Excited about 2015!!!

Know thyself, push thyself, love thyself.

Before I tell you about 2015, I would first like to say that 2014 was a good -- yet very difficult -- year for me. While I was very active in playing, teaching, and making more professional connections, it was a very hard year for my family. 

While I generally welcome problem-solving, 2014 had enough problems to make me very tired, very fast. I would like to take the wisdom and strength I gained into 2015, where I feel I have a renewed spirit and generally positive outlook.

I recently set some goals that will not only make me a better horn player & teacher, but a healthier all-around person:

• Be persistent in finding daily inner motivation
• Have determination to practice even when I don't want to (always been a struggle...)
• Re-evaluate actions v. priorities
• Hone in on weaknesses - both on & off of the horn
• Find good things about myself in an effort to create & maintain better self esteem/self belief
• Get stronger
• Increase physical flexibility
• Keep ergonomics in mind
• Quicker reflexes (be able to change physical & mental direction faster)
• Learn more physical & mental control
• Increase musical knowledge
• Obtain better understanding of basic physics/mechanics
• More ear training ("ear meditation"; aural awareness)
• Seek help, collaboration, & opinions from colleagues more often
• Consistency of effort IS A MUST
• Know when to get emotional, when not to, when to change emotional focus, & when to leave the emotional state of myself or my students alone
• Long-term focus v. short-term focus at the forefront more

and my new personal motto...

• Know thyself, push thyself, love thyself.