Enneagram and Music Learners
If you have not heard of Enneagram, you may want to google it to read more about it. It is one of the most famous personality test dating back to the fourteenth century. It is widely used not only as an interesting way to learn about yourself, but also as a tool for transformation in work, relationship, salesmanship etc…
In this blog, I am going to explore how Enneagram can enhance your music learning. Disclaimer: I am not a expert in Enneagram. Do have fun with this exercise but do not judge the accuracy. :)
For those who does not know what your CORE Enneagram is, here is a recommended site for a quick test: http://enneagramtypetest.com/test/ or you can just scroll down and see if you can identify the signs of yourself.
Enneagram Type 1 Music Learners (Perfectionist)
Signs you are a type 1:
1. You are mission-driven and every lesson has to be in top form, sometimes treating your teacher like a machine rather than a human.
2. If you are in an Ensemble, you get stress or critical over players who are not playing well or who has unhygienic practices (esp. for Winds)
3. If you play a shiny instrument, you will ensure your instrument follow the recommended procedure of cleaning and is shining like a unicorn! And you probably go crazy over a tiny scratch that is not even visible to 90% of human.
Tips to make Type 1 Learning better:
1. Allow yourself to relax sometimes. Take time to bond with your teacher. .Getting to know your teacher better makes lessons more meaningful
2. Recognise people’s efforts instead of being critical all the time.
Enneagram Type 2 Music Learners (Teacher-pleasing)
Signs you are a type 2:
1. You love to bond with your teacher (especially if you are close) and half of the lesson becomes chatting instead of learning music
2. In an Ensemble, you are so busy taking care of everybody (e.g. stands, scores, food) that you tend to forget about yourself!
3. You are probably not too fussy about the details of the instruments as long as it matches your ideals.
Tips to make Type 2 Learning better:
1. Be attentive to the goals of the music class
2. Take care of your needs first and then help others in an Ensemble.
Enneagram Type 3 Music Learners (Achiever)
Signs you are a type 3:
1. You are goal-oriented and motivated by accomplishing tasks during a music class.
2. You love to perform and if there are any performing opportunities, whether Solo and Ensemble, you will sign up if possible.
3. You are naturally flashy and you love to own the premium range of instruments that people desire or accessories that make your instrument stand out.
Tips to make Type 3 Learning better:
1. Avoid shortcuts by asking yourself what will my teacher say if he/she is watching me practise.
2. Do manage your performances as you have a tendency to oversubscribe and get burnt out.
Enneagram Type 4 Music Learners (Individualist)
Signs you are a type 4:
1. You have no problem expressing music or even understanding the complex nuances in music making.
2. You are sensitive with who you collaborate in an Ensemble and get stress very easily when emotionally provoked.
3. Being “Unique” is your middle name. Anything that makes you unique will attract you, for example personalising you music books with your sticker name or having your flute joint engraved in a personalised manner.
Tips to make Type 4 Learning better:
1. Set deadlines and schedules for your music tasks
2. Go away for short breaks, like short walks, when you feel provoked.
Enneagram Type 5 Music Learners (Explorer)
Signs you are a type 5:
1. You are curious about everything and you will learn with much focus during music class.
2. Being in an Ensemble is not a natural choice for you and if you are in one, you won’t interact easily with others initially.
3. Being hungry for knowledge, you may end up more interested in the mechanism of your instrument than the music lesson itself!
Tips to make Type 5 Learning better:
1. Focus on learning music rather than thinking about your instrument!
2. Build connections with your teacher and during Ensemble to make yourself more appreciated and less isolated.
Enneagram Type 6 Music Learners (Responsible)
Signs you are a type 6:
1. You are so fearful of mistakes that you tend to stop when you make a mistake in class. Hence, because of this, you are the ever-responsible student who will practise fervently so as to make less mistakes.
2. In an Ensemble, you are the kind who will not only worry about the music but also everything surrounding it, including logistics, schedule, uniforms etc…
3. You are so worried your instrument will break down that you are probably the kind who will send your instrument for professional maintenance regularly or just before a performance. You are most likely to have taken a long time to buy your instrument after doing tons of research too.
