I attended UMW’s graduation last night at the invite of two dear music students (who also performed at graduation I might add). There was a young woman who gave a speech at graduation. She had to learn English very rapidly at one point, in order to get the classes she needed to get on the career track she desired.

Her words to the audience about getting ahead, which resonated with my experiences as a young musician (and still do to this day);

“While you are out horsing around, someone else is working hard.”

And here’s why it resonated. I spent the first two years of college working hard to become a good bass player and working on my audition piece for the music program. Literally using ALL of my spare time. I picked up the double bass during week one of college. Three years later I was auditioning on a challenging piece of music that most of my students won’t even try until five or six years after they pick up the bass. I was auditioning on this piece after three years. I didn’t even own my own bass yet! I was borrowing the college’s bass because I couldn’t afford a bass yet!

I did not party. I did not drink. There was literally no time to afford the downtime either of those activities require. I spent hours working on my music, my classes, volunteering with the music department, and practicing. What extra time I had to give, I gave to the relationship I had with a boy back home. Although that relationship did end, it was very solid until he had to move away to California.

I had a summer job…sometimes two jobs..to help squirrel away money for school and for music. I would come home from my second shift job, sometimes after working two shifts in a day, and practice. I would practice in my parent’s travel trailer every chance I could get…it gave me a practice room so I would not disturb anyone (my grandfather was ill with cancer and living with us). I worked hard. But I wanted to be good.

I recently saw my mentor from college, and it was a delight to hear him tell stories about me to others; “In two years, she went from picking up the bass to playing rings around the men around here.”

Now yes, I agree, everyone needs some recreation. That’s part of the human design. It’s important and necessary. But you also need to work hard and be dedicated. Because, as the young lady said, “while you are out horsing around, someone else is working hard.”

It’s true. And it applies to LIFE just as much as it does music.