This week in the studio we have been thinking about how mirrors make a space seem larger and give you immediate feedback, you see the various parts of your body to produce the music in real time. Our music teachers (and their echoing voices) are better than mirrors because they tell us what to focus on and they want us to do well. Mirrors help; a recording device helps us face the plain truth of how we are practicing. But still, a cold mirror will only reflect your mood and can not encourage you to be imaginative enough to convey the music in a way that brings everyone delight and comfort. You do need some musical community and people to reflect back to you the goodness of the journey you are on and help you avoid some pitfalls and dead-ends. Musical friends get you to the top of the musical mountain faster since encouragement is valuable, cultivate your team.
One musical friend said it was good for me to be maintaining my creativity;even though I am now distant from the days when I had orchestras to play with and friends who would be willing to put in many hours of work to produce a beautiful recital with me. The shadow of all those extra hours of inspiration, training,and work can make me feel like I will never go back to that mountain-top experience. But the chance to create a music studio that blesses my family, church, friends and online community is something I never could have imagined! When the world was not so connected and I had no family of my own I was stuck in a practice room or driving long hours to get to rehearsals 20 years ago. The current musical friends train my children in singing, violin, and cello and listen to my compositions or playlists. And most of my conservatory friends have fared pretty well too; and I like seeing what is going on in their adventures even though we are geographically distant now. The shadow of what you were able to do once should not cause you to take your eyes off the path ahead, I think I will present more excellent compositions and beautiful performances the more I mature and I will have a front row seat for my students, friends (new and old) and my family’s musical growth as well.
Make Music Day has been a highlight in forming a new music community to get some feedback in performing and composing. I am going to start planning a way to get involved this year and I hope you will consider it as well. God gives us these gifts so we can share them. One day we may find even the mountains themselves are singing and making music along with us-see Psalm 98:8!
Doran Music Studio 