Welcome back, Maestri! Yee-haw, we get to make music again (and get paid for it)! Now, looky-here, I could wax philosophical on ya’s. Talk wistfully about your summer break and all, but I’ve decided to look forward as we get things wound up. So, considering what’s before us, I thought I would offer something a little different to help our mind-space. It’s simple, portable and can be referred to over and over again: quotes! Yeppers, little gems of wisdom for you to copy, tape to your desk, mirror, door, rehearsal room, smartboard, dumbboard, student folder, pet, etc. I tend to look at quotes more as reminders than as inspiration at times. Course, there’s always those that haunt me. I’m in the middle of a 7- week residency at a wonderful high school and every time I pass this huge, partial “quote” painted on the wall, I feel it’s pointed at me and oozing sarcasm:
“Intellectually Competent”
Oh well. My cross to bear. So, here you go. Hoping these will get you going for this great, new year of MUSIC!
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor – Franklin Roosevelt
Working hard for something we don’t care about is called STRESS. Working hard for something we love is called PASSION – Simon Sinek
Stop trying to calm the storm. Calm yourself. The storm will pass – Timber Hawkeye
Givers have to set limits, because takers rarely do – Henry Ford
Modern luxury is the ability to think clearly, sleep deeply, move slowly & live quietly in a world designed to prevent all four – Buddhist philosophy
Only the mediocre are always at their best – Jean Giraudoux
Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens – Jimi Hendrix
Failure is an event, never a person – William D. Brown
And things I’ve learned:
Control is an illusion
Draw a line
Standards don’t adjust; expectations do
And remember: PROTECT YOUR PEACE AT ALL COSTS
Let’s have the best year of music-making/teaching YET!
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