The power of an online community

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Before we dive into the power of an online community, we’d like to extend a warm welcome to you if you are new here. Welcome to The Flute Practice! This online community of flutists is a safe, kind and nurturing space designed to help you to grow and develop your potential as a flute player – no matter where you are on your musical journey. On this learning platform, we offer various courses online, community events and great practical resources to help you to reach your goals. 

Now, let’s dive into our topic! You might be asking yourself: What is the difference between learning to play the flute by yourself and learning it in the context of a community? Well, a whole lot I would say! Even if you consider yourself more of a hermit type, plugging into a supportive network of like-minded individuals can have many benefits. Let’s look at some of the ways that joining an online community can benefit you and your flute playing.

1. You are being kept accountable

One of the most important aspects of sticking to something you have committed to is having someone to keep you accountable to that commitment. It may be as simple as someone just being aware of what you’re doing, like other players on the platform. When you go it alone, your motivation can easily fizzle out. However, being connected to an online community means that others are aware of you and can keep you accountable. If you don’t have anyone specific that you connect with online, it may be worth reaching out to one or two people and building a connection with them.  There is much power in regular interaction and support between people who are committed to similar goals, so why not give it a try?

2. You receive regular encouragement

Playing by yourself can easily get lonely and frustrating. When you’re connected to a community and receive regular encouragement in the form of blog posts, inspirational quotes, or other flute-related information, it may just give you that extra boost to keep you going. At the very least, receiving updates and news can be a regular reminder to keep playing your instrument.  

3. Your vision is supported

When you decided to play the flute, you likely had an idea of what you wanted to achieve. You probably had certain milestones in mind or areas you’d like to improve in, a vision for yourself, and where you’d like to be in the future. This vision can be cemented and amplified when you join a community of kindred spirits.

You’ll come across people who struggle with the same things, have the same questions, share joys and frustrations, and want to achieve similar goals. That sense of walking alongside others may just provide your vision with the fuel it needs to keep going. Do not underestimate the power of struggling and learning together. It can keep your personal goals alive and afloat and keep you on your chosen path.  

4. You can benefit from others’ wisdom

When you are part of an online community, you get to learn from others and benefit from their insight and experience. While your flute teacher (if you have one) may be a wonderful well of wisdom (and on this platform, Tatiana certainly is!), an online community goes beyond just the teacher. Any community consists of members who are just starting, the experienced ones, and everyone in between! They all have something to share. If you come with an attitude of openness to learn from others’ victories, low points, and advice, you will certainly not be disappointed.

5. Online events and challenges can keep you motivated

The Flute Practice hosts regular online events such as concerts and other opportunities to connect with flutists across the globe. Seeing and interacting with others in the welcome space of a supportive community will likely boost your engagement with your instrument. It may even encourage you to push yourself just that little bit further as you prepare for the next event. If you want the full benefit of group learning, write these events in your calendar, and commit to attending them. Besides helping you grow as a flutist, it is also a fun way to meet people and enjoy making music together.   

6. You can engage in the community at your level of comfort

An online community has the great advantage that you can engage with it at a level that is most comfortable to you. The fact that everything is online, gives you a safe distance to engage with it at a level that you choose. 

Perhaps you like to stay in the shadows a bit and simply enjoy reading the community’s social media posts and other content – and that’s okay. On the other hand, you may value the interactive aspect of this kind of community and grab hold of every chance you get to engage with others and take part in the scheduled events. Whatever your preference, it should serve you and your goals in the best possible way. 

I’d like to add that it may also be worth re-investigating your level of engagement on the platform. Perhaps you’ve been more on the invisible side but would like to engage more. Taking some small, simple steps like connecting with one other person in the community might be exactly what you need to take the next step on your musical journey. 

7. It will expose you to balanced content

Being part of an online community will expose you to all sides of playing the flute – from technical to emotional and much more. You receive a balanced diet of advice, so to speak, which will help you to develop your flute-playing abilities holistically. I know that I am never bored by the posts I see on The Flute Practice – they are varied and cover many different aspects of playing the flute.  

8. You have something to give

We’ve spoken a lot about how you can benefit from plugging into an online community, yet don’t forget about what you might have to offer. The members of any group are what give it its distinctive character, and you most certainly have something to contribute! Whether it is sharing your experiences, providing some sage advice, or participating in events, your part in the greater whole matters a great deal. Your unique experience, gifts, and struggles form a unique part of this supportive space. They have the potential to help others who may be facing similar challenges, questions, or situations. 

The Flute Practice provides a variety of different ways to interact with the platform – from blog posts to online tuition or simply benefitting from Tatiana’s tried and tested tips on social media.  You can join this space by creating a free account down below.

I firmly believe that as you harness the power of this online community and figure out how to best engage with it, it will be an enormous help to you and get you to reach your goals that much quicker. Happy playing!

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