Owning It

Earlier this week I had a conversation with one of my middle school students.  I’ve got to tell you, one of my greatest delights as a teacher is the privilege of coaching/nurturing/supporting students- especially ones whom I have journeyed with through most of their lives.   So, this recent conversation confirmed a passage of time and my student’s new opportunity for growth. 

Like most middle school students he is wrestling with the challenge of owning self-discipline.  It’s so tempting to avoid those tough sections of music and use the allotted practice time to play what is already learned.  

We talked through strategies, and I trust he left with a sense of empowerment and determination to make good use of his time and focus on progressing in those difficult places.

Owning self-discipline is a practice that can be encouraged at any time.  Helping your child recognize those opportunities is a really good thing – one of the many ways we as parents are able to come along side our children.

Carolyn Biggs 

Steps and Skips

Tips for the Developing Student

Character and Talent

Possessing natural ability is important.  It can jump-start a career, a professional bent or a sports icon.  However, without character, that talent soon fades. 

John Wooden, legendary coach of the UCLA basketball program and the only coach in history able to boast of 88 consecutive wins knows a bit about character and talent. 

How did John Wooden become John Wooden?  He had a profound sense of integrity – or character, as is our focus today.

“I believe ability can get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.  It is easy to begin thinking you can just turn it on automatically, without proper preparation.  It takes real character to keep working as hard or even harder once you’re there.  When you read about an athlete or team that wins over and over, remember - More than ability, they have character.”

~John Wooden

Character gets a person out of bed and into the practice room.

Character helps one focus on the immediate job at hand – a difficult passage, a messy measure.

Character drives one to perfect practice principles. 

And that, parents of the people I have grown to love, is one more reason to guide your child into habits and skill-set development that will launch their ability to realize dreams and goals regardless of the path they pursue.

Carolyn Biggs

Steps and Skips

Tips for the Developing Student