My first cello teacher, Jackie, had several pearls of wisdom for me in the handful of years I studied with her. First, upon looking at a cello book I had entitled "Pieces for the Young Cello Player," she smiled a little and said "That's right. you're a cello player. One day you'll be a cellist, but for now you're still a cello player." I get a swell of pride and embarrasment everytime I write down or tell people what I do. 

She also said that in order to play Bach one had to live a little.

And, most importantly, "If you're going to drink, drink the good stuff, you don't want to wake up with a headache."

I've taken to heart all of these things, except perhaps for the Bach, which I often feel I'm doing the other way around.