Sisyphus and Musicianship

In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is a king who deceives and tricks Zeus, therefore being punished to push a rock forever up a steep hill in the underworld. Zeus enchanted the rock to that it would always fall back down the hill. Many people use this story to relate to everyday life, and the "pointless" tasks we endure everyday.

I feel it is useful to think about this story in terms of musicianship. Each day, labor in practice rooms, refining our craft. It feels treacherous at times, and the focus is often getting things right, and being able to push passages to be faster, and play higher every day. Instead of focusing on getting the rock to the top, we have to learn to appreciate pushing the rock. We have to learn to recognize the importance in consistent and sustained efforts for improvement, and properly cope when the rock slips down the hill.

To incorporate this mentality, I write in my planner everyday one thing I was proud of during my practice, and one thing I could have done better, and will push myself on the following day. Self-reflection is difficult, but it is a necessary action to take if musicianship is to be improved!

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