Musical Gratitude
What I'm grateful for this year
(from Angela)
Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, this is an excellent time of year to reflect on what you are grateful for.
I have much to be grateful for in my musical life, especially this past year. What was so special about this year?
Rewind back to 2020. I had given up on my lifelong dream of learning to play piano without sheet music and started taking guitar lessons instead. But then I stumbled onto an interview with Tony. When I heard Tony discuss his teaching philosophy, I knew immediately that his approach would be transformative for me.
After scouring his YouTube channel and making extensive notes, I scheduled a private lesson with him. I loved popMATICS and Tony's approach, but private lessons with such an experienced teacher were expensive, and my progress was slow.
Fast forward to today, after being in our membership program for over a year. With increased access to popMATICS concepts and examples, my progress took off. When I got stuck, I had frequent access to new ideas and quick answers. For me, this made a drastic difference.
Today, I can figure out most songs by ear, create arrangements, and easily improvise. I write and record songs and play keyboards in multiple bands. I can play fluently in all 12 keys and easily transpose songs to match my vocal range.
I don't mean to imply that my journey is over. On the contrary, it's just beginning. From here, I have the rest of my life to see how far I can go. What matters to me is that I'm on the path, and enjoying the ride.
And so, to return to the theme of gratitude . . . after spending most of my life feeling that true musical freedom was out of reach, I am grateful that I never gave up.
I am grateful that I stumbled on Tony's podcast. I am grateful I learned how to PLAY music instead of always just PRACTICING music. I am grateful for support from family & friends for all of my musical projects and aspirations.
I am grateful for the incredible students in our community who inspire me daily. I am grateful for Tony's patience, humility, and creativity.
And last but not least, I am grateful for popMATICS.
What are you grateful for today, and where do you hope to be a year from now?
If you have a goal of musical freedom and think we can help you get there, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know how we can help.
We are honored to be part of your musical journey.
🦃 🥧 Happy Thanksgiving 💫
—Tony & Angela