The Dominant Five: Music to Shape Character

What we value

“My goal in weaving threads of students’ character through music performance is for students to gain experience with expressing who they are…and ensure opportunities for students to exercise more of the unique individuals they already are.” More than Music Lessons, Merlin B. Thompson.

One of the aspects that separates Classic Blue Music Academy from other music studios is my steadfast belief that the study and performance of music can shape a person’s character. Our primary work is to gain a greater understanding of music literacy and technique, so that my students can express their authentic selves through music. However, music has a way of changing us, and those long hours alone with the music force us to meet ourselves in an intimate manner.

Classic Blue Music Academy is a bright spot of creativity that nurtures resilient and authentic musicians who joyfully embark on their own musical adventures. To that end, these are the Dominant Five Values we uphold in our work.

Musicianship: The ability to execute with technical precision and expressive affect the music on and beneath the printed page. All true music stems from solid technique, careful study of the score, and disciplined practice to perform the music to the best of the student’s ability.

Authenticity: Trusting the truest version of your self, and staying true to the music in front of you. Through continued study of the music, the student will encounter their own strengths, confront their shadow sides, and curate their own musical personality. The authentic musician is one who knows themselves and trusts in their ability to faithfully discern and perform the composers’ intentions.

Joy: Finding wonder and delight in the world around you, even when the world - and the music - becomes difficult. The joyful musician is one who laughs at their own mistakes and graciously receives audience feedback. They never cease to be amazed by a surprising chord progression or a delightful turn of melodic phrase. Joy is the rhythmic pulse that fuels each practice session, especially when music becomes hard to practice. The joyful musician supports their colleagues in their triumphs and shortcomings, and is open to inspiration from another’s performance.

Resilience: When life - and the music - gets tough, we get tougher. The resilient musician knows that anything can happen on stage, whether it’s a memory failure or a technical slip, even if they’ve prepared the music to the best of their ability. When the resilient musician faces a setback in practice or performance, they learn from their failures, refuse to take it personally, and adjust their strategy accordingly. The resilient musician will learn to pick their battles, but they never quit in the face of difficulty.

Adventure: The courage and play it takes to risk new journeys, and the ability to adapt when reality thwarts our plans. What’s the point of learning music if you’re not going to play around and bend the rules? The adventurous musician is willing to try a diversity of genres, performance styles, ensemble configurations, if only to see what it’s like to attempt something different. They are willing to trek beyond their comfort zone by auditioning for a lead role or entering a keyboard competition. For many folks, enrolling in their first piano lesson - or their first piano lesson back after many years of away - is an adventure unto itself.

I believe that the study and performance of music can cultivate these values to create a well-rounded person, just as I believe that when a person lives in these values, their music will be all the richer for it.