I Sing for a National Symphony Orchestra Conductor

. . .at least 3 times a week.
How amazing is that? How remarkable to think that I get to call this man who conducts this prestigious orchestra my friend.
How incredibly arrogant would it be to think I know better than him about anything musical. How incrediblyarrogant would it be to think his "advice" to me is to be nodded at patronizingly and my own counsel kept in the area of music.
How incredibly arrogant it is to argue with him in rehearsal about anything musical.
And yet - people do it all the time.

No one is perfect, least of all me or, for that matter, my conductor. However, when one sits in front of a master of their art- being teaching, lawyer-ing, ministering, or conducting one should assume that your grasp of the situation is probably less complete than the master in front of you. Back to the day of the "masterpiece". You are an apprentice, or at best a journeyman until you have produced your "masterpiece" in your field of endeavor. I am justifiably proud of my musical achievements - but they hold not a candle to my achievements in education. I am not now, nor will I ever, achieve "master" status in my chosen field of avocation.

What am I saying? That when we criticize or argue with a master in the field we had better be absolutely convinced of our position before we sally forth to do battle. I am often amazed at the lack of respect the chorister gives the conductor. Why is it that musicians who have never been to music school insist on arguing with someone who is successful - beyond successful in their field? Why is it that they insist on arguing with someone who has kept an arts group afloat for over 25 years? I don't get it.

What would I like to have happen? That everyone that I know would realize that they don't know everything. That they can learn if they keep their mouths shut and their opinions quiet until they have all the facts necessary to sally forth. THEN, if you are absolutely sure you know whereof you stand, then and only then should you respectfully question.

Sometimes we forget that our "friend" is also our leader/teacher/master in this area. Taht we absolutely do NOT know more - and that's okay. That our opinion, while still your opinion, is not applicable to the situation. And that if you are absolutely convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are right about how you sing, how the person next to you sings, how you feel about what is being done - then sally forth. Go, do battle. Be prepared, even then, to understand that you might lose - not because you are wrong - but because you are an apprentice.

Learn from those who know. Learn from experience. Learn from mistakes. But don't let your sense of pride keep you from learning. Sometimes you might be surprised that your carefully held convictions about how something "is" are wrong. I know I've been surprised many, many times in the last 4 years. I intend to go on being surprised and therefore increase my knowledge base by learning how to build my own masterpiece.