Raise your hand if you’re completely enamored with the Summer Olympics.
Yep, us too!
Whether it’s cheering on your favorite swimmer or suddenly becoming an expert in volleyball, (it’s a lot more exciting than the version we played in gym class, we promise) there's something about the combination of camaraderie and individual hard work that we find super inspiring.
And even though learning an instrument might seem completely different than mastering an athletic event, there’s actually a lot musicians can learn from Olympic athletes. Here’s what we’ve noticed while being unable to stop watching every event possible:
Olympians work together as individuals and as a team. Even if they are competing in a solo sport, Olympic athletes always support their teammates. And watching them cheer on their friends is almost as fun as watching the event itself!
(Seriously, watch the sidelines next time you watch a gymnastics event. There’s some serious enthusiastic support happening.)
We can do the same thing for our fellow musicians by attending their performances and cheering for them at our recital events. There’s nothing like feeling like part of a team to help ease performance anxiety and make an event fun.
Olympians make goals and work towards excellence. Just like no one is born a great musician, no one becomes an Olympic athlete without years of practice and training. While they may make their sport seem effortless on the day of competition, it’s actually a culmination of hard work, dedication, and even some mistakes and setbacks.
Yep, Olympians experience failures and bad performances too! They just decided to try again instead of giving up—what a perfect way to think about learning an instrument!
It’s okay to make mistakes, forget a note, or need extra time to master a skill on your journey to being a great musician.
In honor of the Summer Olympics, we’re excited to present our own Piano Place Summer Olympics. From July 12th to August 8th, all Piano Place students will have the opportunity to earn medals in the following events: Practice, Memorize, and Perform.
We will provide students with a tracker to mark their progress, and during the week of August 9th-15th, students can turn in their completed page in exchange for a fun prize!
Remember, summer is the perfect time to practice, memorize, and showcase your skills, just like this year’s Olympic athletes. Have fun, cheer on your team, and keep working towards excellence!
