Music

 

It was a weekend of music for me.

Friday was the first ever Elementary Honors Chorus Clinic during the day.

Friday night was Amelia-the-Niece’s girls choir concert with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra.

Saturday was the Lee County Arts Festival,

Including the Elementary Honors Chorus performance.

And yesterday was Charlie-the-Nephew’s All-State Band concert in Greensboro.

I feel very cultured!

 

I walked away from the weekend with a few thoughts:

 

Musicians tend to be resilient. One of the Elementary Honors Chorus students got too hot, locked her knees, and passed out. Two songs after she left stage, she walked back onto stage and finished the concert sitting down. Everyone clapped.

 

Musicians tend to be kind and encouraging. Even though the competition is stiff for a spot in an honors band, once a person makes it in, they tend to be encouraged by the other people in the band. During the middle school performance yesterday, a couple of trombonists had solos. After they finished, another trombonist gave each of them fist bumps to tell them they did a good job. It made me smile.

 

Musicians tend to know how to work together. Evidently, at the rehearsal for Amelia’s concert, the orchestra and the choir weren’t balanced. So, the orchestra worked to play quieter, and on the night of the performance, the two groups sounded amazing together.

 

Musicians tend to come together from all walks of life to focus on common good. It’s really a beautiful thing to hear and watch.

 

And…on a different note (pun intended)…audience members can be very rude with talking and gum smacking. Please do not smack your gum in the middle of a classical music concert—or ever 😊.

 

Music makes this world a better place.

 

May we all learn to be

Resilient

Kind

Encouraging

Able to work with others

Part of something bigger than ourselves

Good

And non-gum smacking.

 

Amen.