I was watching TV with my wife last night and we took a break from watching Christmas movies. I switched to watching a couple of shows that feature guys building custom hot-rods. I know absolutely nothing about working on cars so I find it fascinating. I watch this stuff like other people watch musicians. With a sense of awe and wonderment. Of course the finished product is always stunning and I envision having one of everything in my garage.
They make it look easy. On TV it seems like it's only a few minutes here and little more there. In reality it's hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to get to the finished car. The men (and occasionally women) are experienced experts who have years of corrected mistakes, shortcuts, and an enviable depth of knowledge to draw on.
Actually I enjoy just about any "build" show. Home remodel, landscaping, cake decorating, etc. After watching the car show last night we switched to a gingerbread competition. I was just as interested. I think it has to do with watching people who are passionate about their pursuits. Their work ethic and quest for excellence are inspirational.
When you see a show car, a fancy quilt, or wedding cake you get a sense of how much work it takes. Even then you probably wouldn't be surprised to learn that it took more work than you guessed. Watching a musician, however, there is almost a sense of magic. You know there was effort involved. Every parent reminds their child that it takes practice. But it still feels like magic.
I've joked for years with other musicians that we are "victims" of our own success. We work really hard to make it look easy, so most folks think it is. My real concern is that students often have unrealistic expectations.
The older the student, the more misguided they tend to be. "I'm not musically inclined", they say. My response is, "Bring a consistent level of interest and a decent work ethic and I will turn you into a musician." I like to equate the experience to reading a good book. You don't read it to hurry and get to the end. You read it to get lost in it and when the end comes it's both satisfying and sad. You think that the joy of learning music is in playing well, but that's just a side benefit. The joy is in the process. I suspect the builders of cars, cakes, and quilts feel the same.