Trust the Process...

More importantly, let's trust our own learning process. Rather than expecting a teacher to know all the answers, we must make the time time to understand the questions. Those questions stem from our awareness (mental, physical and spiritual). As previously stated, a great teacher makes a student aware of his/her own learning process. A great student stays with this process, working with themselves, until they become the teacher/student again. If learning is a cycle, then, mastering a string instrument is a quest. Through this quest, we better understand life and the learning process. Most importantly, we better understand ourselves. When we practice, we must also work on all technical concerns, spending the most amount of time on what truly needs attention. If we let our egos do the practicing for us, we may find ourselves practicing what we already know, too many times...Furthermore, we may become blinded and not clearly see what truly deserves our utmost attention.

The ego, from time to time, may want us to accept that a good "once over" will shine up that recital piece. That is, we will run through everything quickly because practice time is limited. Our schedules, extracurricular activities, and life, may get in the way. I strongly advise against the old "once over/ run though" method. If you only have a 1/2 hour a day, spend ten minutes on slow scales and arpeggios (practice technique more than notes), and, isolate the passages, in the solo work, that are not rhythmically consistent. Therefore, if you have to stop in the middle of a passage, slowly work through the technical mechanics of that passage until you may do so without stopping. Slowly, build a passage to a competent level, through gradual increments of metronome work. This dull drill, repetitive, and honest, practice is the only effective way, especially at the beginning levels. When we practice, we must truly be honest with ourselves. Where are we at (technically, musically, etc.)?

I know so many "musicians" who have never put in the time. They feel it is fun and may have started much later in life, without any formal training. They may have even integrated music as a fun hobby, into their work schedules. Realistically, many amateurs will call themselves professional, so that they may double their work, in an unstable economy. Sure, they possess smoke and mirrors that burn and deflect, rather than earn and reflect...Music is not a hobby! It is not something that everyone can do because it takes sacrifice! Most of all, it requires time and patience. It may prove to be therapeutic and even magical, however, it will also take careful practice (unless you are extraordinarily gifted). It requires as much physical training as an Olympic athlete, the technical precision of a surgeon, and as much "feel-good" energy as the greatest inspiration you've ever had. Funny how music is the one profession everyone thinks they can do, with the least amount of dedication, study, and application (performing experience)...

Music is momentary beauty, rather than everlasting validation. Training only strengthens you. Training does not validate you. Translation: "You are only as good as your last note!" Even as a professional, you are creating, rather than proving. However, you must have skill. Most importantly, you must develop this skill, according to your own physique. This takes time, life experience, and performing experience. Therefore, the more teachers, musicians, and performers you play with, study with, and speak with, the sharper your arrow (or bow)...Ask more questions, rather than proclaim your own answers. If music connects us with the heavens (and I'm pretty sure it does), we are always students...

Similarly, teaching is not a hobby. For example, start with simple with a practice routine. How are you sitting? Is your posture optimal for playing comfortably? Are you breathing regularly, and consistently, throughout all passages (especially technically challenging passages). Are you examining your bow's contact point and parallel movement, based on the curvature of the fingerboard? These are all important questions and they must be addressed! Yet, many "qualified" teachers will skip over these technical concerns, so that they may schedule their student for the next available recital time, without discouraging their practice routine. Are they honest with their "don't wanna disturb the apricot" method? Might you see posters of their latest tours on the walls of their studios and pictures of their collaboration with all the great cellists? They may even offer you a free cd of their latest recording. You may feel so special, but really become neglected because you have not learned from a real teacher. Rather, you have basked in the limelight of a performer/self-proclaimed teacher. In effect, these teachers become enablers in the strengthening of one's ego and resulting denial of one's own abilities. You begin to focus on the teacher, rather than yourself, and neglect the very learning process you truly need. Take the time and discover the most beneficial teacher/guide. Your best teacher is merely a guide. They too embark upon, and understand, your learning process all too well. No matter what stage of learning, we must be honest with ourselves. If a teacher is not honest with you, he/she is simply ineffective...If you are not honest with yourself, you may keep yourself studying with an ineffective teacher and suffer consistently poor training.