Posted by Amasha on May 10, 1999 at 10:22:44:
In Reply to: Let's help Theo posted by DS on May 09, 1999 at 02:15:15:
My experience with happiness and satisfaction with my instrument, skill, progress, etc., has been that it really does go in phases, which can be any amount of time. Whe I first started, I had no private teacher, practiced 15 -- 20 minutes 5 days a week, (if I was being ultra-disciplined!), and absolutely LOVED it! I was really awful, but I was excited and happy just because I was playing an instrument, and it was my special hobby. Then for a while I had a very unchallenging but very loving teacher, and I enjoyed cello, and learned quite a bit, but it was in small peices, like one week we would work on my posture, the next my bowing, and so on. During that time, I liked the cello, but I wasn't very exited about it. Now I have a very tough teacher who reminds me about my left elbow, my left hand pressure, my bow direction, intonation, and every facet of the musicality within 10 minutes. I am practicing a lot, plus I'm in a symphony, and I truly love the cello. When I am asked what I like to do I say I play the cello. I think the phases are partly due to the students skill and happiness progressing at different speeds and levels. You are always improving, but your happiness and noticable progress are not always giong along at the same speed, if that makes sense. Just wait it out, Theo, and things should get better soon.
Amasha