Tonight is an unusual one for me. This month has been marked with 2 student competitions, 1 student recital, and 3 concerts. Tonight, instead of worrying about a devilishly difficult passage or frantically checking my phone to see if a missing student has called, I am sitting in my seat at the Saenger Theatre waiting for the Pensacola Civic Band's performance to begin. The concert, entitled "Party Down", boasts many exciting features: a great guest soloist, Jonathan Martin; one of the most difficult pieces attempted by this group, Festival Variations by Claude T. Smith; and a surprise that I may or may not be privy to :). But the best part is that my only role in tonight's performance is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the music.
I feel that many musicians are doing themselves a disservice by not attending enough concerts, recitals, and other performances. I understand the reasons that some have for this.
I work with music all day; I don't want to spend my free time going to concerts.
I'm so tired from teaching all day that I just want to stay home.
And while I totally understand and empathize with these feelings, I think there is something to be said for taking the time to experience music in a way you maybe haven't in a long time. Tonight, I am not analyzing the music or the ability of the players (at least, I am going to try as much as possible ;)). I am going to sit and remember what made me fall in love with music in the first place. I'm going get captured by the melodies, drink in the harmonies, enjoy the myriad of tambres from the different instruments, get swept away with the rhythms, etc. I believe we would all be healthier and happier if we took the time to remind ourselves of what is was that made us fall in love what we do. Oh! And my wife just happens to be the principal flutist for this group, and she's pretty much awesome. That makes enjoying this evening even easier ;)!!!