Tips to make Type 6 Learning better:
1. Participate in performances or mock exams to counter the fear of making mistakes
2. Use your natural gift and take on roles in a Ensemble that allows you to take control, for example logistic manager.
Enneagram Type 7 Music Learners (Enthusiast)
Signs you are a type 7:
1. You will want to go to the next piece that gets your attention before you even master your current pieces.
2. You are always the one who brings joy and liveliness to an Ensemble group. Sometimes you might be so talkative that you start talking to your neighbours, even when the conductor is talking!
3. You have a tendency to buy your instrument on impulse like YOLO.
Tips to make Type 7 Learning better:
1. Keep a schedule and commit the pieces you want to finish learning.
2. Instead of rushing to the next “shiny object”, keep a notebook or file of things that excite you and keep it in view.
Enneagram Type 8 Music Learners (Challenger)
Signs you are type 8:
1. You tell the teacher what pieces you want to learn and how you want the lesson to be conducted.
2. You are naturally a leader in an Ensemble group, always telling people what to do, though not always necessarily welcomed by others.
3. When it comes to your instrument, you like to be the one making the decision, not the salesperson and not even the teacher.
Tips to make Type 8 Learning better:
1. Remind yourself to “lower your volume” to create a pleasant environment.
2. A little compassion and gentleness goes a long way.
Enneagram Type 9 Music Learners (Easily-Complacent)
Signs you are type 9:
1. You are the kind if the teacher does not give you instructions, you may not even practise your instrument cos’ doing nothing is your favourite activity!
2. You join an Ensemble because someone asked you along and you don’t mind. You might even be very drawn to the clarinet as this instrument has one of the most blending and soothing sounds.
3. You take very long to select your instrument before buying it. It is also most likely decided by your teacher or someone else as you are having a hard time choosing.
Tips to make Type 9 Learning better:
1. Learn to make (musical) decisions in class, even it may rock the boat of your teacher.
2. Discuss your desires with your teacher and make a concrete commitment to achieving them so as to avoid procrastination.
If you have not heard of Enneagram, you may want to google it to read more about it. It is one of the most famous personality test dating back to the fourteenth century. It is widely used not only as an interesting way to learn about yourself, but also as a tool for transformation in work, relationship, salesmanship etc…
In this blog, I am going to explore how Enneagram can enhance your music learning. Disclaimer: I am not a expert in Enneagram. Do have fun with this exercise but do not judge the accuracy. :)
For those who does not know what your CORE Enneagram is, here is a recommended site for a quick test: http://enneagramtypetest.com/test/ or you can just scroll down and see if you can identify the signs of yourself.
Enneagram Type 1 Music Learners (Perfectionist)
Signs you are a type 1:
1. You are mission-driven and every lesson has to be in top form, sometimes treating your teacher like a machine rather than a human.
2. If you are in an Ensemble, you get stress or critical over players who are not playing well or who has unhygienic practices (esp. for Winds)
3. If you play a shiny instrument, you will ensure your instrument follow the recommended procedure of cleaning and is shining like a unicorn! And you probably go crazy over a tiny scratch that is not even visible to 90% of human.
Tips to make Type 1 Learning better:
1. Allow yourself to relax sometimes. Take time to bond with your teacher. .Getting to know your teacher better makes lessons more meaningful
2. Recognise people’s efforts instead of being critical all the time.
Enneagram Type 2 Music Learners (Teacher-pleasing)
Signs you are a type 2:
1. You love to bond with your teacher (especially if you are close) and half of the lesson becomes chatting instead of learning music
2. In an Ensemble, you are so busy taking care of everybody (e.g. stands, scores, food) that you tend to forget about yourself!
3. You are probably not too fussy about the details of the instruments as long as it matches your ideals.
Tips to make Type 2 Learning better:
1. Be attentive to the goals of the music class
2. Take care of your needs first and then help others in an Ensemble.
Enneagram Type 3 Music Learners (Achiever)
Signs you are a type 3:
1. You are goal-oriented and motivated by accomplishing tasks during a music class.
2. You love to perform and if there are any performing opportunities, whether Solo and Ensemble, you will sign up if possible.
