Thoughts on history, culture, music, the details of our world, and how learning matters. Written by a musician and professor, Learn with Mike provides insight and resources for those looking to maximize their creative potential through developing the skill of learning. Also posts from On Learning Percussion, my more practical posts about musical learning that I hope are helpful for curious learners.
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Hot on the heels of my college application guide, I bring you some tips on writing personal statements. Many schools, fellowships, and festivals ask for a personal statement on the application. Telling your story in a powerful manner can be challenging… Wait, don’t stop reading! Practicing writing is exactly the same as working on your instrument. The skills and core concepts are identical. Writing doesn’t take time away from musical learning. It enhances it. Learning, as we might say, is the “thing behind the thing.” Below are 7 of my favorite strategies for writing personal statements—or anything, for that matter. They also happen to be powerful strategies for musical learning. Make Time for WritingWriting takes time. Editing takes more time.
Musical Learning Application (MLA): learning an instrument doesn’t depend solely on number of hours practicing an instrument, but rather number of focused, creative, critically thinking hours.
Know Your AudienceWho will read your statement? When? What might they want to know about you that they don’t already?
MLA:
Bridge the Gap
MLA:
Create a Structure
An idea for a structure (it’s no 5 ¶ essay, but it’s a start): a. your goal/short intro b. From where and when does this goal from? c. the gap between where you are now and the goal d. how this opportunity will help you achieve your goal? MLA:
Edit like crazy
MLA:
Be Specific and Bold
MLA:
Get Help.
MLA: I shant answer: to do so would be to admit you haven’t been reading my missives. But…
It’s Not About the StatementIf this sounds like a lot of work, it is. But, it’s not a waste of time. This act, a continual process of writing, revising, performing via sharing, and getting feedback, is exactly the same process we mobilize when we learn musical pieces. And, it’s the same process one might use to write a longer text, even a more rigorous academic monograph. These are skills for life you’re developing! Get help (again)This is so important I put it twice. Writing about yourself is challenging! If you’re sheepish about talking about your goals or touting your accomplishments, talk to a friend. Record the conversation, and use it as the basis for your writing. Better yet, show your writing to a counselor, mentor, or coach for more objective (and fast!) feedback. Pro tip: I coach writing. Schedule a session with me if you’re interested in working together. |
by Michael Compitello
Thoughts on history, culture, music, the details of our world, and how learning matters. Written by a musician and professor, Learn with Mike provides insight and resources for those looking to maximize their creative potential through developing the skill of learning. Also posts from On Learning Percussion, my more practical posts about musical learning that I hope are helpful for curious learners.
LEARN WITH MIKE Thoughts on history, culture, music, the details of our world, and why learning matters. From Michael Compitello 04/19/2024 Most of the time I write about “sticky” thoughts: ideas that have remained front of mind across numerous disciplines. But, while I’m reading about maps, Chopin’s placement of dotted 8th/16th note figures, and wondering about how referees train to execute basketball jump balls, I’m trying to put into practice ideas about how to make the teaching of musical...
ON LEARNING PERCUSSION Practice tips, musings on musicianship, and ideas about productivity, advocacy, and more. From Michael Compitello 03/08/2024 With a little bit of space between performances, and a number of doctoral students graduating this semester (get it, team!), I’ve been on a pedagogical kick, rounding up materials I’ve generated over the past few years and working to connect the dots between theory and practice. The scaffolding of my work on learning has become more clearly...
LEARN WITH MIKE Thoughts on history, culture, music, the details of our world, and why learning matters. From Michael Compitello 02/29/2024 I’m pleased to announce the release of the MikeDrop Podcast, a joint venture between myself and percussionist Mike Truesdell: Logo by Shaun Tilburg Mike and I chat almost daily about our approaches to music-making, productivity, pedagogy, and more, and we are going public, sharing some of our insights into issues facing contemporary musicians while...