It’s not bad to feel nervous or concerned - what matters is my ability to flip the focus around to the right things. To allow the emotions to come up and pass away because they are just emotions - not facts.

It is good to remember that there is meaning whether we reach one person or a thousand, or maybe we only reach ourselves.

Maybe that’s the answer after all. To be here. To hold space. To make room for my students.

We don’t move forward by simply reading or watching how someone else has done it. We have to feel our way through. Only by building on our own experiences do we continue to step forward.

The next time you catch yourself reaching, take a mental step back. Assess the situation, be “on you” and try focusing on the outcome instead of the effort. It’s ok if you miss.

Once I figured out that it was me in the way, and how I was slowing myself down, it got easier to make better choices.

So, here’s to living with spirit in 2022. And, a little encouragement to choose a word for yourself.

The goal is not to escape, but rather to help yourself find a way to be in the present moment with a clear head.

Education is built upon a series of agreements from everyone involved.

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If we are constantly nitpicking our playing and never enjoying it can start to feel like we are constantly at war with ourselves.

Most of us are more capable than we give ourselves credit for. We become discouraged when we can’t do something instantly or quickly, dismissing it as a failure. Designate your goal and determine the work that needs to be done. Create a plan and commit to it. Put in the work.

Gratitude is about your ability to feel both happiness and sadness, and to make the most of all the experiences of your life.

My best teachers taught me that we are students for life, and you never have to learn alone.

When we practice in a truly productive way, we identify the difficult transitions and dissect the issues using informed practice techniques from the toolbox we fill during our studies. In turn, our brain builds stronger and stronger pathways for the actions we need.

Success becomes available to you when you tap into the joy of learning how to identify it for yourself.

It’s not simple, but you have to remember that in life and in music, no one holds all the answers for you. You have what you need to create the space that feels like home, but you have to be willing to hold that space for yourself. No one else can do it for you.

Maybe we should quit more often.

What happens if you truly focus on the feeling of playing in this exact moment?

If you didn’t feel any obligation to conform, how would you communicate and share with others?