I just watched an oldie 60 minutes report on a piano competition that happened in the 70’s. It showed 60 to 80 contestants vying for a first place that will give them fame and fortune. Every judge knows how high the stakes are. This is a make or break situation, really. If these people do not get chosen, they will simply not be able to have a job in music. At least, that what the narrator indicates. As the report moves on, there are less and less pianist still playing. I believe the final will have six contestant, no more. Now, the judges ask what they want to see: “Can you play a bit of that Mozart sonata?”, “I’d like to hear the Beethoven again”. It’s a sign they want to evaluate fairly. After all, the life of someone is at play here. The pianists bathed in their sweat, holding onto their nerves, afraid and eager to play all at once. They are super focused, they have practiced so much for this event. They are a mess, they are heroes, they are what you want to be and they are what you don’t want to be.
The last part of the competition is in front of an audience. The theater sits more than 500 people. Meaning it isn’t just family and friends that watch. It’s even more nerve wrecking.
Spoiler: don’t read pass this if you don’t want to know how it ends.
At the very end, the narrator warns us that there is only one winner that’ll be chosen. Sometimes there isn’t a winner. And, this time, yet again, nobody gets the crown. The audience is disappointed, you can hear the boos shooting across the room. But can you imagine the performers? Something is getting crushed inside, something extremely precious and vital to their being. You can observe the destruction on their face. Actually, no, not really. They take it rather well. They’re not giddy, but they’re not crying either. Why? you might ask (Excellent question, by the way). I am going to venture a guess and say that any of these people know that they’re is life outside this theater, this circumstance, this competition. And that life can be very, very sweet. Let’s imagine some options.
Maybe some are teaching in different institutions and discovering they really like it. Maybe some are part of a chamber orchestra and touring, getting some applause and some substantial pay check. Maybe some are doing some concerts as solo artists or accompanying a singer and they’re about to sign a recording contract. Maybe some are in a jazz band or a rock band with a solid calendar and plenty of fun an money attached to it.
My point? When you have a set of skill, don’t narrow down what you can do with it. It’s a big world out there and musicians have something precious to offer.
Here’s the 60 minutes segment: