Reflections: Being Patient

In my experience, the students who make the most progress are the ones who have a sense of humor and don’t get upset when they don’t ”get” something right away. It always kills me when a student makes a mistake and they get angry, or irritated, or they start to put themselves down. Sure, I’ve gotten frustrated in the practice room (anyone who’s put all their effort into something has) but I never let it determine my self worth. I always want to stop the lesson and explain that they joy isn’t “getting it” the joy is in developing it. If this isn’t understood then the student starts to associate practice with negativity and they stop or quit. Enjoy the struggle, because it’s not about becoming perfect it’s about discovering something you’re willing to struggle for.