Passion

Check out this video of Janek Gwizdala, legendary bassist from the U.K.

Janek’s playing, in my humble opinion, transcends some of the other “good” stuff out there because of his passion for the music. When he plays, it’s as if the music rises from the part of his soul that first spoke that passion into existence. When he plays, it moves people to listen ... it makes them slide forward in their chair and lean in. The music resonates with their soul as well. Their heads bounce...their feet tap...everyone’s groovin’. His passion for his instrument, his craft, and his music stirs something in the listener.

There are lots of Janek’s out there that reach the musical part of our soul by letting their passion fuel and guide their quest to develop the technical proficiency that allows them to express the music inside of them. You might not dig this video or this type of music, but you’ve got a playlist full of Janek’s on your iPod.

When we teach, do we exude that same passion? Do the souls of our students resonate with that passion? Do we also couple our passion with technical proficiency? I want to have that same proficiency and passion for teaching. When I teach, I want my students to lean in.