Experiencing greatness makes the self feel weak
Forgoing such unimportant social events such as the Sadie Hawkins Dance this weekend, I went and saw the Brass Band of Battle Creek. After a wonderful dinner with the family at Scheuler's (spelling?) restaurant in Marshall, I proceeded to see the most amazing display of mass brass playing I have ever seen. Cornets playing higher and faster than I could ever dream of playing myself. In addition, they had a certain element of performance joy that many stiffer groups (such as symphony orchestras) lack. They were willing to acknowledge that musicians are strange people and did not attempt to hide it, inserting many jokes both between and within pieces.
However, this has made me realize something. In my own playing, I've been banging my head against a wall, making no progress for something like a year or more. My tone is still forced, I have no endurance beyond 30 minutes, and several other problems which I won't bore you disinterested readers with. It's really bugging me, because I think music may be what I want to do with my life, yet I am uncapable of making any progress with regards to getting better at it. I'm trying a new method next week after Solo and Ensemble and my dreaded Civic Audition, but my bet is that it, as with all the others I've tried, will, sadly, fail.