I have been an artist, an educator for over 30 years.
The media of my expression is music. Naturally I learned music since young and still learning. This learning process will never come to an end.
Learning is a great thing. It gives you a new perspective, skills, idea of what to practice next, and new way of evaluating what you do in music.
I was practicing as always and in the middle of playing Bach, the question suddenly popped out in my mind, “Are you doing this to please yourself?”.
Growing up, of course I was not expected to be a protege or anything. I was just an ordinary music loving kid who is so incapable in many respects (still am now..).
What I did, I listened to my favorite Jazz and played whatever I can to please myself. And I was happy!
Over the years of learning music, I gained tremendously that help me to create new things, but at the same time, this simple concept of “pleasing myself” might has been left behind.
Example: Meals!
Why do you eat? What do you eat? Thinking of what?
Regular eating cycle, nutrition, squeezed lunch time during the busy work schedule…we often eat out of the reason besides, “it taste good”.
But what else is ideal besides, “you eat because this will please yourself”?
The same in music.
Nutrition, diet, health concern, all are good but we should never forget everything you do should please yourself. In this way, I might even be able to say, I was a better artist younger when I was not really learning and just played what I liked.
Since my little question popped up, I found myself asking students, “Do you feel good?”, “Are you happy doing this”, “Did your music made you feel good?”
The more professional you become, the easier you skip these simple questions.
We should always happy with what we do.
Be happy!♪