Kabin Thomas
 
 

Great Expectations For Me, My Students, and for Life.

  1. I expect consistent focus on all matters concerning music.
    (I will be focused, relaxed and will master the art of attention to detail. I will learn to not sweat the small stuff.)
  2. I accept full responsibility for my own:
    laziness, improvements, practice plan, development, short and long term goals.
  3. I will be honest and objective with myself.
  4. I will make each (life) lesson a comfortable and productive experience by:
    • Being properly warmed up.
      (Spiritually, Gratefully, Attitudinally.)
      Not being properly warmed up results in forfeiture of lesson. (LIFE!)
    • Being prepared to demonstrate my ability fully.
      (With a lust for life and a zest for life and a joyous rapture even when cleaning the toilet.)
    • Understanding the composer and all markings on the page.
      (Getting to know myself and those I love and HATE!)
    • Asking questions if I don't understand something.
      (No matter how stupid you or others 'think' it is.)
  5. I will observe other teachers giving lessons and gain new perspectives on learning about music (life) and the lesson process in general.
    (I will observe others interacting and keep my MOUTH SHUT! I will gain more from that experience than just about anything else.)
  6. Get yourself a GREAT therapist!
    Mine is Margaret Rutherford. 479.443.3413

Expectations when practicing... (When living...)
  1. I will keep a practice journal to help me stay honest with myself.
    (I will keep a GRATEFUL/ANGER JOURNAL to help me be honest with how good or bad I feel God/Budda/Life/Muhammed has been to me.)
  2. I will always use a metronome and a tuner and I'll try to tape myself when playing.
    (I will listen to my words for I know that my thoughts are my destiny.
    My thoughts become my prayers, my prayers become my intentions, my intentions become my actions, my actions become my deeds and my deeds become my destiny.)
  3. I will practice these principles everyday.
    • 15 minutes as a warm-up.
      (Meditation and praise and thanks)
    • Practice scales, with the goal being able to play all majors and all forms of minor within the year.
      (Know thyself. Know your grace and your shadows. Reflect on how you can become a complete person.)
    • Sight read 1 piece per day.
      (Do one good thing for someone you do not know daily.)
    • Prepare 2 contrasting etudes per week.
      (Volunteer and help others twice a week.)
    • One concerto per semester.
      (Take on something that will take you out of your comfort zone.)
    • One major sonata per semester.
      (Enjoy those things you love with a passion. Make sure you dance at the moon and cut yourself and others major slack.)
    • One personal composition per semester, created by improvising daily on tunes in your head.
      (Make it up as you go along! Enjoy the journey!)
  4. Listen to major performing artists, specific instrument unimportant.
    (Listen to major performing artists, specific instrument unimportant. Classical music kicks butt!)
  5. Make a commitment, right now, to get your children involved in classical music.
    (If you don't you are a horrible person. PLAIN AND SIMPLE!)
  6. I plan to enjoy.
    (I will be as great a performer/researcher/listener/teacher/lover/communicator/person as I can possibly be. I will enjoy the journey.)
*This expectations list has been adapted from a lecture given by French Horn Professor Doug Hill from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He talked about music. I adapted it for life!

Whaddya think? Agree? Disagree? I'd like to know what you believe in.

E-Mail: kabint@kabinthomas.com
Webmaster: Jay M. Keith