3. You are naturally flashy and you love to own the premium range of instruments that people desire or accessories that make your instrument stand out.
Tips to make Type 3 Learning better:
1. Avoid shortcuts by asking yourself what will my teacher say if he/she is watching me practise.
2. Do manage your performances as you have a tendency to oversubscribe and get burnt out.
Enneagram Type 4 Music Learners (Individualist)
Signs you are a type 4:
1. You have no problem expressing music or even understanding the complex nuances in music making.
2. You are sensitive with who you collaborate in an Ensemble and get stress very easily when emotionally provoked.
3. Being “Unique” is your middle name. Anything that makes you unique will attract you, for example personalising you music books with your sticker name or having your flute joint engraved in a personalised manner.
Tips to make Type 4 Learning better:
1. Set deadlines and schedules for your music tasks
2. Go away for short breaks, like short walks, when you feel provoked.
Enneagram Type 5 Music Learners (Explorer)
Signs you are a type 5:
1. You are curious about everything and you will learn with much focus during music class.
2. Being in an Ensemble is not a natural choice for you and if you are in one, you won’t interact easily with others initially.
3. Being hungry for knowledge, you may end up more interested in the mechanism of your instrument than the music lesson itself!
Tips to make Type 5 Learning better:
1. Focus on learning music rather than thinking about your instrument!
2. Build connections with your teacher and during Ensemble to make yourself more appreciated and less isolated.
Enneagram Type 6 Music Learners (Responsible)
Signs you are a type 6:
1. You are so fearful of mistakes that you tend to stop when you make a mistake in class. Hence, because of this, you are the ever-responsible student who will practise fervently so as to make less mistakes.
2. In an Ensemble, you are the kind who will not only worry about the music but also everything surrounding it, including logistics, schedule, uniforms etc…
3. You are so worried your instrument will break down that you are probably the kind who will send your instrument for professional maintenance regularly or just before a performance. You are most likely to have taken a long time to buy your instrument after doing tons of research too.
Tips to make Type 6 Learning better:
1. Participate in performances or mock exams to counter the fear of making mistakes
2. Use your natural gift and take on roles in a Ensemble that allows you to take control, for example logistic manager.
Enneagram Type 7 Music Learners (Enthusiast)
Signs you are a type 7:
1. You will want to go to the next piece that gets your attention before you even master your current pieces.
2. You are always the one who brings joy and liveliness to an Ensemble group. Sometimes you might be so talkative that you start talking to your neighbours, even when the conductor is talking!
3. You have a tendency to buy your instrument on impulse like YOLO.
Tips to make Type 7 Learning better:
1. Keep a schedule and commit the pieces you want to finish learning.
2. Instead of rushing to the next “shiny object”, keep a notebook or file of things that excite you and keep it in view.
Enneagram Type 8 Music Learners (Challenger)
Signs you are type 8:
1. You tell the teacher what pieces you want to learn and how you want the lesson to be conducted.
2. You are naturally a leader in an Ensemble group, always telling people what to do, though not always necessarily welcomed by others.
3. When it comes to your instrument, you like to be the one making the decision, not the salesperson and not even the teacher.
Tips to make Type 8 Learning better:
1. Remind yourself to “lower your volume” to create a pleasant environment.
2. A little compassion and gentleness goes a long way.
Enneagram Type 9 Music Learners (Easily-Complacent)
Signs you are type 9:
1. You are the kind if the teacher does not give you instructions, you may not even practise your instrument cos’ doing nothing is your favourite activity!
2. You join an Ensemble because someone asked you along and you don’t mind. You might even be very drawn to the clarinet as this instrument has one of the most blending and soothing sounds.
3. You take very long to select your instrument before buying it. It is also most likely decided by your teacher or someone else as you are having a hard time choosing.
Tips to make Type 9 Learning better:
1. Learn to make (musical) decisions in class, even it may rock the boat of your teacher.
2. Discuss your desires with your teacher and make a concrete commitment to achieving them so as to avoid procrastination.
