After 8 years of being in band and chorus at my school, there are some lessons that I've learned that have helped my outside the music room as well as inside. These bits of information have gotten me through many awkward, rough, and joyous years of school, and life in general.
1. Confidence
Even though I still struggle with this at times, playing an instrument and singing for many years has taught me that confidence is key. If your nerves show through a slow saxophone solo and you belt out a squeak, you just have to own it. Accidentally start singing the wrong harmony in an a capella piece? Accept it and move on. Having the confidence to accept your mistakes and try extra hard to make up for them in the next measure is the mark of a developed musician. In life, you have to learn to accept your mistakes
2. Practice, practice, practice.
It might sound super cliche, but it's so true. You will never be able to play a solo well if you only play it through once. It may be annoying to play the same three bars over and over and over again, but it's all about muscle memory and being comfortable with the notes and rhythms that you're playing. This also ties-in to number one. You can boost your confidence if you practice more. Also, if you have particular trouble with certain rhythms or with a certain vocal range, you can strengthen your skills with, you guessed it, practice. This rule applies to literally everything. Bad at multiplication tables? Practice them. Can't quite get the hang of your new job? Practice it.
3. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
This one goes hand-in-hand with the last two. If you don't understand a rhythm or the fingering for a certain accidental, just ask! Ask someone in your section or just ask your director, (if that's the setting that you're playing in). Like my high school music teacher always loves to say, if you're going to make a mistake, make it loud! At least then, it will be noticeable enough to correct. If you're in a class that you don't quite get, don't hesitate to ask. If you aren't sure of someone's name or preferred pronouns, just ask, politely. It would be much better to ask in order to correct a mistake than to go ahead and never learn.
4. Pay attention to detail.
Nothing is more important than not only reading the notes and rhythms, but everything around the staff. Accents, breath marks, and key signatures can make or break a performance. You have to look at every aspect of a piece to play it to it's full potential. Also, not paying attention to detail can bring down the quality of a piece overall if you're playing in an ensemble. One person's accent mistake could ruin a dramatic movement, and God only knows how many good pieces have been ruined by ONE PERSON forgetting an accidental! When you're crafting something that you want to be proud of, you need to make sure that you pay attention to every possible detail so that it can reach it's fullest potential.
5. Love what you do.
The whole point of making music is to make yourself and your listeners feel something. If you play with no emotion, your audience will catch on. It's also important to point out that things aren't worth doing if you're not passionate about them. Never ever play an instrument or sing because someone else wants you to. This goes for EVERYTHING! Never do anything that you don't love; there's no point. Have passion for everything that you do, and those around you will appreciate your hard work.
