your shortcomings…and proceed anyway. Groom and grow your talents, but be willing to share them, too. Give of what you have, whatever it may be. You’ll be glad you did.
Keep playing,
Mark
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Several events and discussions over the past couple of days have reminded me of an essential truth: music is truly whole only when it is shared.
Music is a performing art
Unlike most visual arts, the aural arts are enjoyed while the artwork is being created. Of course there are are exceptions to both categories: the visual art of dance and the aural art component of composition spring to mind. We will discuss the impact of live vs. recorded events in a future article, but for the moment, let’s focus upon how the performance relates to the music itself.
For any newcomers to the Part-Time Musician “playing addiction”, there is nothing quite like a live performance – no matter how small or large the audience – to make you more fully appreciate your music and the impact it can have upon people’s lives. This is about you, of course; after all, you get to enjoy the benefits of your learning, growing, and playing on a daily basis! But when you share your music with others by playing for them, everyone is enriched. Those listening are transported to a world of your creating, and the gift you receive is wrapped in the giving itself. It’s hard to explain, but very real to experience.
Music is an inheritance
Last night, I visited the youth symphony for which I was, for four years, Director of String Ensembles. Watching and listening to the new Director and group, I was impressed with the talent and commitment evident in all involved. When you’re in the middle of the scramble, it can be easy to overlook that. It reminded me of how important it is to pass along your music and knowledge – whether very specific or wide-ranging, structured or just “felt” – to others.
There is an age-old struggle within most musicians, whether full- or part-time, regarding personal advancement vs. contributing to others’ advancement. This often translates to “play vs. teach” in the full-timer’s world, but it’s much more complex than that. Most musicians (or artists of any stripe, really) must strive and improve over time to be satisfied. Taking time to share what you know with others would seem to diminish that, but those who have done so know differently: sharing what you know deepens what you know. And if that isn’t enough, it challenges you to learn (and master) even more!
The Takeaway
As with most things in life, the key is balance. If you want to be the best musician you can be, be sure to incorporate opportunities to share your music and what you know about it. Music truly is a gift from which you gain most while giving.
All the best,
Mark
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Tags: baton, chamber group, conducting, music, perform, sharing, string ensemble, teach
Ensemble, General, Orchestra, Strings | Mark November 11, 2009 | 
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