Developing Discipline AND Artistry

Music is a creative art and a discipline.

Sometimes we get ultra-focused on the discipline.

Practice becomes a series of commands for the student to carry out.

Flaws are pointed out and (hopefully) practice reduces them and they disappear.

We are precise.

We ask for controlled movements and use of muscles.

We learn to repeat things more than we want to, in order to improve.

This is the discipline involved.

And it does take discipline to practice every day

To care about all the details

To put in enough time and repetitions for improvement to happen and for skills to improve.

Often because I work with families of very young children, a lot time is spent on these things, because it takes a lot of thought and planning for young children to willingly participate in such a disciplined activity.

But lately I have been thinking of the balance between music being a discipline and an art.

We let artists experiment, even though they are also learning technique and skills

We let artist be creative and go outside the lines as they learn their craft

We let artists be expressive and try out new ideas.

As teachers and parents who practice with our kids, are we fostering only discipline and not art?

Are we allowing for some experimental playing once the technical part of practice is over?

Are we allowing for improvisation?

Are we growing artists as well as disciplined players?

Because I would challenge us all that we need to develop both.

I would challenge us that each student has something unique to offer the world.

Maybe they will do it through music.

Let’s keep striving for excellence and technical progress

and also allow for inquiry and creativity

and helping each child find that spark that helps them develop a love for music

and a way to express themselves through it.