Inclusionary Excellence as an imperative

Can I adopt an inclusionary approach to music and people which jointly embraces a passion for excellence without excluding those with less ability? I think that if we adopt the imperative to seek excellence, while embracing our individual spirits and talents then this is possible. Growth and teaching are done by the community with all of its abilities. The Da Capo assessment model provides an opportunity/framework for the students and "studio" to leverage its combined talents to improve the whole. A student at any level has something they can share and teach, and in the Da Capo Way this ability becomes an obligation. As a musician, they are obligated to share their talents with the world around them.

We can't ignore our base drive for competition, but we learn to deal with it and put our ego aside. I am most excited when I can build other musicians all levels. If we all returned the favor more aggressively and explicitly, I wonder what a difference it might make..

If we view each artists' abilities as a unique and precious offering, then we have much to learn from one another. Today's world of competition seems much more focused on judging against and objective standard to define excellence. I don't reject the fact that there must be a standard, I simply think we need to find ways to include so that all can benefit from the best.. a sort of "trickle down economics applied to music"

This thinking puts me into a dilemma. Does inclusionary excellence eventually doom the excellence itself to mediocrity? Guess that doesn't matter in the end because we are all commanded to grow and develop, not be complacent with our place. The end game is likely bigger than me.

We are commanded to make a difference in the world and continually better ourselves.. not be better than others. The motivation makes all the difference.

Proverbs 22:29 (NIV)

1 -3
So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we'll stay true to all that. But there's so much more. Let's get on with it!


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