When I attend a concert, I expect to hear music. And when I attend a concert at an ACDA conference, I expect to hear excellent music.
I did not expect Tim Lautzenheiser.
I did not expect to be accosted with positivity. To be delighted to laughter and touched to tears. To be vehemently affirmed in my career choice. Affirmed by a perfect stranger during an "inspirational message" in the middle of a concert session.
I wish I had written down everything he said so I could show you exactly how his words touched me so. And, believe me, I will be purchasing the video from that concert session (I hope it will be available)…Rajaton, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, and Camerata Musica Limburg, plus this talk that I will be putting on repeat. I don't have it exactly right, and my paraphrase may be a little off, but here's the gist:
What you do matters.
So, be encouraged.
That might be simplifying, but there it is. What you do matters. So, be encouraged. Not one of us lives a small life. Each of us, each of us musicians influence others by our music, an outpouring of self. It is an art that has no concreteness, it is momentary and fleeting, and sometimes we feel it might have been insignificant.
It is not.
Music impacted the life of these boys, surviving in one of Boston's toughest neighborhoods; their choir-mate was shot on his way to practice. And countless students who have said to me, "If it hadn't been for choir, I would have [dropped out, done drugs, committed suicide, you name it]. Beyond these extraordinary stories are countless ordinary ones: a college student who enjoyed singing for a semester, or a group of engineers who formed a choir, or this business major who claims "Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Music Class."
UPDATE:
Since I began this post, Roger Ebert passed away. His art has influenced my life for most of my life. Particularly this essay. (Get the tissues.)
What you do matters. So, be encouraged. Go. Make Art. Make it now. Don't wait.
(Image credit: ali edwards. Text: My life is this moment. Live fully. Be open.)
[Originally posted April 6, 2013]
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