Starting with a Seed

Musical problems can feel overwhelming.

Heck. Most problems in life can feel overwhelming.

I almost always tell my students to untangle their musical challenges by starting with a seed.

A "seed" being that thing they can do quickly and easily. Allowing them to build on that, grow, and progress.

For example, a student may have four dreaded measures of a piece that are always difficult.

So, we get to work.

We might start with only two measures, and only the right hand.

If that's too difficult, we'll scale back to one measure in the right hand. We're seeking out the "seed" - the thing that can be done quickly and easily.

If one measure in the right hand can be done well, then we can move up to two measures in the right hand.

If two measures in the right hand can be done well, we can add the left hand.

If adding the left hand is too difficult, then we'll try only the left hand for a while until it's comfortable. Then we can put the hands back together.

Then we can follow the same process with the next two measures. And then we can put it all together.

But it all starts with that initial "seed" that we can grow from.

So the lesson is this - when you have a problem that is overwhelming or you're not sure where to start, you begin with the thing you can do well now. Regardless of how small that thing is.

And then you build on that.

Keep going, and before you know it, your friends will be calling you an "overnight success."