The Band, Part 2
I joined a community band. At the first practice, I felt so inadequate that I promptly emailed the conductor and offered to quit for the benefit of the band. You see, I’m not naturally musically inclined. I’m a geek. I love the precision of music and try my best to produce it. I’ve reached the stage where I am being encouraged to play with feelings (I have no idea how to do that but I’m working on it). But I admit that I’m not as talented as most of my peers in the band.
This community band is associated with Washburn University so the conductor (Dr. P), is using it to help give student conductors experience as part of their music degree. Last night, at our practice, a young twenty year old (percussionist, I believe) was the guest conductor for one of the songs. He approached the podium with a stoic look on his face. He opened his leather baton carrying case and worked with us for several sections (I’m imaging a music store somewhere with a selection of batons and cases from which to choose).
He was about done when Dr. P asked him how he felt. He replied that he was terrified. It was his first experience standing in front of 30 or 40 players and giving them directions. He also admitted to not being able to hear one sections performance on that section. Dr. P encouraged him to stand off the podium closer to that section to listen and then to suggest the other instruments play a little softer to let the target instruments stand out more.
Those suggestions made sense to me but her next suggestion caught me off guard. She asked the young man if he thought his body language on the podium may impact the players. He was afraid and nervous and the implication was that we, the players would pick up on that and have to interpret what he was meaning by his body language. That interpretation may be in a negative manner. He smiled and Dr. P pointed out how that might make us feel more at ease and so he incorporated more smiles in the rest of his time on the podium.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” - Proverbs 17:22 ESV
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” - Romans 15:1-7
The next guest conductor, who is the band director at one of the Topeka Schools, was working on refining his conductor skills. He was conducting when Dr. P stopped him and asked us what we looked at to determine the beat - the baton or his wrist. Some said baton, others said wrist. She asked us to play our favorite note and then she put out her hand towards the band. We instinctively got louder. She explained that by waving a hand towards the band, which a lot of conductors might do to get you to soften your playing, actually makes people play louder.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:26-28
It amazes me how the small things matter. It has taken me a lifetime to slow down what I am doing to pay attention, at my limited ability, to some of these small things that might derail what I’m trying to get accomplished.
Maybe that is why the sunrise is so beautiful…
