Although we got more snow overnight, *groan*, the sun is getting warmer and by afternoon it had started to melt around the trees. I had to judge today and miss the last day of my seminar. I heard some good playing though.
I find a lot to like in almost everyone I meet. There are some great stories out there! Even in the people that really tick me off, I try to look for what the Creator, or their mom, sees in them. It can be challenging.
And there are many opinionated, quirky people in my music world. Heck, I'm one of them. No matter where I sit on an issue there's a person who seemed to want to argue with me about it. And he pushes. And I would try so hard to keep my mouth shut. And I would eventually fail. It seemed every time we were in the same room, we would be on opposing sides of the conversation.
One day the topic seemed to be holding up the high standard of classical music. He believes in the pristine-ness of our art form. I believe in the joy of it. You wouldn't think that these would be opposing views. I like to point out the human aspects of the composers which I can make relevant to my students, he likes to put them and the music on pedestals. I perform to the people in the room; he performs to the ghosts in their memory. He gets more "real" gigs than I do. So he must be right. Define 'real', I wanted to say. Only classical music performances count, he stated. Oh okay.
He is a very lonely man, I noticed. Today, like the snow, my heart is melting. It is starting from my core, and slowly spreading out, slushy and muddy. yum.
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ReplyDeleteI suppose each of us follows our bliss in our own way. For some, prestige or money or perfection defines success. For others, success is sharing and enjoying. The mistake, I think, is when we get caught up in believing our truth is the only one out there. You sound as though you love what you do. What could be more valuable than that? (sending a nice cup of hot tea or coffee your way). I think sharing your gifts and teaching others how to appreciate the nuances, the emotions, and the expanding personal horizons that comes from discovering music is so incredibly worthy.
ReplyDeleteI only managed 2 years of lessons on a mandolin a very long time ago. I never really achieved any proficiency in that short time, but it changed my perception of music and of sound in general. I hear things in music that I did not hear before, and I feel music in ways that were not even available to me before that time. My world literally opened wider. You cannot put a price on that sort of gift.
For what it's worth, one guitar player/teacher in Idaho thinks the way you describe for yourself is far superior to the other guy's.
ReplyDeleteI agree. If we all thought the same way, then we could all be wrong. I too, try very hard to see the strengths that we all have to offer. However, I like your reframe about the Creator and/or Mom perspective. I shall have to remember it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the cup of tea, ladyiris! I'm so glad you got to enjoy mandolin and music. Maybe some day you'll try another instrument! Tamara and John, thank you for the kind words.
ReplyDeleteI see that, in in a way, you both are in alignment. He just finds joy in the pristine and you find joy in exuberence. He's just trying to make you believe that his way has a higher value. And his egocentric view of himself has him high centered on the "Gig" yardstick for self-validation. It almost makes me feel sorry for him. They are one in the same. As my old auntie's auntie used to say, "Joy delights in joy."
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