Friend and fellow trumpeter John Kool shared this quote with me recently and I just had to pass it along. Applications abound in our daily work, family life, and musical endeavors.
“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
Henry Van Dyke
As with most true nuggets of wisdom, this inspires on so many levels. Whatever you do, by all means, give it your best…but it’s a rare thing indeed to be so good at something that no one else – on the entire planet – can do it better.
SO WHAT? Do it anyway!
It’s a liberating thing to know that you can do your best and stop worrying about the outcome. :-)
Keep playing,
Mark
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Someone passed along a nugget recently and it has been bouncing around in my head ever since. Hopefully it will do the same for (to?) you.
Our friends at 48 Days posted a quote from noted theologian A.W. Tozer that dealt primarily with a person’s vocation, but applies equally well to our avocation, our passion, of music:
“It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, but why he does it.”
A.W. Tozer
So…why do you do it?
Whether overtly or covertly, whether we realize or admit it or not, we’re all spiritual creatures…and music touches us at our very deepest level. Most of us play music of various types, and most play both sacred and secular music, depending upon the occasion.
Regardless of what you may play, take a moment to think about it. Why do you do it? Coming to an understanding of the ‘why’ may help you reach a deeper understanding of yourself and take your music to a whole new level.
Keep playing,
Mark
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I believe that this quote is the first fictional quote I’ve ever shared here, but it’s just too good to keep to myself! If you’ve never read any of the stories about legendary British adventurer Allan Quatermain, written by H. Rider Haggard, you may want to check them out – they’re good. :-)
But to the quote! We’ll discuss it a bit after the fold.
“Always try to be good, my dear, and to do what is right, rather than what happens to be pleasant, for in the end, whatever sneering people may say, what is good and what is happy are the same. Be unselfish, and whenever you can, give a helping hand to others — for the world is full of suffering, my dear, and to alleviate it is the noblest end that we can set before us.”
Allan Quatermain, fictional protagonist
from the book Allan Quatermain
This is not only good advice for living in general, it cuts to the heart of what music really is and does. Have you ever turned to your favorite music, either by playing it or listening, to help you work out or move past a particularly challenging moment? Whatever your musical preferences may be, music truly is a gift that alleviates human suffering. The best part is that it treats both the performer and the listener at the same time!
If you’re interested in reading some of the adventures of Mr. Quatermain, please visit the following links:
Allan Quatermain books at Amazon.com
Allan Quatermain Kindle books on Amazon.com
The books are very reasonable (especially on Kindle and via the free Kindle reader apps for computers and mobile devices – as cheap as free!) and make for excellent, adventuresome reading…and a good life lesson every now and then. :-)
All the best,
Mark
For more information on Allan Quatermain and H. Rider Haggard, please see this article on Wikipedia.
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Tags: Allan Quatermain, alleviate, Flossie, good, H. Rider Haggard, noble, pleasant, quote, sneering, suffering, unselfish
Quote of the Day | admin February 16, 2011 | 
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Almost every musician has one or more pieces that, once heard, they will never forget. Some people even take up an instrument specifically because of a particular selection. While some of our non-music-playing friends may not understand this, it’s something everyone with a “playing addiction” can readily comprehend.
Today’s quote speaks directly to this:
“Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory.”
Sir Thomas Beecham, British conductor (1879-1961)
If you have a particular piece that began your musical journey or has inspired you along the way, pick it up and play it from time to time and let its magic wash over you again. And when you get a chance, share it with someone else. They just might get caught up in the magic, too. :-)
Keep playing,
Mark
Additional information:
Wikipedia article on Sir Thomas Beecham
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Tags: British, conductor, difficulty, facility, great, magic, memory, music, quote, Thomas Beecham
Quote of the Day | Mark January 25, 2011 |
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Plato had his critics, but on this, he couldn’t have been more correct.
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”
Plato
What more can be said? May your music give wings to your mind, flight to your imagination, and charm and gaiety to your life.
Keep playing,
Mark
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Tags: charm, flight, gaiety, imagination, law, life, mind, moral, music, Plato, quote, soul, universe, wings
Quote of the Day | Mark January 19, 2011 |
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