PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
PERCEPTION
(Excerpt from a Washington Post experiment)
Washington, D.C. Metro Station on a cold January morning. A man with a violin plays six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately two-thousand people passed 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.
4 Minutes Later
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 Minutes
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 Minutes
A three-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated with several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move quickly.
45 Minutes
The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 Hour
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the price of seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an appropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: 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 ever made....what else are we missing?
PERCEPTION
(Excerpt from a Washington Post experiment)
Washington, D.C. Metro Station on a cold January morning. A man with a violin plays six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately two-thousand people passed 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.
4 Minutes Later
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 Minutes
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 Minutes
A three-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated with several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move quickly.
45 Minutes
The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 Hour
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the price of seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an appropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: 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 ever made....what else are we missing?
Steve Butters
sbutters@staffordschools.net
Jeff Howard
jhoward@staffordschools.net
