Mel Bay's Creative Keyboard® Webzine | Misha Stefanuk - New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions

Being a musician, I never felt like I needed a New Year's Resolutions. Most people make commitments to restricting something they like (food for example), or doing more of something they don't (like exercise). I spend many hours at the keyboard, which most non-musicians would consider a pure professional necessity. Music is the only reward I get from it.

Being a teacher, I am always faced with the idea of rewarding my students for their achievements. Years ago, it was suggested to me to get stickers and candy. I like stickers, and I like candy (to a lesser degree than I did earlier in life). I just always felt that the reward idea was very wrong. Learning should be the main reward in teaching process, and music should be the main reward in practicing a musical instrument. Now I only give my students gifts for Christmas, and these gifts are not connected at all with how successful our last semester was.

The biggest reward besides playing for yourself is the recital. I have a couple of students who do not want to play in recitals. Usually that is caused by their bad experiences with previous instruction, and sometimes with the idea that they are not good enough. I often ask and insist on everybody's participation. So I will have four year olds and pianists and composers old enough to be their grand parents in the same recital.

Recitals allow us to share our vision of a musical piece and our success in the process of learning. It is also a good way to show off in front of your friends and family, and an incredible social occasion. It validates hours that we spend at the piano for ourselves and for others as well.

So my own New Year's resolutions haven't change much in many years! I am in the middle of my journey in music, I have learned a lot, and there is more to learn. I have practiced uncountable hours, and I will do more. And I hope that this is what I share with my students - learning how to make music, and sharing it with others. That is my New Year's Resolution!

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