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Finding Your Note When the World Gets Loud

I grew up with music in our house. As kids, we all had piano lessons, and my brother, in particular, was very talented and also had a beautiful singing voice. So, I will still often listen to music; I enjoy the complexity and nuance of how each instrument layers, expands, supports, or takes the song in different directions, but always blending into something amazing.

Join the Band

How we experience each other every day can be viewed in the same way. A collection of instruments joined together and making sounds. Some of us are in a small ensemble, some a large band, and still others in a symphony, large and complex.

We are each a unique instrument/player, making our distinctive sounds. We learn how we feel about our own music, and we learn to see how what we play affects those around us, and how their music affects us as well.

As with any group, the sounds blend and together, creating a song, music that fully expresses our individuality, but also the larger themes that include those around us, creating a song that is more than any one instrument could ever create.

When a Song Becomes Noise

While we learn and grow in a group that shares a common tune, there are times when we may want to change our music, or others have done this, and we may hear discordant sounds, or even noise that can disrupt the amazing complexity of the larger music. This can be good, as we learn what works and what we want to hear and share, or it may be difficult, as it creates unpleasant sounds we must work with.

In our lives, we will also encounter different conductors in different settings. Some work with smaller groups to guide the music, and some work at a larger scale. Good conductors can help us know our best selves, help us see larger patterns and choices of where the music can go and be shared, and encourage us to be our best expression and see our music lift and grow, delighting those around us.

Sadly, we can also experience conductors at different levels who are not focused on harmonizing and enhancing the music of the group; then the music, despite our individual instruments and efforts, may start to sound messy, disjointed, and be more noise than music.

When this happens, it can easily feel frustrating, unpleasant, and we naturally may want to simply quiet our own instrument. Or we may attempt to get louder in hopes to drown out the noise around us. Both choices are understandable, but they lead to more stress and less enjoyment of the whole song.

Playing Your Part

How can we, in these noisy, difficult situations, restore harmony and create a bigger song? It can start by listening to your own music, and where you shine best with what you do. Then, also listening to those closest to you, and working both to share your sound with them, and also harmonize and blend with just them, ignoring the larger sounds for the moment.

The goal is not to match your neighbor note for note; rather you maintain your own unique sound, but you stay aware of others and work to align more of the song, matching tempo and range, allowing a stronger joined sound that together, moves from noise back to true music.

As this continues, the energy will shift and spread through the larger group until many are now sounding more balanced, complimentary notes that together tell a larger, richer story; one of laughter, sadness, joy, hurt, love, and peace.

Not everyone will want to join in. Others may take time to hear the different music and join; and still others will need to learn again how to simply make music and not just loud noise.

Remember, even a few of us, playing clear notes, sharing and focusing on doing our best to create a new harmony, can and will quickly change the whole song to one of beautiful music.

Love, and until next time.