A long story quite short
Before my professional musical studies begun I did quite a lot of other things. Worked at a McDonald's. Was a cashier at a grocery store. Sold sports goods. They all were jobs that I loved!
Why did I love jobs that many don't?
I set my goals in my own head. They were mine. I wanted to go for those job opportunities as they felt like I would be good at them. I did not have experience before the first job at McD. But I had the determination to go for it.
Despite framed work structures at different jobs, I made all those jobs look like me. I fine tuned details and made regular seeming chores fun in organized environments. Work was quick, flowing and I was enjoying learning new.
Despite framed work structures at different jobs, I made all those jobs look like me. I fine tuned details and made regular seeming chores fun in organized environments. Work was quick, flowing and I was enjoying learning new.
Building success that resulted in a storm... that could've ended it all
I got in to the Sibelius-Academy on my first go in 2000. Started practicing and learning a lot. Did gigs and a civil service job at the Finnish National Opera. Advanced to the finals in my first professional audition in 2003.
The next audition I won my current seat. Finnish National Opera, alternating principal timpani. January 1st 2005 marked my start and it preceeded some very heavy years of practise and gigs.
From an outside, goal-oriented perspective, those years prior my opera engagement were "succesful". The "streak" continued with European Union Youth Orchestra 2003-2007. UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra in 2008 on my second try. I had a fixed job, gigs and started teaching at the Sibelius-Academy in 2009.
The next audition I won my current seat. Finnish National Opera, alternating principal timpani. January 1st 2005 marked my start and it preceeded some very heavy years of practise and gigs.
From an outside, goal-oriented perspective, those years prior my opera engagement were "succesful". The "streak" continued with European Union Youth Orchestra 2003-2007. UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra in 2008 on my second try. I had a fixed job, gigs and started teaching at the Sibelius-Academy in 2009.
EUYO - Proms @ Royal Albert Hall, 2006
The process called "life" includes both a down and an up part - and this is neverending
What came some years later was a professional decline. No outside push (eg. constant new repertoire, extra gigs, other outer goals) was driving me to get better. I was fluent in my outer driven work but my progress stopped. I somehow stopped caring about my musicianship at the same. And I declined for some years.
Finally came the rock bottom for my professional life: injury. It forced me to either face change or keep the same direction. It was tough as hell. It also made me bounce back on track and ever since I've maintained that course. I still fail a lot but managing to fail actually is the key for progress.
Finally came the rock bottom for my professional life: injury. It forced me to either face change or keep the same direction. It was tough as hell. It also made me bounce back on track and ever since I've maintained that course. I still fail a lot but managing to fail actually is the key for progress.
Realizing who is setting the goal, why and how to do it
Getting my "dream" come true - having a fixed position in an orchestra. Was it a goal of mine, of an authority of mine or some "group think" goal I went after? And was it a valid goal? Were I driven that I want/have to win a job? Or were I driven that I want to be a musician? I had forgotten these questions.
I had forgotten the things I managed so well with my first three jobs outside music. Clear goals set by myself. Confidence to go towards something of my interest. Capable to work under rules and still managed to tweak the work to fit myself. I had clear structures and I guided myself with help from others.
What I know now was that my voice had disappeared during my study and professional times. I was copying and pasting ideas and ideals from others and did it very well. But I did not get further even though I knew all the tools and the correct mindset from my past.
The main reason to come back was the answer to the question: "why"? And especially how do I do my job and how do I view myself as a musician? Things had to change - the "old way" was dead. Done.
I had forgotten the things I managed so well with my first three jobs outside music. Clear goals set by myself. Confidence to go towards something of my interest. Capable to work under rules and still managed to tweak the work to fit myself. I had clear structures and I guided myself with help from others.
What I know now was that my voice had disappeared during my study and professional times. I was copying and pasting ideas and ideals from others and did it very well. But I did not get further even though I knew all the tools and the correct mindset from my past.
The main reason to come back was the answer to the question: "why"? And especially how do I do my job and how do I view myself as a musician? Things had to change - the "old way" was dead. Done.
