Stop settling for "good". Stop settling for "great". I have had many conversations the last few weeks about the importance of role models for each of us, who do what we want to do. If I had a nickel for every student who said they wanted to be a "great trumpet player", I wouldn't be driving a Chevy Cruise. If I had a room full of students at the college level, and asked them, "how many of you want to be a great trumpet player?", I promise almost all of those hands would go up. By settling at "great" and having no further specific goal, you've placed yourself in the overwhelming majority of those with the same passion as you.
So what does it mean to be great? Does it mean doing exactly what our teachers tell us? Does it mean paying attention in classes? Practicing?
When I was in my undergrad, I was always told to aim for 6-8 hours of dedicated practice every day. This didn't mean 8 hours with a trumpet on my face, this meant dedicated time spent to my craft. I had to teach myself that my teachers were my mentors, my colleagues were my motivators, but ultimately, I was the only one who decided how successful I was.
I'm therefore going to make an effort to change my responses when I'm asked about how to succeed. For one, I have no idea- I'm on the same path as you all. Secondly, that's entirely up to you. I can help you work, I can help you find people that you should be looking up to, and developing a schedule to become beyond greatness, but I do not have all the answers. I'm 24. Your teachers don't have all the answers. Your teachers also are NOT the determining factor as to whether you will succeed or whether you will fail unless you let them become an excuse for your inability to desire improvement. What is a factor is your work ethic, and your excuses. Mine as well- I've been there and continue to be there.
Do NOT waste the time you have to improve. I speak directly to my music friends with the harsher words I am lucky to have heard myself- being great isn't a goal you must set. It is a minimum requirement to even swim in the same pond as your colleagues who want this as badly as you do. I have barely dipped my toes in that water, and believe me, you want to be spending your time preparing for what's out there. Listen and improve. Every day, doing something better than the day before. I've been so priveleged to meet with people lately who seem to look up to me when the truth is that I'm no further along. There are thousands of "me" out there. That is my only secret, and the only aspect of myself that I will give credit to- I never settled. I don't think there was one moment where I was truly satisfied with where I was. I was proud of myself, as you all should be proud of yourselves, but don't plateau. If you ever think "I wish I could do what ___ does", then guess what? You're not done yet.
This is not frustration, this is not tough love- this is something I wish I had taken to heart earlier. Everyone is capable, but also, everyone is capable. Set your standards beyond great, simply do better than the day before- in every way possible. You will not fall short of success if you raise the standard of what greatness means for you.
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