Play one note; then the next note; then the next too.
Play one note; then the next note; then the next too.
#117 - triple concert fun and now for some studying
Apologies for missing last week, here it is, doubly good after a fortnight to work on it!
Hi there,
To describe the (previous) week as anything other than musical would be wrong - 2 fabulous concerts - my last as a Vesey student - and then watching an even better one at Symphony Hall. To balance the scales, I’ve had a long weekend of revising, but it has felt rewarding to put the hard yards in and have tried to ‘work hard and play hard’.
Enough clichés, let’s get down to business. Oops…I did it again!
Highlight of the week: tough competition but I’ll have to go for the Symphony Hall concert. A breathtaking array of music, the best of the best pieces, put together to savour on a Friday night not too far from home - sounds like heaven to me.
Having performed in my first concert ever all the way back in Year 7, bringing my musical time as a student to a close was poignant. From a squeaky Year 7 who sang in the ‘Super 7s’ choir as a class to playing 3 instruments and singing with a smile on his face by choice, it has been a journey. However, it is these last two concerts that I properly enjoyed - because I was in the moment.
You never know what it’s like to do your last of anything until it actually is. As I was (killing it) on the saxophone in the first Seniors concert, that thought of “this is the last go” struck me like a sforzando - sudden, unexpected and loud.
From that point on, I made a very conscious effort to enjoy the rest of the night, every little part of it: not shying away from humming along to the trumpets when I had a rest, giving it my all when my lips had enough with the oboe, jigging along to the tunes on the glockenspiel, clapping along to the rock bands and singing heartily in the choir.
Speaking of the choir, I’d left my sheet music and lines in the music block, leaving my hands naked without the safety blanket of having my words with me. I got through the first song, taking quick glances at the music of my ‘neighbours’ and smiling when I was fluffing the words - a deliberate attempt at embracing the imperfection. And thankfully, the teacher conducting us had spare copies for the next 2 songs.
Do I feel as though as I look back more fondly on these concerts than the 20-odd others I’ve performed in school? Not necessarily. But I felt as though I was present, in the moment, living every piece, taking care with each note and crafting a full sensory experience. I had discovered the true joy in living in the moment because it’s a good thing in and of itself and not for some future satisfaction.
Later through the night, however, I had a revealing thought - why leave it to the end? Why does it take till the very last concert, the very last 8 bars of the piece, for me to take the time to enjoy it? We should be soaking it all in all of the time.
The justification my mind throws up is, “You always feel as though there is another one where you can fully cherish every moment. For now, it’s about getting this piece done and then moving to the next one, helping with the stage in moving stands and chairs and lights. Is the next piece right behind the sheet music for this one or am I going to have to faff around? Will my oboe reed hold up all evening?” - fluttering and flustered thoughts that prevent you from living in the moment.
When I was reflecting on this the following day, a teacher made an interesting point that “sometimes, you don’t know when it is the last time you get to do something”, which is very true. It makes it even more important to get the most enjoyment we can from what’s right in front of us.
It reminds me of one of the best speeches ever made, in my opinion - Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address (transcript). Here is a part where he talks about finding what you love.
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
This is the core principle behind the Stoic idea of ‘Memento Mori’, the practice of reflecting on mortality, which is the one certainty of life. One of the Stoic philosophers, Marcus Aurelius, writes about “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think”.
It is unconventional and uncomfortable to think about life as having an end and how something may be your last go at it. However, it is all possible in our world. This can be debilitating, but we should choose to be humbled and empowered not to waste any of our time and live life to the fullest.
Living in the present is a magical feeling, taking each moment for exactly what it is and enjoying it as much as we can. This week, take the time to pause, look around you and soak up the experience of doing something - you never know if you’ll get to do it again.
A nice post by Calm if you want a bit more convincing and practicality about being in the moment - https://www.calm.com/blog/how-to-be-more-present.
Podcast of the week🎙️
The Daily Stoic: Adam Grant On Hidden Potential And Measuring Yourself Against Yourself
Two wonderful modern thinkers record a conversation together, lovely ideas explored as usual.
Thing I’m grateful for this week 🙏
My mum for making a few beautiful teas this week, without me asking. Sweet, warm and soothing - a perfect accompaniment along with some Classic FM for solid revision.
Quote of the week 💬
Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. Winston Churchill
My last full school week ever; here’s to trying to get it right this time at last and enjoy the company of friends.
Adi