This had better not be the last time

We are in the season of spring concerts for many bands, choirs, and orchestra. For seniors, and their parents, they may be viewing these performances as a last time. But I’m here to tell you, and to be absolutely clear, it had better not be your last.

First of all to the directors of these ensembles and student students: Are we serious about every student forging a lifelong relationship with music as part of their enrollment in our groups? If that answer is yes, then it is incumbent upon us to encourage lifelong music making. I acknowledge there are limitations – vocational choices, geographic, locations, social opportunities – but the reality is there are ways for them to continue to be making music. Whether it is in a chamber group, a quartet, or perhaps even going beyond and joining a large community ensemble, we should be making every effort to make them aware of those opportunities. For those moving on to collegiate and university opportunities don’t be afraid to reach out to those directors and let them know a student is coming down the pipeline. There are music ensembles at bases just the same for those headed to the armed services. The opportunities are there, and they are waiting to be revealed and shared.

I will say this as an observation: if the best students are saying they do not want to sing or play anymore, it would give me pause. If the experience they have been through has drawn the joy of music making from them and convinced them there is nothing left to experience – that’s a problem. Remind them, the next experience is not supposed to be their high school experience. It is supposed to be different, full of working with different people, working on music they perhaps don’t know, and working towards experiences that will enrich their lives.

To the senior musician: I know you are headed into a time of transition personally as one chapter concludes, and you begin writing the next one. As you start to frame in this next part of your journey, I ask have you enjoyed making music with others? Have you enjoyed the company and interaction with a like-minded person in an ensemble setting? Have you enjoyed sharing your skill and artistry with your community? If you answered yes, then why stop playing or singing now? I cannot think of a compelling reason for that part of your life to be drawn to a conclusion. I acknowledge there may be nerves balancing an intense academic major in an educational setting with higher, real-life career stakes. I remind you that your middle and high school music ensemble gave you a surrogate family and home in which you grew, flourished, and found your people. You might be meeting new faces in a community group or a collegiate ensemble – but please trust me: these are still your people. They are simply the ones you just haven’t met yet. They understand a whole note still gets four, and would be delighted to share this part of your journey with you.

I am fortunate to have two really amazing experiences on the same weekend in late April. At the PMEA state conference, I was honored to have my piece “A Festival Celebration” performed by the Montgomery County Concert Band under the direction of a good friend Chuck Neidhart. During the concert a show of hands from the ensemble indicated 75% (my estimate) of that band does not have a career/day job in music. Performing in this group is simply something they do on the side because they love it and they enjoy it. The very next day I was part of the Boyertown Alumni Marching Band’s 50th anniversary celebration concert. I wrote a commemorative work for them, entitled “Golden Festival Overture”. Here again visiting with them during their Friday night rehearsal for the concert, I would estimate that close to 90% of that group does not have a career in music. In both cases, there are lawyers, doctors, salespeople, computer technicians, nurses, delivery drivers, school teachers, bank tellers, and other professions represented in each of those groups. Music is the bond. In the case of Boyertown, where all of the participating members are alumni of the school district, it was beautiful to see the camaraderie and the kinship that has been forged over decades of playing together and enjoying the process of making music and service to their community. It was even more touching at their reception to see many of them take to the dance floor to connect with each other and live in the memories of an experience that enriched their entire lives. My good friend and colleague Rachel Cornacchio started a group in the Mechanicsburg area – The Threefold Cord Women’s Choir. This treble group is comprised of women from a span of years and life experiences. They meet on a single day for rehearsal for a few hours, they break bread, and then they present a public concert. The end result? Community, musical, and personal enrichment for all of those involved and participating. There are so many other success stories of these kinds of ensembles and the culture, joy, artistry, and community they bring to their towns.

So what I ask is very simple: please find a way to keep making music as part of your life. Not just throwing on your playlist while you’re working out or going for a walk or driving in your car on the way to work. Community ensembles highlight the lasting power of music in how it shapes each generation. Seek a way to stay active musically. Find a group to perform in. If that is not readily available, talk with others who are like-minded and see if you can start a group to enrich each other’s lives. You have nothing to lose but the opportunity of experiencing the life-long joy of making music. In a just push play society, be a music maker – a dreamer of dreams, a mover and shaker of the world forever it seems. Life, love, music.