Learning Something New
The problemI can’t cook. Seriously, I was actually banned from the kitchen because I once set off our home’s smoke detectors boiling water. I have always been fine with not being able to cook. Luckily, my husband is an amazing cook, and I can appreciate the fine food he produces without having to be involved in the process. When I had my first child, however, I wanted to learn how to bake. I couldn’t justify the cost of paying for cakes and cupcakes for birthdays, and I felt this was an endeavor I could tackle. I knew immediately that I wanted to learn the art of cupcakes rather than taking on a full cake; somehow miniaturizing baking made the task less daunting.
|
ResearchFirst, I set out to research. I took a tour of all of the local cupcake bakeries, even bakeries in other states that I was visiting. If the shop owners had time, I would interview them. I spent time finding out their techniques, asking their reasons for running their shops, and testing their favorite flavors. Just as Noah Adams spent time with various pianists, I was on a mission to gain insight into the world in which I wanted to learn. Similarly to Adams’ interview with Denise Kahn, I found so many bakers that had the experience of joy that came from their craft and mirrored Kahn’s sentiment of being “so completely involved; it just takes you out of your life.” This joy of craft spurred me further in my quest.
|
PracticeNext it was time to practice. While many people may think practicing at cupcakes would make for a very happy household, my family got to the point where the mere thought of cupcakes could turn our stomachs. In the same way that Adams practiced and practiced at the song “Misty” In Piano Lessons: Music, Love & True Adventures, I continued to bake and bake and bake more; feeling that it was impossible to master the art of making a cupcake that didn’t taste like sand or complete goo. The frustration of practicing with no success was beginning to lead me to want to give up.
|
Professional HelpIt was time for professional help. I signed up for a cooking class. This class was not specifically for cupcakes. I knew that if I wanted to find my inner baker, I didn’t need lessons on how to bake a cupcake, but instead I needed inspiration. I took a class on all things chocolate. By taking in the lessons on how to handle chocolate, the appropriate melting techniques and so forth, I was ready to assimilate this knowledge into my cupcakes. Adams’ experience with The Autumn Sonata was very similar. While he went to the course to specifically master “Träumerei,” he instead learned principles and techniques for intervals, octaves, and patterns. As Adams came home wanting to perform, I returned from my cooking class ready to cook for my family and friends. It was the ability to show off my first success that encouraged me to keep going.
|
RealizationThrough the first exhibition of my new found talent, I realized where I was going wrong. I didn’t care about the cupcake itself, I cared about the presentation. It wasn’t the creation of a new cupcake, as equally for Adams it was never about composing his own work. I knew I had to adjust my technique. Stop trying to create my own recipes, and rely on what was tried and true. That was the difference between me and the shopkeepers I had interviewed just as there was a separation between Adams and the composers he interviewed. For us, it is not the ability to create a new masterpiece; it is the ability to master a skill. To me, this is the key difference between learning for work and learning for pleasure. It is never to make a living off of. Instead this is a method of relaxation and personal growth.
|
Completion of goalEventually, my cupcakes became worthy of serving. In fact, most of my friends put orders in to me rather than utilizing the local bakeries when birthdays come around. I don’t make any money from it, and this is not something that I have any ambition to grow into a business. However, just as Adams began to see the joy in performing for friends and family, I look forward to putting my new found skill on display. It is a way to escape the work of daily life and do something that is just for the joy of doing it.
(The cupcakes to the left were one of my favorites to make... even though the heat melted them a bit!) |