I grew up with parents (and an uncle) who were accomplished professional musicians. So naturally I began taking trumpet lessons early—around the fourth grade.
It became my passion and eventually brought me to performance in many genres of music. I listened to various trumpet players—from Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie—to Maurice Andre and Timofei Dokschitzer (an incredible Russian musician). I listened to jazz and classical and even rock fusion bands like Blood Sweat and Tears and Chicago, always listening from the prospective of the horn player.
While I focused on the individual performer, I frequently lost sight of the music that surrounded them. I later came to appreciate how flawlessly those top performers melded with the musicians that encapsulated them.
I can see a parallel in our world today (or at least in our country). We focus on the actor, musician, athlete, CEO or politician who makes the headlines or newscasts. But we lose the perspective of the needs of society.
Idolizing an individual deflects our thinking from how we can help each other succeed to striving to be soloed out as special or unique.
Yes, the elite athlete is a wonder to watch. The consummate actor might be brilliant, but no one does it alone. No one succeeds without the help and support of others. While Thomas Edison got all the glory, it was his team who created the success.
It has become apparent to me that our thinking needs to shift to a broader perspective of overall benefit FOR each other. The “ME” focus is a broken model. We see it in politics all too clearly. Our training (or at least mine), was to focus on the individual, but there is another way of looking at it. I can idolize and appreciate Mozart but his work only comes alive when the orchestra is playing.
Let’s shift our thinking to encompass a wider perspective of “us” for “us.” It’s time.
