I pose a question for everyone: Do you ever stop getting better on an instrument? Have you ever felt that you have reached the “highest” level of whistling?
I was thinking about this question because I know a few really, as in “hello, I can kick some serious butt on my instrument” people.
I know this is kind of a random question but I was qurious what others thought. I for one, know I have so much more to learn on the whistle.
Offhand I can’t think of any device created by human hands that a human can reach absolute perfection on without there being any chance of improvment.
Style alone will change as the person grows in experience in other areas of his or her life. One may notice an immediate example of this by song selections made while playing alone. Have you ever noticed your choice of songs while playing alone? Have they had anything to do with your mood at the moment?
A lifetime of experience will alter, or should I say forge, the style of the musician. And since life isn’t over until the last breath–of a whistler especially–I’d say there is always something to learn as long as there is something to experience.
You may reach plateaus where you level off and can’t seem to progress any further. But don’t be fooled…there is always something new to learn. It sometimes takes a different, unique approach, or a revised way of applying yourself to break through that plateau and forge ahead.
As a teen, I remember complaining to my piano teacher that I wasn’t getting anywhere or learning anything new. He asked me two questions which I have never forgotten:
Teacher: Do you practice?
Student: Practice? Good lord yes! Hours a day!
Teacher: Do you practice what you already KNOW, or do you practice what you DON’T KNOW?
Student: !
Stop learning? In this world? Maybe 5-10 minutes after my heart stops beating.
For me and my music, every day has an impact on the principle source, the heart. I hope some day to be proficient enough to express the source without having to think over much about the expression, just connect and let it flow. Even then, each day will present new shades of the themes, events, feelings, and connections that define us. I wonder if fingers pattering holes and breath across fipple will ever catch up.
The magic for me
is in the moment
where heart and tune unite
and soar,
connecting to all within ear.
I expect that,
to live always in that magical realm,
is for the next world,
not this one.
In the mean time,
I can enjoy my occasional moments
and hope each of you …
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-01-07 16:41 ]
In my opinion, a person never stops learning - unless the person is just plain lazy and doesn’t want to make the effort to learn - and unfortunately, there are far too many people like that. As for an instrument, I still have a long way to go on my whistle, but even when I reach a point where I can play well, I still will continue to learn things about the whistle. Hopefully, I’ll continue to learn and expand my mind for as long as I live! The mind can absorb so much - use it well.
Imagine peace,
Sara
“I’m sick and tired of hearing things
from uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocrites.
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth.” - John Lennon
[ This Message was edited by: Sara on 2002-01-07 12:21 ]
I am not able to understand, only understand more.
Mark V.
I wondered awhile back whether I would be able to progress beyond a certain unsatisfactory level. I thought that maybe that’s all I had and I’d just have to make the best of it. With that discouraging thought in mind, I just plugged along and learned something surprising and wonderful: Practice really pays off- slowly and gradually. I can play a lot better now than I used to, even a year ago. And I’ve discarded the idea that I might not become even better. (So I’m still practicing.) What really keeps it fun for me is constantly learning new tunes. Right now, I’m working on The Jolly Tinker, out of McCullough’s book.
Tony
No way, you never stop learning. My Grandfather has been playing a mandolin and guitar since he was 15 he is now 84 and he still learns new songs. It takes him longer than it use to to learn them and his hands don’t work as well but he can still as he says, “cut a rug!”
Goddess
you will never stop learning. your learning may slow or speed up at times but you will never stop learning.
On 2002-01-06 23:42, LKtz wrote:
I was thinking about this question because I know a few really, as in “hello, I can kick some serious butt on my instrument” people.
To this I can offer 2 Chinese sayings:
“Yi shan hai you yi shan gao” which approximates to “there is always a highier mountain”. I’m sure those people you are refering to would also know other people who can kick their butts in whistleplaying or whatever.
“Shue wu zhi jing” which roughly translates to “knowledge and learning have no limit”.
OKay I ought to kick out of Sagely mode now 
On 2002-01-06 23:42, LKtz wrote:
I was thinking about this question because I know a few really, as in “hello, I can kick some serious butt on my instrument” people.
I know people like that too and they bore me stiff. Life is too short to waste on people who only desire to ‘blow away’ other musicians.
I’ve been playing the whistle for over 20 years now and music in general for closer to 40, and I’m still learning. That’s half the fun in music,the learning - discovering and learning new tunes and songs, new techniques and styles, trying out new stuff to see what works and what doesn’t. I believe very strongly in playing WITH music as well as just playing it.
Learning…
I have three children and they dispise going to school. (So did I when I was younger in hinie sight I wish i took it more seriously then.)
I tell them… life is a continual learning experience. It’s just how much you want to invest in that life.
If it was not for challenges in my life I would never grow. It’s like the first time you take that bold step to perform on stage.
What have I learned from that? A good strong sence of humor :lol
Our minds are likened to a computor. You only get out of it what you put into it.
Unfortunately sometimes it freezes up. Would that be considered mind block to us?
Keep practicing… Keep learning…life would be dull without it