This last week has been busy. Over the past seven days, I have entered three songwriting competitions, recorded two videos (one professional and one…well, not), became a social media socialite and put finishing touches on a new song. The constant posting, voting, liking, favoriting, retweeting, friending, tweeting, and instagram-ing is exhausting…not to mention the recording, editing, writing, and rewriting. Although I would absolutely love to win ALL of these competitions, I am fully aware that this is simply not going to happen. Actually, I most likely will not win any of them. And yet, despite all of the work and energy I have poured into my submissions, I’m ok with that…because completing these projects has been a fulfilling process, and I am once again reminded of the wisest thing I was ever told.

“The music will never let you down” – Vincent Lenti, 2008, after a particularly disappointing performance.

I will never forget this particular piano lesson. I had played a Bach prelude and fugue as part of a departmental recital the previous Saturday…the prelude was stunning…as was the fugue, but unfortunately, not in a good way. I was so disappointed in myself, I had practiced my butt off for weeks, and when it was time to show everyone, it just didn’t happen. It just didn’t happen. So I beat myself up the entire weekend until my lesson, which was on Monday at 4:30. I walked in, sat down, and we started to talk about the recital. I was a mess. And I will never forget what he said. “Listen…a single performance does not define you as a musician. It’s just a moment in time, and this is a lifelong journey. Certain performances are going to let you down and disappoint you, but the music will never let you down. So take yourself out of it, it’s about the music, not about you.” The lesson continued, and I played the fugue without error…which was even more frustrating at the time. I went back to my apartment and thought about what he said. Then I slept on it…for a few years.

7 years later, and guess what, he was right! Performances, opportunities, and people HAVE let me down. But the music has not.

So maybe I don’t win any of these contests. Maybe I don’t get enough likes or votes or retweets or hearts or thumbs up or whatever. This is a lifelong journey, and the music will never let me down.

If you want to check out my submissions from this week, visit:
http://www.doihaveahitsong.com/multimedia/high-water/
For this competition, you can vote everyday!

You are my sunshine competition:

NPR tiny desk contest: