Looking Up

Back in high school, I played violin for my city’s youth orchestra. Our conductor would always stress that we needed to look at him. He sets the tempo, pace, and dynamic and acts as the glue that allows us to play as one cohesive unit.

When I first started playing for the orchestra, I wasn’t very good. One reason was because my eyes were glued to the notes, I was only focused on what I was playing, and I rarely looked up at the Conductor.

I started to practice more and I’d learn the pieces by heart. While I still mainly focused on the notes, I’d ocassionally glance at the conductor making sure not to miss a cue.

Sometimes we get so focused on the daily grind of work and life, that we forget to “look up”, and inevitably lose track of what’s important.