The quantum leap: value led life driven from the inside
If you are outer driven in your mindset - like I was - you will face motivation problems often. Boredom. No outer push for work means no improvement happens. But there is a way through to the other side... the inner driven mind.
Since the birth of my "new" mindset (which was discovering my old mindset again), I ask myself the question "why?" almost every day. Especially on the days when it's tough. Why do I do this? Why can't I get this done?
It becomes easier when I know it's because I want to be better in a specific thing. An everyday thing that makes my long-term goals meaningful. I want to be myself with qualities that reflect who I am. A musician with a voice.
Since the birth of my "new" mindset (which was discovering my old mindset again), I ask myself the question "why?" almost every day. Especially on the days when it's tough. Why do I do this? Why can't I get this done?
It becomes easier when I know it's because I want to be better in a specific thing. An everyday thing that makes my long-term goals meaningful. I want to be myself with qualities that reflect who I am. A musician with a voice.
Photo by Mediastudio Stenström
The voice that matters - your own voice
Being the person who I am allows the best gound for a personal, expressive touch and feel to life and music. Being honest and present at my own core of life. Assessing that are my ways the best way to live a meaningful musician's life every day. Then I can start challenging myself to become a better version of myself.
To become the musician who I want to be also needs structure. Realizing the current situation. Setting goals for long and short terms and start discovering new. Building habits and tools to work deep and managing that failing at the same. And finally improving my musical voice with new feel and skills that bring me new results.
To become the musician who I want to be also needs structure. Realizing the current situation. Setting goals for long and short terms and start discovering new. Building habits and tools to work deep and managing that failing at the same. And finally improving my musical voice with new feel and skills that bring me new results.
Here is where my path can link to yours
I have always wanted to find the best possible help and advice out there to the problems I can not solve on my own. I also feel that a great teacher should be your servant in a way. Trying to find your point of view and the mutual landscape for understanding.
There is always the possibility to learn new & revise old. This is a bit scary as learning new and growing means you might need to let go of old things. You also have to confess there is something you don't know, can't do or things you need help with.
I want to offer you help that is clear to understand and easy to follow. The core structure of the future course materials and studies from me to you is always similar. The final aim is always to make you more self-aware and self-driven in your future work.
There is always the possibility to learn new & revise old. This is a bit scary as learning new and growing means you might need to let go of old things. You also have to confess there is something you don't know, can't do or things you need help with.
I want to offer you help that is clear to understand and easy to follow. The core structure of the future course materials and studies from me to you is always similar. The final aim is always to make you more self-aware and self-driven in your future work.
Photo by Mediastudio Stenström
Are you ready to risk change or do you want to stay the same...?
Now you know a bit better where I am from. I hope my story and my student's voices encourages you to take your next step.
To find and strengthen your voice in music.
Do you want to challenge your current obstacles, with a more calmer & confident mind? To develop an understanding to learn more with depth? Become the musician you feel AND get better results?
My website with it's growing contents and the Expressive Musician Academy are for you. This is my voice in music. Let me help to discover and make yours stronger too!
I am Samuli Viitanen. Timpanist of the orchestra of the Finnish National Opera & Ballet. Faculty member of the percussion class of the Arts University / Sibelius Academy Helsinki. Percussion tutor of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra. The founder of the ExpressiveMusician.com & Expressive Musician Academy. Welcome!
To find and strengthen your voice in music.
Do you want to challenge your current obstacles, with a more calmer & confident mind? To develop an understanding to learn more with depth? Become the musician you feel AND get better results?
My website with it's growing contents and the Expressive Musician Academy are for you. This is my voice in music. Let me help to discover and make yours stronger too!
I am Samuli Viitanen. Timpanist of the orchestra of the Finnish National Opera & Ballet. Faculty member of the percussion class of the Arts University / Sibelius Academy Helsinki. Percussion tutor of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra. The founder of the ExpressiveMusician.com & Expressive Musician Academy. Welcome!