The Music Box - Lessons by Danny

Sunday, December 8, 2024 by Danny Ellison | Weekly Newsletter

Dear students,

This week marks the beginning of many things. The Christmas season, the beginning of the end of the year 2024, and for you, the beginning of a new chapter of your journey as a musician. With many of you having started already this week, and others of you beginning next week, I’d like to encourage you to consider an idea with me. 

Keep music 4th!

Why 4th, you say? Well, I’m glad you asked!

As people navigating the modern world, we are compelled by extrinsic influences to believe that EVERYTHING belongs in that #1 spot in our lives. We are marketed to constantly with such precision that we are led to feel a sense of loss over the things we never knew we “needed.” It takes true determination to establish the boundaries necessary to live a healthy, satisfied lifestyle when surrounded by the pull of such gravity. 

We resist. 

We give in. 

It is a constant battle to choose to be okay with what we don’t have.

If music is 4th, then what falls ahead of it? What is in 1st place? 2nd place? 3rd place? What do we prioritize over music?

Well, this is the easy part for me in terms of wrapping up this letter to you, although it is the challenging part for me in terms of my own life. You see, I can’t tell you what places 1, 2, and 3 should be in your life. I can tell you my 1, 2 and 3, but I don’t necessarily want to influence you in any way on those priorities. What I do want to do is this; I want you to feel permission from me to put music in that 4th spot, behind some priorities, yet ahead of others. 

For the sake of guidance, you should evaluate how important it is for you to progress as a musician. Compare that level of importance to, say, how important it is to you to earn money, or take care of your physical health, or spend time with your families. Many people consider learning to be a part of the maintenance of their own mental health. Others see it as a recreational activity. Still, others see music as they see air, food, and water. Music is important, and, good news, you get to choose how important it is to you!

Keep music 4th! Have proper expectations of yourself. And finally, commit to developing a pattern of behavior that allows for time, energy, and discipline to be dedicated to progressing as a musician, in a similar way that you would dedicate the same to other goals in your life.

I consider myself blessed to know that you have chosen to partner with me as your teacher. I do not take that lightly, and I will do my very best to help you along at your own pace and toward your own unique musical interests. 

See you soon!

-Danny