Are You Still the Same Musician You Were Five Years Ago?

A recent family conversation started with broccoli.

I've always told my kids that taste buds change every seven years. It turns out the science is a little more interesting than that. Taste buds actually regenerate every couple of weeks, and many cells throughout the body are continually replaced over time. The question we ended up discussing wasn't about food at all:

If our cells are constantly replacing themselves, are we still the same person years later?

That question has fascinated philosophers for centuries through a thought experiment known as The Ship of Theseus.

The Ship of Theseus

According to the story, the Athenians preserved the ship of the hero Theseus for generations. Whenever a plank rotted, they replaced it. Then another. Then the mast. Then the hull. Piece by piece, every original part was eventually replaced.

The question became:

• If every part has been replaced, is it still the same ship?
• If it isn't, at what point did it become a different ship?
• And if the original planks were rebuilt into a second ship, which one would be the real Ship of Theseus?

The debate has never really been settled.

What This Means for Musicians

Here's what I do know.

The musician who struggled through an audition five years ago is gone.

Not just physically, but artistically.

Every practice session, performance, collaboration, student, lesson, and challenge has contributed to the musician you are today. You are not the same player you were two, five, or ten years ago.

Your technique has evolved.

Your ears have evolved.

Your artistry has evolved.

The way you shape a phrase, respond under pressure, and communicate through music is richer because of everything you've experienced.

That's why I often encourage students to create a fresh recording rather than relying on an old one. Unless circumstances make it impossible, trust the musician you are now.

An old recording can only capture who you were then.

The Ship Remains

So where do I land on the Ship of Theseus question?

I believe the ship remains.

The planks may change, but something deeper endures.

As musicians, that enduring part is your artistic voice. It's the way you listen, the colors you hear, the standards you hold yourself to, and the habits you've built over years of growth.

The challenge is that as we improve, our standards improve too. We often become so focused on the next level that we fail to recognize how far we've already come.

But your growth is real.

The musician standing here today has been shaped by every success, setback, lesson, and season you've lived through.

That deserves acknowledgment.

That deserves celebration.

-Ixi

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