Too Hard Music

“The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice.”

—Unknown

Music Theory

I am teaching myself music theory, and it is the most confusing exercise ever.

For example, scale degrees are referenced using numbers (0-9) in private lessons, roman numerals (both upper and lower case) in analysis, in terms like Tonic, Submediant, Dominant, etc. when you get to theory class, and something called “Solfege” (Do-Re-Mi) in ear training classes.

The crazy thing is all these systems refer to the same basic thing, scale degrees.

Why not pick one system and everyone follow it?

For many, they look at all the black and white keys on the keyboard, the difficulty of arranging fingers on a fretboard, the different notes with vertical lines and horizontal bars, and all they see is how hard it is.  Then add in sharps and flats, tempo, and words to sing, and it is impossible to imagine ever learning how to put it all together.

The conclusion for many is music is too hard to play, period.

The Hardest Part about Learning Hard Things

I admit it, learning is frustrating, and many (too many) people take the easy way out and accept to live life as it’s presented.  They take shortcuts in life, and often they end up living a less than fulfilling life.

A new idea – probably the best idea – is to do the hard things in life instead.  

This means making decisions to do the things that other people aren’t willing to do or the things that you’ve always avoided doing.  Here are several reasons why doing the hard stuff is the best way to live your life

1. You Will Grow as A Person – Expanding your knowledge of your community, yourself, the people around you, and the world are ways to grow.
2. You Will Become a Better Person – Taking the easy way out allows you to flow through life unnoticed and unfulfilled. Extending a helping hand to those who have hurt you is doing the hard thing, but you will feel better about it, and you are definitely the better person for doing so.
3. You Will Stand Out – Choosing to be the one who takes on the project, or does the task, will help you stand out.
4. You Will Become Smarter – Taking the time to solve a problem, or plan an event, puts your mind into overdrive. You’ll learn to come up with great ideas for doing new tasks and open your mind to new concepts you would never have come across by taking the easy way out.
5. You Will Be Happier – You will feel as though you’ve accomplished something, tried your hardest, put in the effort needed, and have made a difference in society. It will also build your self-confidence in knowing that when the going gets rough, you’ll be equipped to handle whatever comes your way.

The Bible

Proverbs 18:15 says,

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”

Some people have both a heart and an ear for knowledge.  They are constantly learning hard things and have become wise and discerning.  But they are very rare.

Most have neither a heart nor ear for knowledge.  They have no craving for it, and they do not like acquiring it.  The Bible says they are fools, and they are easily identified by their disregard for instruction and learning.

Solomon warned about these fools.

“It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.” (Proverbs 17:16).

Successful business people and entrepreneurs all desire to learn and do the hard part of learning. 

It’s time to take on that dream you have been putting off because you think it is too hard.