Rules Aren't Meant To Be Broken

If you're like me, you're a natural rule follower. The one kid who likes to have rules and structure to follow. Unless, that, is, you're ticked off. I have only once been ticked off by music when it was my fault. The trumpet section however... that's a completely different story.

Even though it's not so recent, I have discovered Wynton Marsalis's 12 Rules of Practicing. Wynton Marsalis comes from a family of musicians, including Ellis, Branford, Jason, and Delfeayo Marsalis. Wynton was born in New Orleans. When he was just fourteen, he performed with the New Orleans Philharmonic. He is the youngest person to be admitted to Tanglewood's Berkshire Music Center, and also won the Harvey Shapiro Award for being an outstanding brass student. He then moved and attended Juilliard, cause, you know, when you're that good, why not.

 Wynton doing his thing

Image courtesy of Juilliard

Wynton Marsalis' Twelve Rules of Practice

1. Seek out the best private instruction you can afford.

2. Write/work out a regular practice schedule.

3. Set realistic goals.

4. Concentrate when practicing

5. Relax and practice slowly

6. Practice what you can’t play. – (The hard parts.)

7. Always play with maximum expression.

8. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

9. Don’t show off.

10. Think for yourself. – (Don’t rely on methods.)

11. Be optimistic. – “Music washes away the dust of everyday life.”

12. Look for connections between your music and other things.

No matter what you think, no, I totally did not tape that to my music stand at all.

Sarcasm.

Way back in the day of 1995, PBS premiered a show called Marsalis On Music. Marsalis On Music is an educational jazz television series, of which the Twelve Rules of Practice came from. I don't know about you, but I find those rules extremely useful when I practice. When I get ticked or upset, I look at number eleven. It really helps to know that music does bring me joy and happiness, and I should feel bubbly and excited when I play rather than angry and frustrated.

Image courtesy of Movie Insider

Another great thing I discovered is a movie called Keep On Keepin' On. The movie is about a blind pianist Justin Kauflin, and a famous jazz trumpeter Clark Terry. Over the course of the movie, Clark helps Justin prepare for a big international jazz competition, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. It's kind of a big deal, by the way.

The competition isn't as important as the friendship that is developed. Justin was 23 when the movie was filmed, and Clark was 86. They were from two completely different generations, and yet they were inseparable. Why? Oh, because you know, music.  I don't remember how they met, but that doesn't matter. They are just two best friends bonding over music. Justin has learned so much from Clark, and they both learn from each others' personality. Isn't that cool?

Image courtesy of Miaje

While we're on the subject of cool jazz movies, another one is Chops. Chops is a movie that follows the earlier years of a few boys before they were picked to go to the Essentially Ellington competition. Wynton Marsalis spoke some in the movie, and had a lot of great quotes. One of the boys caught my attention. I don't remember his name, but he played trombone. There was a scene where his father was talking about how his son would stay up practicing until midnight. I think that is probably some of the best dedication there is in young students. To be able to focus that long on a tiny detail, whether it be a lick or a note, means some serious dedication to what he is doing. I'm quite jealous of that trombone player.

Like I said before, I loved what Wynton Marsalis said in the movie. I looked up some quotes and found possibly some of the best things ever said about music.

"Sustained intensity equals ecstasy."

Now that is one of the truest of true quotes I have ever heard. Have you ever been so focused on something that it makes you absolutely happy?

"The bandstand is a sacred place."

True that. If you don't worship music and respect it enough to play it, don't get on the stand.

Lastly, just to bring back the trumpet jokes, my favorite:

"Trumpet players are just belligerant, and cocky, and you know, just hard-headed."