Pictured here is the Hughes Middle School Symphony String Orchestra playing at Disneyland February 6th. As a reward for their hard work all year, and for putting on a show, they are treated to a day at the happiest place on earth. The audience "crowds" consist of a sparse set of passersby and a few that pause for a song or two. Normally, such a small and distracted crowd might be very discouraging to performers. There is something more here that is unseen to the performers. What I’ve see the past two years standing in the back of the pavilion and along the walkway is how their small contribution may have a very positive effect to the listeners.
Last year there were a few parents that stopped with their small child and listened to the piece… and pointed out the instruments, etc. They only paused a couple of minutes. I wondered what impression that may have left. May-be none at all. Then I thought perhaps that child, or even that parent had never seen a symphony string orchestra in real life. Where so much is digitally created, I’m sure that many do not realize how music is actually created. Music was not part of my home growing up. And THEN to see a group of young people (just a couple of years beyond the childhood of elementary school) playing flawlessly, how astonishing! And how empowering if the parent or child thought, “you mean kids can make music like that?!"
This year an older woman stopped to listen with her husband. “oh my, how beautiful!” she said over and over again to her husband. From her tone, I could tell that she was very moved and that words to fully express her emotions escaped her, for they were in the music.
Often, we never realize the what contributions we make every day, or how those contributions may influence someone to a grow or choose a different path. How empowering to know how we all can make a positivie difference.
