When skills are secure, sometimes the gap between new and secure can become invisible. Thank goodness none of us are good at everything.
I’m not a clarinetist. I can write well enough for clarinet, as I can for most instruments provided I’ve got the right reference tools nearby. But I couldn’t play a middle C on a clarinet for $10,000.
My freshman son, a few years into playing clarinet, could go into detail about reed strength, embouchure, ligature, the break, and dozens of technical skills that go into being a fine clarinet player. He knows these things to the point that he doesn’t need to think about them.
So when I think about the gap between his knowledge and my own, it’s a good reminder that the gap is probably even bigger between the musical skills I’ve developed over decades and those of my students. And that reminds me to slow down, break down every concept, and appreciate the chance to start them on their journey.