I call it the Big Fish principle.  Who we are, what we know, and what we can do musically is a result of our environment, experience, and practice.

It is very important to be around the right things and hear the right things.

When you are around certain people often. One or two things usually happens. One is that over time you start to be like them.

Two is that over time they start to be like you. Sometimes this takes place without us even realizing it. It is not good to always be the big fish in the pond.

One way to grow musically is to consistently expose yourself to musicians that are more experienced and more skilled than you are.

Subconsciously you also start to pick up things about their playing that you may not even be realizing. One day you will be playing and start to notice that your playing is becoming similar to the person that you have been listening to.

Growth is not as fast if we are always the Big Fish in the pond.  In other words if everywhere we go we are always the most skilled and experienced in our playing then it is easy to get relaxed and fill like we are OK.

If people are looking at you like the mentor and are admiring your playing then you are less likely to strive for improvement.

In some situations you need to be a Little Fish in a Big Pond as opposed to always the Big Fish.

The little fish grow faster and increase faster.  Little fish have alot to strive for and they are constantly reminded that they have not reached their full potential.

And as a musician you will be the same way. Intentionally put yourself in situations where you are the little fish.  This will really help you.  If you don’t have any body locally that you can go to then go on the Internet and find someone.

go to sites like www.youtube.com pick musicians that you can listen to and watch.

It is a real ego buster but it is great for growth. Always remember that humility is the first step to growth.

This is what I recommend:

1)Find someone whose playing you admire and mentally adopt them as your Big Fish.

(You can have as many as you want)

2) Try to point out some aspects of their playing that you admire and try to emulate them in your playing.

3) Ask questions or get resources that help you to understand whatever it is you are trying to improve on.

Here are a few of the Big Fish that I have adopted down through the years.

James Williams

Phineas Newborn

Derrick Jackson

Ask and you shall receive

Seek and you shall find

All things are possible to them that believe

Iron sharpens Iron

Be Blessed,

Kenny Hollins

HMPI