Willingness to learn

One of the hardest things to do as a human being is to break routine: driving to class/work the same way, the way you shower, and in my case how I play. How do you break away from bad habits and expand on your good qualities. Criticism is very hard to understand and is often times met with hostility. However it takes humility to realize there might be truth to the critique. I am often the first to draw conclusions about people's playing and how they must fix it. 

I was recently put in a situation that test my willingness to accept and consider a critique of my playing. Although I was automatically defensive I realized that being defensive would not get me anywhere. Change is in the air. Not only was I critiqued, but I was fortunate enough to be given great advice on how to fix my situation. I have two choices: be stubborn and not learn anything or try something new and potentially become that much better of a player. By taking advice I am put in a position of power, I can now do things two ways...my way and the new way. I am then given the chance to choose which is the best way. I can choose my own destiny. 

I have encountered too many stubborn people who have refused to take advice over the last several years to want to become like that. 

"You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know." Oscar Wilde 

Taking it to the next level

What is commitment? How much do you really want it? How much are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve you goals? 

Unfortunately, reaching goals involves a level of commitment that most are not willing to endure. In my case, I want to be a musician and teacher. Though I am not the most talented guy in the world I feel I have a work ethic that is second to none. Jason Marsalis told me when I was back at NOCCA, "Hard work seven days a week beats talent any day." In most cases this is very true. You hear stories about musicians like Trane who practiced all day. Every moment of their life revolved around music. Today, I feel it is rare to love the music so deeply that all aspects of life come second to it. 

Since my time at NOCCA, music has been my life. I am very fortunate to have been constantly surrounded by very inspirational musicians: Alvin Batiste, Mike Pellera, Jonathan Batiste, Ted Boasso, Conun Pappas, Max Morran, Joe Dyson, the list goes on and on... I feel that I am at a point in my life where I have to choose: Music or something else? Thought I felt I was serious before, I feel I have reach a new level of understanding, love, and most importantly, dedication to the creation of beautiful music. It is time for me to choose. I feel I have made the choice and am ready to nourish my musical side. I am ready to work for the next level. Only time will tell if I have worked for the next level.

-The music will only love you as much as you love it.

Questions

Just wanted to add, I highly encourage anyone that has any questions or wants to contact me to do so! I want this to be as interactive as possible!

Post on my blog! 

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www.gregoryagid.com

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Whoa Blog time

Hello, this is my new Blog... My name is Gregory Agid, a New Orleans based clarinet player. I'll be graduating this May from Loyola University New Orleans with my BM in music business. The content on this blog will be primarily music based, however it might get personal if it must. 

I'll start with a little bit about myself. I am 22 years old, play clarinet....try to play tenor and soprano sax, one day its gonna happen. I lived in Hawaii until I was 12 years old and moved to New Orleans in 1999.  I was introduced to Jazz in 2000 when I attended the Louis Armstrong Jazz camp (www.louisarmstrongjazzcamp.com). I was fortunate enough to be able to study with clarinet master, Alvin Batiste for seven years. Most of my musical knowledge and inspiration stems off of the lessons I leaned from him. He was truly a master and had a huge impact on my life both musically and personally. I began studying "classical" music in 2006 at Loyola University where I am pursuing a music business degree. At School, Jazz in not my primary focus however all of my musical lesson directly relate to Jazz. 

Currently, I teach at the louis armstrong jazz camp, NOCCA summer sessions, and twice teach jazz combos at Benjamin Franklin High school.