Ability versus Motivation

I have to analyze things sometimes. I asked the older kids today what we lacked...ability or motivation. Most of them said motivation. I disagree. We seem to be fairly motivated in that the students seem to want to do well. What we lack is ability. Motivation is actually an easier problem to remedy especially in my bands. Now lack of ability, that is an entire different story. I notice many people can point out mistakes and can point out people that are having problems. Yesterday I heard "We should make all the new people play their music in front of everybody else so we can see who can play it or not!" This is interesting and maybe a bit entertaining and we might even be surprised at how good some of them are but is it going to make anybody better? Sadly no. It may embarrass some. It may show off some, but it most certainly won't make anybody play or march better. Would taking a younger student aside and helping them individually do any good? Yet bet! It is best to remember it is music education not music elimination. We may have a few students that have some problems and all of us do from time to time but I just can't imagine that 120 people can't help each other to achieve a goal. There is not much that many people working together can't accomplish.

“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz