Drops in the Ocean

I'm sure we all have memories of just one small, throw-away comment from a teacher or mentor in our past, that has stayed with us and shaped our development as people and musicians.

I was recently leading a West African drumming session with a group of NIEETs teenagers in Corby for the Northamptonshire Musical Inclusion Development Programme http://www.nmpat.co.uk.

At the beginning of the session I asked the young people what, if any, musical instruments they already played.  One girl said she loved music and had tried guitar and clarinet and piano, but "wasn't any good at them."  I told her that I had an adult student who had come to me with the same story, saying he hadn't yet found his instrument, and that now he is successfully playing djembe with my own group, The Sileby Slappers, and with other groups in the East Midlands.

At the end of the session we asked the young people for any feedback they would like to give us ... and one comment was "I think I've found my instrument ..."

Never underestimate what difference you are making.  You may feel like a drop in the ocean, but the ripples you make may become gigantic waves ...