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Noise pollution
A new study indicates that French horn players are in danger of developing noise-induced hearing loss. This risk for horn players is reported as the highest among professional orchestral musicians.
Where are those ear plugs I bought a few years ago?
Cornerstones of creativity
While this study dates from 1968, there are some contemporary lessons to be gleaned. The basic idea to this reader is that creativity is something that we are all born with, and if we are not careful, it can be lost.
Practice make perfect?
In a related study, the term perfectionist is taken to task.
Many famous artists have run into this problem and have been so bothered with it, that they decided to take their own lives. While playing the horn and aiming for perfect results may not drive you to do the same, there is something to take to heart when reading this article.
There is perhaps a difference between playing something perfectly and aiming for excellence and high standards.
Everyone is a critic
Taking this train-of-thought further, when studying music and preparing for a career in music, a student may experience a lot of criticism. In some cases harsh criticism can be motivating, but in other cases it can deliver injury if given in extreme or if taken too personally.
Speaking for myself, I once had a well-known teacher tell me to give up on music and to do something else. At the time, this news was harsh and heartbreaking. I stopped studying with that teacher and moved on to another teacher who was more supportive and positive. Fast forward to today and here I am, with a day-job outside of music.
What are your thoughts on mean teachers? Should you do yourself a favor and take it in stride, or should you move on (or even fight back)?
(While you are at it, take a look a some of the articles here at Horn Matters on the topic of narcissism.)
[Extracted from a “Random Monday” post, 2021, JE]
