I've taught school for 4 years, and I have learned that if you teach children a little bit - focus on the underlying concept then they can build knowledge for themselves rather than drilling them, fusing at them, and memorizing all the textbook information. It is a concept that Japanese schools have known for years.
I've said all of this to say, that I've experienced this with my music. I began music lessons as a child almost 20 years ago and never could stay with it, but always kept the desire to play. Now I feel as if the Holy Spirit has illuminated my musical understanding and kept alive my desire to play and practice, because I grew more in 2007 musically than I have in these 20 years.
My music teacher has taught me various chords for 3 years and has given me beautiful songs that I have practiced, with wonderful fill-ins, but i wasn't getting anywhere, - I thought - because I couldn't keep a practice schedule, I never seemed to become fluent in the songs, and forget about playing those songs in different keys.
For the last 4 months I've done nothing, but play a simple Glory, Glory, Hallelujah with a few fill-ins everyday in all 12 keys. I wrote it out, studied the pattern, practiced and now I have been able to pick out so many songs, because I understand the pattern in Glory, Glory Hallelujah. I have picked out almost all of our traditional congregational songs, I even recognize a few patterns in songs I hear on the radio, I can find the key of almost any song because I've been practicing in all 12 keys. Then I realized that I can play a few simple songs like, This jOy I have, OH Peter don't be afraid, and a few others with the CD, because they follow simple patterns.
All of this came from FOCUSING ON A LITTLE BIT - the basics, the underylying concepts and now I am building knowledge from what I know. I am nowhere near where I want to be, but so much farther than where I was and I give God the Glory for all of it.
Just thought I would share this, rather than write it in a journal, where no one would benefit.