"Anyone can cook!" (more thoughts on talents)

L.D. Bell HS (Hurst, TX) won the 2007 Bands of America Grand National Championship. In reading the items below on their website, it’s evident how. But this goes beyond band into our everyday work. I’ve commented {accordingly} , starting with this clear "mission" statement:

AT LEAST ONE HALF HOUR PER DAY MUST BE DEDICATED TO INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENT.

{Wow. How many of us devote one half hour today to individual improvement in whatever we do? And notice the word most musicians hate was not used - "practice"!}

Start by taking your instrument out of the case and place it where you will be inclined to pick it up and play. {Ouch. That confronts the basic obstacle head on. You've heard it before, right? "Out of sight, out of mind." Absolutely true. Do we exercise if we hide the machine where we are not likely to see it?}

Students {aren't we all?!} need their:
• Instrument, Metronome, Tuner (w/clip), stand, and a space that is distraction-free. {The right tools and equipment in the right place. Without these elements, it won't be that you are not mentally ready. You won't be physically ready, either.}
• Warm Up Sequence (w/metronome), Breathing, Starts, Tone, Endings, Flexibility, Technique, etc. {The simple things. The basic things. The fundamental things. You do it over and over again. Why? To remind yourself what it takes.}
• Foundations Exercises, Range Extension Exercises. {More than a once-over re-hash. A review of the basic skills and more that are needed for what comes next.}
• Preparation for you weekly playoff. {A weekly measure of actual performance, not just “practice.” How are you doing today?}
• Prepare sections of etudes from your All State Music. {Work on your reach goal. You may not make All State, but it seems to me that the directors take the position of Auguste Gusteau to the student’s Remy in Disney-Pixar's Ratatouille, “Anyone can cook!”}