Thursday Thoughts

I'm currently holding a job as a marching tech at Mt. Carmel High School's band. Our night rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. Last night, we finally finished learning the last of 68 sets for this year's field show, "The Legend of the Fifth Sun." Throughout the rehearsal, the kids were distracted and unfocused; after repeated attempts to get their attention, they finally, grudgingly made it all the way to the end of the show. While some students were giving their all, others were sliding by, or sometimes not even playing with the band. I was struck by this obstinance; why would musicians not want to finish something they'd been working on for almost two months?

After a couple run-throughs of the show, most of the students got the idea and started playing and marching as well as they had learned. The show improved dramatically; the overall sound was better, and each of the 68 sets were finally starting to make some sense to the audience. It occured to me as I was watching this improvement that an organization's maximum effectiveness is determined by its least contributing members. The efforts of committed individuals to improve the whole can be eclipsed by a single individual. The impact of unity can be compelling, but the selfish individual who does not make the same commitment to the group lessens that impact.

We all have the same goal in mind: to uplift man through the beauty and power of music. Even though our talents and our methods are diverse, our purpose is the same. Remember: Work for Sinfonia, and Sinfonia will work for you.