Sometimes I long to have a "normal" life. Then I wonder what is "normal" anyway? My life is a practice. One long focused practice session. I wake up to music in my head. Then, I practice whatever upcoming music I have for hours and take a break only to practice yoga or run (which are interchangeable to me). Then-- I practice more.
When beginning a new work the practice takes a lot of patience and concentration to learn correctly. This wears on me when I have so little time to learn so much. As most people, I'd much rather skip ahead and just do the fun part: Perform.
I used to dread this struggle. Now though, things are different. Without the struggle, the performance is meaningless, no? When you perform something you've struggled for and suffered in a way for, it makes it all that sweeter in the end. It's a feeling of accomplishment that some never experience... For these moments, I am grateful. This is my life right now. It has been since I can remember. No time to rest. Full speed ahead. Although time passes in a much different way for me than most (behind a music stand and percussion instruments..), it is more fulfilling than I could ever put into words.
LM
