Music Is A Bridge From You to You - Lyndol Descant
I just so easy to give up on yourself, to stop sharing or even listening to your own authentic voice.
I'm Lyndol Descant and as long as I can remember I was too shy to speak up for myself. I shrank away from attention like shadow from light. And worst of all – compliments.
I don't know why I was like that. Maybe it was my childhood circumstances, maybe I was born that way.
What I do know is that I would have remained that way for a lifetime had it not been for music.
Music is unlike anything else in our known world. Music is vibration. Music is Rhythm. Music is emotion. Music is communication. Music is Mathematics and mathematics is said to be the language of our universe. And when you study music enough, you realize music is magic. And that in our modern world we grossly underestimate it's power.
When I was in my early 20's, I finally discovered my interest in music. I had been indifferent to it before, as I really wasn't intune with my own interests and passions. Somehow I had graduated Cum Laude from A&M with no clue what my talents & interests were; let alone how I was to contribute to society through my service.
Through Music, I found a bridge to connect my outer reality with the quiet voice inside my heart. It gave me a safe expression for the miriade of strong emotions that felt, and an outlet for my deep thoughts on life. These were thoughts that no one wanted to talk about at parties or water coolers at work. Such as what is the meaning of life? And why all the suffering? Why am I so afraid to just live?
I worked alone in my room, after I got off from my 9-5 corporate job – learning to translate the music in my head into songs. And as I sang these songs to myself, something amazing happened. Not at first, in fact it took many years... but I started to come out from the shadows, and heal.
The more I improved on piano and in songwriting, the more my self-esteem began to bloom. As I saw myself get better, my confidence naturally grew stronger and stronger until one day, I naturally wanted to share my voice. The fear was still there, but it was not a block. It was not insurmountable. It was something I was eager to face.
I started with Open Mics in Austin. Then booked few of my own shows at small cafes. Then playing with a few bands.
Not only did my confidence continue to grow, but so did my passion for music. I just never got tired of it.
And that's when I decided to take the ultimate risk; I quit my corporate job and set out to spend a few years studying music.
Tangentially, I had a major in French but had never reachd fluency. And the fact was that improvisation was my favorite part of music. With these two facts in mind, I decided to travel to French Speaking Cities that have a strong Tradition in Jazz to study music. First Montreal, then Paris – I spent close to 5 years studying Jazz Piano, Voice and Composition.
Everyday I was living my dream. Life had presented me with the allusive 2nd chance, and I wasn't shy about grabbing that bull by both horns. It took passion, it took guts, and it took all I had. I've never been so challenged. Honestly none of it came easy – learning music which is a language, whilst translating from French to english
But the joy and fullfilment that came everyday more than motivated me to keep going. I knew I was on my way to something I had dreamed. Something so dear I dared to even admit this was what I was seeking, until I found myself alone with music in Paris. I wanted to have a career like my father's – a job I loved doing every single day. A job I believed whole heartedly would help others and contribute to a more loving society.
It's almost 15 years since I came back to the states as a Professional Musician and Music Teacher. Since then I have played and taught music extensively to over 2,000 students in both Texas and NYC. My time was split evenly between playing and teaching because I felt the balance was important; playing music made me a better music teacher, and teaching music made me a better musician. The two went hand in hand.
But for the sake of time, I want to focus on my teaching in this article.
I've taught students of all ages (babies to retirees), all socio economic groups and from a vast array of cultures and countries. I saw over and over how music helped them in the same way it helped me. It was a bridge to unite their inner and outer worlds which can make all the difference to someone living a healthy, successful life.
But I soon discovered this bridge function could serve in more ways – to connect their creativity with their logic. To unite their natural joy of music with discipline, their emotions with technique (and self control), and maybe most important – their authentic self with their community.
I stand here today with my voice to proclaim the power of music to transform lives. I can attest to it with my 16 years of teaching music, over 26 years in Education.
I was consistently the most requested teacher at the music schools I taught at, including the Brooklyn Conservatory where I spent 9 years. I was successful because I know that music is more than just notes and techniques and formulas. Just like we are more than just jobs, habits and bank accounts.
Music is a magical bridge to connect you with you. Whether you learn, play or listen to music - that's time well spent.
This is from a live Talk in Houston, Tx on February 7th, 2024. You can hear that talk accompanied by inspiring music and imagery..