The first notes made by any new music student are terrible. Some students make noises that are not too far off what the instrument was intended to sound like; while others create bone-chilling reverberations from Hell. That’s where I’m at now; the beginning. I know that, more than likely, my first few words (that will almost never be read) will be terrible. However, I also know that if I never start I’ll never know where those words will take me.
When I was a band director, my favorite thing about the job was to see those students that took the courage to begin, to start something new, turn their terrible sounds into art by the end of the year. For some, it was a struggle just to learn five notes that whole year. While others would get bored with their beginner books after the first few weeks. I commended them all for their efforts, because I knew there were those that will never get to experience music they way they did simply because they were too afraid to start.
When it comes to starting something new, reality has no equal to the demons of our imagination. I still struggle with this today as an instructor pilot in the United States Air Force. That’s why I’m starting now. I don’t know how much good I can do or value I can pass onto this world before I die, but I do know it will be far less then if I don’t get started trying new things. The only thing worse than the fear of starting, is never overcoming that fear and actually starting. Thank you to all my students past, present, and future that inspire me with your courage to start.
Elias Barry 