This morning I decided I wanted to listen to classical music, specifically Mozart’s Concert Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in D. I put on my ear phones and sat looking out into the snowy darkness. The snow has been so heavy where I live that I’ve not gone anywhere for exactly one week today and most likely it will be another day before the roads in my neighborhood are passable.
As I have been listening to the music, something struck me. I thought of all the hours the people playing on the recording practiced their respective instruments. From the time they picked up their violin or oboe or sat at the piano, they were dedicated to learning to play their instrument. I thought of the hours they spent learning their scales, the hours they spent practicing the same pieces over and over.
I remember walking down the halls of the music department when I was a music major in college and the cacophony of sounds that flowed through the air. Each student was in their private practice room working hard to master their latest piece of music. We never criticized each other for our imperfections. We knew we were practicing for the next recital or test and didn’t expect perfection during the practice phase of learning the piece.
As I listen to the music this morning, I am grateful to each of the performers who were dedicated to learning their craft so well that they were chosen to perform on this recording. I’m grateful to all the people who were dedicated to their crafts whether making my iPod, the headset, the technology that allows me to access and download the music without leaving my home - amazing.
Every second of every day each of us are the recipients of other people’s dedication to their skills whatever they might be. Other people are the recipients of our dedication. When we feel stuck or discouraged and want to give up whatever it is we’re doing, maybe remembering all the people who will enjoy our dedication can motivate us to keep going. I’m grateful each of the musicians on this recording never gave up and shared the joy of their craft with the rest of us. Thank you!
