Sandbox

How many things are you missing?

January 28th, 2009 by Sandbox

Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces in less than an hour. During that time, about 2000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After three minutes, a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. Four minutes later the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk. After six minutes, a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

Five minutes later, a three-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.

After 43 minutes; the musician stopped playing. Silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any kind of recognition. Only six people had stopped and stayed for a while. About twenty gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected 32 dollars.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a Stradivari Violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments, how many other things are we missing?