School of Thought #1

A Key to greatness?

I’ve been a musician for the most part of my life. Started at a very young age, and still going relatively strong. I’ve always had a good ear for music by the grace of God and it helped ease things up a lot as opposed to other musicians who had to struggle and work extra hard to keep up their game.

You would think that with these inborn qualities I would/should have become a well known 'musical genius' who broke through various conservative spectrums that hold us musicians back. The reality though is often quite confusing, to say the least. There is a key to success that is highly underrated and overlooked by most of us whether intentionally or not. This key is actually not difficult to find. In fact, it is the most evident/obvious and viable option to choose.

The key is nothing but “consistency”. Yes, yes, I’m sure you have come across this term many times and you may have already been advised on the same repeatedly by many mentors. So you must know how significant, yet how difficult it is to attain.

When I began recognizing my musical talents at a very young age, I used to find ways to practice every moment I got, not allowing anything else to hinder my passion. I pushed myself every day, beyond what I thought I was capable of and my eyes were opened to the sea in front of me. My boat was small and not built for large waters but it held up just fine. I got lost, but the winds carried me and I rowed in the same direction, to the point where all I could see were the waters and the sunset and nothing else in the horizon.

Subsequently I stopped rowing altogether and let the wind do the job for me, and eventually, I was left with still waters and very little wind to thrust me forward. I may as well have forgotten how to row and my hands seemed to be tied to the boat. This is me now, floating in the vast ocean, hungry and thirsty, stuck in a limbo, eyes never leaving the thin line where sea and heaven meet.

There is a limit as to where the wind and the waves can take you and you will reach a certain position where the wind can no longer nudge you further. The truth is, if you would consistently row your way through the waters no matter how labourious it gets, you would find pockets of air to whisk you ahead and help you navigate through calm waters before the raging storms appear.

Consistency is discipline. It drives you, gives you a purpose and fashions you into what you want in life. An easy example for musicians is the practice of practising with the metronome. You set the tempo and play the runs, licks or rhythms on the set beat without faltering, trying to stick to it no matter what. When consistency flounders, your focus is affected and eventually, your drive is non-existent.

I must admit that I too, like many musicians am stuck too deep in the waters, clueless as to where I am. But I row, albeit gently. 

I suggest you do too. Our shore is not too far away.

Picture credits