An encouragement for all sec1s and sec2s who are struggling on hanging on to your instrument.

"Although learning to play a musical instrument can be one of the most difficult undertakings you have ever attempted, it can also be one of the most rewarding. If you are a lover of music, and have the sincere desire to learn, you will get a great boost of self confidence and a feeling of accomplishment by learning how to play an instrument.

If you have never tried to learn to play before, you may wonder what the whole point is about learning to play a musical instrument in the first place. If you aren't totally committed you may even think it isn't really a big deal to you. The truth of the matter is that by learning to play music you are also learning a universal form of communication that all people enjoy and understand.

If you are suffering from a lack of self esteem or need a confidence boost, learning a musical instrument can provide those things for you. It is the satisfaction in doing something well that makes us feel better about ourselves. It is one of the greatest forms of therapy.

It is important that you identify the reasons that you are learning to play music in the first place. Even though playing an instrument well allows you to express yourself through music and be heard it is important to realize that not everyone may appreciate the style of music you play or how you play it. This is why I feel it is important that you learn to play music for yourself first, if others like and appreciate it then great.

You may also be one of those who have decided to learn to play music for a living. There is good money in the music business for those who learn to play well and if you have the discipline and resolve you may be able to be a professional musician putting on your own concerts and maybe even recording your own music CD.

Even if it is on your mind to earn money from your music you will still be more successful if you truly love music and would play for free than if money is your number one goal. I think this is true for any vocation and it is obvious to all when someone really loves what they do.

Regardless of whether your ambition is to become a professional musician or just to learn to play for the pure enjoyment and self satisfaction, you will feel very good about yourself for taking the time to learn to play. "

Never give up halfway when learning an instrument (: