Commitment

Autumn, one of Jerry's students from California paid us a visit last week. During her visit we were invited to a spend one day up in Big Cottonwood Canyon with the family of a current student, Thomas. Autumn started guitar lessons March 1, 2005. She could not really play and now two years later she is an accomplished guitarist. Her knowledge of the instrument is deep and she is able to speak the language, so to speak. Here Thomas, Autumn, and Jerry sing together. Thomas and Autumn have one thing in common, they are both committed. So few students show up every week without fail and show up prepared. Autumn and Thomas show a level of dedication that is rare.

If you want your kids to be great musicians there are two keys. 1. Get them to their lessons 50 weeks of the year, no matter what. 2. Make them practice. Thomas' mom gives him a minute of gameboy time for every minute spent practicing guitar, she does not have to nag him at all. No guitar, no gameboy. Thomas proudly proclaims that he practices at least an hour a day.

Someone asked why we had this particular student visiting and I said, "She was the most dedicated student Jerry ever had." This person said, "Oh, she is committed. She is not going to have much trouble in life." I thought it was an interesting statement. When you know where you are going and you have made an investment in yourself it is difficult to be pulled off course.