How to stick with things that are HARD!

Do you know what drives me crazy? 🙄

The ads on Instagram that claim they can teach you to play the piano in 7 days or transform your voice within minutes.

Sure, you can learn a few new skills and peak your interest perhaps, but in 7 days you are not going to develop a skill set that will bring you artistic enjoyment and fulfilment for a lifetime.

It’s just not possible in 7 days. Period. 🤦

We live in an instant gratification culture. If something gets hard, the majority of people bow out.

We live in a world that is transactional.

If I’m not seeing the results I want fast enough, if it doesn’t come easily – I’m out. It’s not worth it.

This attitude and cultural shift is extremely concerning.

Where is the resilience, the grit, the delight in effort and hard work, the understanding of process?

Here’s what we know…

➡️Anything worth having takes time.

➡️The “get rich quick” scheme doesn’t exist. Did you know that 70% of lottery winners return to their original economic status within 2 years of winning? That’s because they haven’t developed the skills or maintained a process that can sustain them for years to come.

➡️Valuable or worthwhile things in life require patience, effort, and perseverance.

➡️The true path to success is finding abundance and gratitude in the process.

Music Lessons

Research shows that 9 out of 10 children quit piano lessons within the FIRST YEAR of study. This statistic is incredibly sad. 💔

There are many reasons why children drop out of music lessons: not feeling inspired, not feeling challenged, wrong teacher-student-parent fit, feels too difficult, not feeling motivated, frustration with progress, overwhelm, logistics, etc.

What helps students STICK with music lessons (even when it gets challenging)?

A POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING environment.
SEEING what’s possible.
Age and level-appropriate SUPPORT and RESOURCES.
AGENCY and CHOICE in the process.
Clear and attainable GOALS.
A CONSISTENT artistic practice.
A COMMUNITY of artists.

Future Life Skills

There is great concern in the academic and business communities surrounding key life skills our children will need in the future, and whether or not our schools provide adequate education in these areas.

With our constantly changing world, here are the 8 Key Life Skills that have been identified by experts that will be required for the future generation:

Critical/Independent Thinking Skills
Emotional Intelligence & Empathy
Collaboration & Interpersonal Relationship Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Creative & Innovative Thinking Skills
Strong Communication Skills
Flexibility & Adaptability
Cultural Understanding

Guess what? THE ARTS teach ALL of these skills! 🙌

➡️So, we NEED our kids and youth (and adults too) to LOVE their music lessons and not give up. The benefits are life-changing.

I’m on a mission to create an inspiring music community that is TRANSFORMATIVE for our students. Providing you with POWERFUL RESOURCES that will help you and your child create an Artistic Practice that is focused, intentional, and meaningful is my #1 goal.

Artistic Intentions & Goal Setting

The truth is, learning to sing, play an instrument, or paint can be difficult at times.

There will be moments of challenge as you progress in your artistry.

This is an AMAZING thing. If you are learning more difficult techniques, it means your teacher believes in you, and you are ready for a bigger challenge! This is cause for celebration. Progress is the hope:) 🎉

But, it can be frustrating sometimes.

So…what do you do when things get tough or challenging?

You rely on your GOALS and INTENTIONS and your ARTISTIC PRACTICE to keep you moving forward. To keep you focused, motivated, and inspired. Even our youngest artists can learn to rely on these things, truly. 💪

When we thoughtfully and intentionally set GOALS we signal our brain to pay attention!

1️⃣Using the attached “My Artistic Goals & Intentions for 2024”, spend some time creating simple, clear, measurable, and attainable goals for yourself. Be honest. What do you truly want to achieve in and through your artistry? Clear goals will help you stick to your daily practice plan with COMMITMENT and CONSISTENCY. Goals keep you moving forward with focus and momentum (even when you bump up against a challenge or frustration).

2️⃣Share these goals with your teacher. You need a community to support and encourage you!

3️⃣Print out these goals and place them in your practice space as a visual reminder.

Research shows that thoughtfully writing out goals and intentions is fundamental in REALIZING them.

Donais Studios BINGOALS for Young Artists

For our young artists, goals are a strange concept.

Often our young artists know WHAT to practise, but not necessarily HOW to practise.

We’ve created a BINGOALS card to help our young students discover new and creative ways to think about “practising”. The bingo card has 25 activities that will challenge our young artists to engage with their artistic practice in new ways.

This fun challenge will inspire our young artists to TAKE ACTION in their artistic learning.

Within the studio there will be prizes for completing a bingo as well as for completing the entire card. The goal is to complete the entire card by the end of April!

Let’s go, friends!

Personal growth and expansion comes from doing the work. Thoughtfully setting goals and intentions will inspire you to keep moving forward.

You can do hard things!

Don’t wish for things to get easier, let’s reframe how we see, feel about, and respond to “hard or difficult” moments. These moments are transformative. Don’t give up – keep going. You’ll be glad you did. ♥️

Decide to COMMIT and INVEST in yourself. Then get clear about what you REALLY want from your artistry and your artistic experiences. Fall in love with the Artist Within by creating a daily artistic practice that is focused, intentional, and meaningful.

Confidence, self-trust, skill, fulfilment, challenge, and enjoyment are just a few of the benefits waiting for you.

Let’s set some intentions and goals! You are worth it. Your children are worth it.

~Happy Practising! 🤍

Keep singing,

~Andrea “goals are my guide” Donais