I’m exceptionally mediocre at most everything. (Oh Gees: does that make me good at something??) I’m the standard by which great people can compare themselves for their occasional Greatness Check. And I’m OK with that.
I tell my students that it will be more fun to play in band/orchestra when they’re more confident on their instrument. And the only way to do that is to “bite the bullet” and go through the “not fun” parts of practice. And yes, it is hard to play a horn while biting a bullet!!
I used to tell my students that there was absolutely nothing wrong with being average, since it’s what most of us are. Most of them, having been told for years how wonderful they were, were crestfallen, but a few in each class realized what a gift they’d been given.Embrace your mediocrity, and you can go back to doing things for fun.
It is more than the trumpet. It appears that Michael’s parents and uncle are telling him it is time to get with the program. From what I gather, Michael has no other extracurricular activities, such as sports or Boy Scouts. His parents are probably concerned that boys his age like those things and he just sits in his room reading comics.
Face it…if the heart isn’t in something, the rest of you won’t follow. Don’t waste your life on something you don’t enjoy if you have a choice in the matter. Life is, indeed, too short.
Its just a type mismatch. And maybe activity. I can be beyond dedicated to some things, but others I’d rather do low key and for fun. I still want to get better, but not to push for that extra inch. I didn’t have time for as many of those as a child, admittedly…
And I get people on the other end who are all about the “having fun” and I’m like I’d have more fun if I was better at it so since you’re teaching me can we get better and then I’ll try to have fun? I know some people learn better that way because they can’t or don’t want to learn the harder way, but I’m not one of them, I’m nearly the opposite. So their idea of fun, dossing around being bad (and expecting skills to develop out of the not paying attention) is my idea of very not-fun because I’m not getting better and I’m not really comfortable with what I’m doing.
Even on the things I don’t want to be the best at, I still have to learn the slow way, I just don’t push as hard.
Kid after my own heart. My trumpet is in the car for my once a week rehearsal. Obviously I practiced a little more as a kid, but it requires a passion to become a true musician, and I never had it.
It could be, because I had this same problem, he wants to jump from not being able to play to being able to play perfectly without practicing. I took 10 years of accordion, yes accordion, lessons my brother did too. Neither one of us liked practicing but we did and pretty soon were laughing that we could play as well as Lawrence Welk, sometimes better. I haven’t had an accordion for years, but there are times I wish I still had it. For those who don’t like it, it is a reed instrument. That is why it has a reedy sound.
I wanted to take guitar lessons at eight years of age. Mom insisted I take tap dancing as she liked Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. When she was in the nursing home, many years later, I reminded her that if I had taken guitar lessons, I could have been a rock star and she wouldn’t have had to have lived out her final days in a nursing home. She laughed.
Stew Bek Premium Member about 9 years ago
Chopsticks was easy but eventually the fun wears off. My cornet sits forlornly in the closet after 45 years of non use.
Aaberon about 9 years ago
I’m exceptionally mediocre at most everything. (Oh Gees: does that make me good at something??) I’m the standard by which great people can compare themselves for their occasional Greatness Check. And I’m OK with that.
mourdac Premium Member about 9 years ago
Philosophy straight from Homer Simpson.
MIHorn Premium Member about 9 years ago
I tell my students that it will be more fun to play in band/orchestra when they’re more confident on their instrument. And the only way to do that is to “bite the bullet” and go through the “not fun” parts of practice. And yes, it is hard to play a horn while biting a bullet!!
sundogusa about 9 years ago
Mediocre? That takes a little practice too!
ladamson1918 about 9 years ago
I used to tell my students that there was absolutely nothing wrong with being average, since it’s what most of us are. Most of them, having been told for years how wonderful they were, were crestfallen, but a few in each class realized what a gift they’d been given.Embrace your mediocrity, and you can go back to doing things for fun.
USN1977 about 9 years ago
It is more than the trumpet. It appears that Michael’s parents and uncle are telling him it is time to get with the program. From what I gather, Michael has no other extracurricular activities, such as sports or Boy Scouts. His parents are probably concerned that boys his age like those things and he just sits in his room reading comics.
flagmichael about 9 years ago
Y’know, we all mediocre at most things… and that’s not bad. I am mediocre at cooking but that makes me good enough.
summerdog86 about 9 years ago
Face it…if the heart isn’t in something, the rest of you won’t follow. Don’t waste your life on something you don’t enjoy if you have a choice in the matter. Life is, indeed, too short.
sbischof about 9 years ago
Its just a type mismatch. And maybe activity. I can be beyond dedicated to some things, but others I’d rather do low key and for fun. I still want to get better, but not to push for that extra inch. I didn’t have time for as many of those as a child, admittedly…
And I get people on the other end who are all about the “having fun” and I’m like I’d have more fun if I was better at it so since you’re teaching me can we get better and then I’ll try to have fun? I know some people learn better that way because they can’t or don’t want to learn the harder way, but I’m not one of them, I’m nearly the opposite. So their idea of fun, dossing around being bad (and expecting skills to develop out of the not paying attention) is my idea of very not-fun because I’m not getting better and I’m not really comfortable with what I’m doing.
Even on the things I don’t want to be the best at, I still have to learn the slow way, I just don’t push as hard.
Sailor46 USN 65-95 about 9 years ago
Generally you will do better at Something you Like to Do!
JanLC about 9 years ago
Michael’s attitude reminds me of Theo’s philosophy that he tried to sell to his dad Cliff Huxtable on the first season of “The Cosby Show”.
Seed_drill about 9 years ago
Kid after my own heart. My trumpet is in the car for my once a week rehearsal. Obviously I practiced a little more as a kid, but it requires a passion to become a true musician, and I never had it.
Train 1911 about 9 years ago
not only lazy but a big mouth kid
JUSTLAUGHINGTODAY about 9 years ago
It could be, because I had this same problem, he wants to jump from not being able to play to being able to play perfectly without practicing. I took 10 years of accordion, yes accordion, lessons my brother did too. Neither one of us liked practicing but we did and pretty soon were laughing that we could play as well as Lawrence Welk, sometimes better. I haven’t had an accordion for years, but there are times I wish I still had it. For those who don’t like it, it is a reed instrument. That is why it has a reedy sound.
locuravamp about 9 years ago
as someone who was only mediocre at piano, You still gotta practice! I enjoyed it, but gosh darn it, I wasn’t great.
westny77 about 9 years ago
Who are you to lecture. You never amounted to much. Go out and get a real job.
rgcviper about 9 years ago
Meh.
hawgowar about 9 years ago
I wanted to take guitar lessons at eight years of age. Mom insisted I take tap dancing as she liked Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. When she was in the nursing home, many years later, I reminded her that if I had taken guitar lessons, I could have been a rock star and she wouldn’t have had to have lived out her final days in a nursing home. She laughed.
nickel_penny about 9 years ago
Force a kid to do something they hate, they won’t learn to love it, they’ll learn to resent you.