8 & out

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As a singer, I have learned that the things that look simple can often be the hardest to master.

☺️

As a musicologist, I've learned how much you can do, even if you're not a professional musician. Your researches can change a lot.

As a singer, I've learned that singing isn't "a natural thing so it should be easier than any other instrument". IT IS NOT!

1. Get a good teacher

2. Do as you’re told

3. Work super hard and consistently, focussing on the things you’re told to work on, every day

gets startlingly good results

(never-picked-up-an-instrument to a distinction at “you need to pass this exam to be considered for conservatoire/national ensembles” standard (ABRSM grade 8) in four academic years).

Be honest & respectful (both to teachers and classmates).

Patience and Discipline.

Be applied and ambitious.

but DON'T BE HARD WITH YOURSELF! Then you won't like music (specially if it is the only thing that makes you happy).

Do what you're told to do.

Divide and Conquer.

because we’re not real instruments or that “anyone can play the cymbals”

also because we’re the only alive cymbal line in my school district. 

day one on the job? i couldn’t raise my arms after. cymbals aren’t light to the extent of holding them up for extended periods of time and crashing and such. if you don’t believe me, try doing scarecrows. not fun. mine weigh about 5 pounds each, but when you’re holding hi-hats for snares, it’s 10 pounds on one hand. do this while marching in time, backwards in parades. some cymbals weigh more, too, and they make them look so light. 

look at their toned arms, and the insane visuals they do. 

going along with “anyone can play the cymbals, its just like banging pots and pans together” but not. it isn’t. we tried teaching multiple people who were like “cymbals are so easy” the cadence with visuals and they couldn’t after a minute. 

ok but everyone in cymbal line has huge bruises on their arm and on their stomachs because they accidentally pinch themselves crashing, doing hi-hat snaps, and sliding. i have some near my underarm area from choking crashes too.

cymbals are amazing instruments. they are just as important as any other instrument in pit, drum line, and the band.

The amount of friends I had in high school who dropped orchestra or band because they couldn’t afford to rent their instruments anymore? Gross!

The amount of kids who give up on music because their cheap ass instruments sound like shit and they think it’s a lack of talent? Gross!

I’m privileged enough to have people in my life with money who have given me accordions and cellos and keytars to dick around on, but like.

You can pry my ukuleles and melodicas and stylophones and venovas and shitty, ancient, duct-taped-together Casios from my cold, dead hands. “Oh, they’re quirky funnyman instruments.” Fuck you. They’re cheap, fun, and easy to learn.

A kid learning “All Star” on a fuckin’ thumb piano or whatever is still a kid getting into music. If that teenage girl wants to pluck out Twenty-One Pilot’s entire discography on her First Act ukulele from Walmart, that’s wonderful. I can play the Tetris theme on this $40 children’s accordion, and I fully intend to make that everyone else’s problem.