I think about this quote a lot and about the phrase "Follow Through."
Life presents many opportunities and people usually imagine all of the boundless possibilities in such opportunities and situations. But there is something missing between the idea itself and the realization of the idea.
Follow Through.
This applies to everything. Finishing what you start.
Let's apply it to music.
All of us know that there is a very cut and dry side of music that we have to learn if we expect to be able to comprehend the totality of music: harmony, melody, rhythm and form. We know what we have to do, our teachers lay it out for us. For drummers it goes something like:
The snare drum and the rudiments. The kit and coordination. Feel. Timekeeping. Playing with people. Learning songs, styles, idioms. Professionalism. Study. Vision. Purpose.
Along the way, we hit walls that challenge our discipline. The best musicians scale these walls with thorough study, consistency, determination. Clarity of vision. And Follow Through.
The best musicians go past where most are unwilling to go. They have the discipline. But, most will stop at the edge of their discipline, gaze out at the vista of discovery, and decide that it's too much work. There are other, easier things to do. And so they settle, they remain where they are at. They make excuses and avoid the discipline it takes to move past what it is that is challenging them.
It is common for less talented students of music move past those with more talent and opportunity with sheer follow through. I have seen some with supreme talent, with their road seemingly set to greatness, fold like a cardboard house at the slightest challenging winds.
Speaking for myself, I have experienced both sides of the fence. In my early life, I lacked the discipline to really follow through. I glossed over things and let my talent cover it. Later, my talent was no longer enough. So, I started learning discipline through hours in the practice room. I willed myself past my idea of what discipline was and forged a new idea, a new standard of discipline.
I couldn't always hold it. At times, I made excuses. At times, I folded. But as I got older, I found discipline to be the prime source of fulfillment in my life. I thrive on it now. A day lived with discipline is a day living in forward motion. A day without discipline is a step backward and likely a wasted opportunity.
I have learned a lot about Follow Through by observing myself, but also my students. I have seen students come in methodically, always prepared, and they improve steadily with quality and thoughtfulness. I have seen them come in and totally wing it, thinking that their talent would get them over, or that they could blow off the work they were supposed to do, probably thinking.. "Ah, I do it someday."
Follow Through in your stroke.
Follow Through in what you're doing.
Follow Through in your communications with people.
Follow Through with your intentions.
Follow Through completes a thought. It completes, makes whole, ties up the loose ends.
Follow Through continues something: a promise, a relationship, an idea.
Follow through with your undertakings. Finish them.
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Have a great day.
Fin.
