Inspirational? Inspired? Inspiring?

Inspirational? So, what does that mean to you as a music educator?

Inspiration  n 1 stimulation of the mind or feelings to activity or creativity  2 a person or thing that causes this state  3 an inspired idea or action

 

Well, for a start, you’ve chosen to delve into this little blog – you’re curious - you’re someone choosing to try to make a difference with what you’re choosing to do every day. Let me guess…it’s not just a job? You live it – it’s part of you – it’s what makes you tick – it’s what you love and what drives you mad and what keeps you wanting to try… It’s hard work, frustrating…but there’s always something to let you know that it works. You and your music are amazing. 

I recently won the Musician's Union Inspiration Award in the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence 2015 (at a grand ceremony in London sponsored by Classic FM and Yamaha with all the leading lights in music education....), which is quite a remarkable thing and not at all expected…. so, my reaction to this...

“Little old me – fancy that…!” – Wow – followed by absolute terror, embarrassment and “surely I don’t deserve such an accolade”…. And all manner of other emotions that ensued and sent me down a few dark wormholes of self-doubt. (Typical of a musician to be hard on oneself). 

I have experienced what many of my participants experience when they are praised / recognized / awarded things and placed on a pedestal. It’s not the most comfortable place to be for a lot of people, myself included. Despite being a musician, in front of groups of people all week and in many senses, ‘performing’ a lot, I am still intrinsically shy and don’t take positive praise very easily. I’ve always been the same way.

Many people, both younger and older, that I work with, are very similar to me in that sense. A big learn all round – delivering positive praise with integrity at just the right time…Receiving praise and really listening to what that means to help you grow… Easier said than done! However, that one piece of good advice, praise or an encouraging look can stay with someone for the rest of their life.  

It’s made me reflect on what the word ‘inspiring / inspirational / to be inspired’ really means to me. It’s made me think about how to help myself listen to, and accept praise at the right time, in order to work to the best of my ability. It’s made me question ‘how is it that I can inspire others and remain inspired to do so?’. What it comes down to is offering a sense of hope to others and perhaps some of the tools to begin to take forward that journey on their own. For many of the musicians I work with, it’s as simple as truly listening to their own voice or input for the first time. A recognition of cause and effect, rippling out into a wider impact – “I can do that too”, or “I can do that better now” or “I want to do that brilliantly”, then “I did that brilliantly”. 

…That last one is the trickiest! Go on – give yourself a pat on the back. You’re allowed to. (I absolutely do not mean to patronise, but it’s important that you tell yourself sometimes that you have made that difference, however small. That way you can keep re-filling your inspirational fuel tank!). If you’re one of those lucky people who can already do this, then that’s fantastic! (Many facilitators and teachers forget to!) As practitioners we need to make more of a habit of accepting praise, as we will find it hard to help others if we can’t accept or truly listen to others who tell us that we’ve made a difference to them. It’s what keeps us inspired. We also need to keep sharing and inspiring one another – keeping our own interests and achievements going alongside giving to others. 

So, "I did that brilliantly" can then mean "I can do that again"...and so on. 

A lot of the work I do is far from glamorous and can be frustrating and emotionally draining. I constantly question whether I am making any sort of a difference at all and whether music even comes into it. Music is the vehicle that I’m using, but sometimes it’s just the right words or gestures and encouragement at the right time in the right order that's important. When and where is it appropriate to put people onto that pedestal in order for genuine praise to be accepted wholeheartedly? 

The fact is – we all inspire one another. It's what makes us human. It’s about taking the time to recognise all those ‘little’ things that make that difference, whether it be offering small seeds of hope or the possibility of growing giant sunflowers. 

 

My Musician’s Union ‘Inspiration’ award was about a real acknowledgement of all the people working in music education, particularly those working with marginalised and vulnerable people, and what an enormous difference music makes every day within our communities. It was much bigger than ‘little old me’. 

You’re all out there making music in all its different forms. Music in our communities should be supported at all levels. It should be scattered like seeds, nurtured so that it can continue to permeate our communities and families in its uniquely powerful way. Music is far bigger than itself and all its glory and wonder. We all know this. It’s not an add-on. It’s a priority and a necessity. Keep on keeping on!

Thank-you to all the music teachers / composers / performers / educators / colleagues / participants / weird and wonderful instruments and musical inventions that have touched my life so far and inspired me. 

Thanks in particular to Plymouth Music Zone for all the amazing work that you do and for all of my colleagues and participants who inspire me every day to keep creative and support those who need it most. (www.plymouthmusiczone.org.uk). 

Keep being inspirational…. You’re all AMAZING. 

 

The Tiny Seed

Here is the seed Small and round Hidden underneath The ground.

Here is the shoot, Tiny and small, Slowly slowly Growing tall.

Here is the sun. Here is the shower. Here are the petals. Here is the flower.

John Foster