Selflessness

I think one of the keys to creating good music is selflessness. Why does an orchestra work so hard to play everything so perfectly beautiful? So that the audience benefits from it. Why does a marching band practice so many hours in the heat to learn drill and clean up the music? So that the crowd at the game enjoys it. In return, why does a performer practice? To improve his tone, technicality, intonation, etc. so that he can better create a beautiful musical performance, as a solo or ensemble performer. In ensemble playing, you can't be the savior; playing f in the one p part does not make you cool. Consistently playing out of tune because there is no way you are wrong . .. also not cool.

I remember having a similar conversation with one of my friends on the last Wind Symphony tour. The performance is all about the audience. We do it for them. If we play wanting to receive all the recognition, or if we want them to think we are to be worshiped for our wow-factor--then I think we're doing it for the wrong reasons. The performance may be pristine and technically perfect, but I think it will lack the connection that makes music meaningful.

But if we perform wanting them to have an enjoyable, spiritual and moving musical experience, the musical connection is more likely to be there (even if we miss a few notes here or there). It makes me think of the two plans that were presented in the pre-mortal life. The plan is for US, not for the person who presented it. He wanted US to be able to return to live with Heavenly Father; he wanted US to have that connection. And even if we mess up on a few things in life, the connection is still there. And that's why, to me, a true musical performance is one of the most selfless Christlike acts there is.