Reflections on part-time playing music

First off, thanks to those who came to support the simple and meaningful concert the last 2 days. It was nothing like Elvis Costello or Stomp I’m sure, but free is very hard to beat 🙂

Thought I share an anecdote about the final of the 4 sets we played. During the 4th set, we saw an interesting mix of audience, and for the first time, we had kids younger than 6 (who couldn’t get into the concert hall no matter how expensive the ticket is) in the small and cozy audience, listening to a brass quintet probably for the 1st time. They clapped enthusiastically after every piece (and after every emcee explanation too). That already made my day – as they are probably my youngest audience I’ve had for a while (having been playing inside the concert hall for most performances)

As the set ended, the audience was pleased. But none of them as pleased as this couple who came and talk to us after we took a quick picture. The couple were from Scotland; they happen to be in Singapore for a 10 day visit, and confided to us that they also have trumpet playing son. The mother, who is a music teacher herself, was pleasantly surprised to learn that firstly we have quite a number of music schools here, and more importantly, that most of us are doing something else to feed ourselves. She continued lamenting that half way around the world, it’s the same, that merely playing music as a profession does not help you buy a house, get married etc.

Reciprocally, I also shared that there is no other way I could play full time as there’s only one orchestra in town offering employment full time. I neglected to tell her that even that orchestra couldn’t break even without additional help from the government. However, we shared the same sentiment that it was important that we continue to make music this way, reaching out to people who would never step foot in the concert hall. When I told her that Esplanade is offering free concerts at the concourse _every day_ she was so totally thrilled. It seems like she have found a new purpose in all her 10 days of visit in Singapore. We left rough instructions on getting to the nearest music shop, hoping that she will find the scores that she needed as well.

Now this couple really made my day

Just think about it, what’s the chance of meeting a foreign couple all the way from Scotland in a busking like concert on a Tuesday evening and leaving an impression on (i) the quality of music that the group performed, (ii) the attractiveness of an arts event venue that could never bring in enough audience to appreciate the finer side of life, and (iii) even the country’s culture and economic impact on musicians, which resonated so much with her family and her circumstances half way across the world too!

Her parting advice, turning back towards the seat where the enthusiastic child that sat next to her was: “keep playing, if nothing else it’s for the children.”