The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Keil
Date: 2003-03-16 20:46
Theoretically, how many auditions does one have to take before landing a job? but seriously... Can someone please remind me why rejection is not always a bad thing? And is it true that at those moments in your life when you feeling your playing is really sounding awful are the times when you're getting better?
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Author: Jerry
Date: 2003-03-16 21:59
Why rejection is not always a bad thing:
Provides practice for future auditions/interviews; helps us retrospectively identify what the auditioner/interviewer was looking for; helps us to be more discerning in determining whether what we have to offer is what the (future) auditioner/interviewer is looking for; helps us identify what we should be working on more - helps prepare us; builds our courage and confidence in seeking future opportunities. Helps us identify what is realistic and what is not.
And, once you "get it", you will look back and really appreciate what you have because it took so much time and effort and talent of various kinds to achieve it - at least until our human nature again kicks in, creating an inner restlessless that causes us to seek "grander things."
Are we really getting better when we think we're sounding awful?
I hope so. I'd like to hear more on this question from others. Most of us experience the jagged saw-tooth syndrome (two steps forward, one step back, two steps forward, etc.) in our progression (mostly) upward. Sometimes we have long plateaus, sometimes we feel we're regressing. But my experience is that constant striving bears good results. Sometimes we are tempted to use the lack of progress as our que to bail out. But the evidence is strongly in favor of the perseverer to succeed in his goals. "Intelligent" perseverence is the key - not just head-banging "gutting it out" but identifying our weaknesses - our problem areas (with confirmation from others, if possible), consulting others on the best approach to overcome or solve the problem, identifying the best approach to resolve the problem, and doing it. We need to make sure we're not compounding our weaknesses by practicing them blindly over and over.
Jerry
The Villages, FL
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