Rudyard Kipling was a prolific author who published 21 books and dozens of other literary works. He was a best selling author with an international reach. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 for his "power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas, and remarkable talent for narration."
And while the entirety of his writings allows him to stand among the greats of his time, for most of us, he will always be fondly remembered as the author of the timeless childhood classic, The Jungle Book.
Kipling's life was not always an easy one. He endured multiple hardships, including illness, bankruptcy, and the untimely loss of those he loved. But through it all, he wrote, and wrote, and wrote until he passed away in 1936.
The Jungle Book is a beautifully written story about self-discovery, family, and finding a home. It helps us to understand that being a part of a pack does not mean you all look, act, and think the same way, just that you share the same mission, passions, and are willing to act in the best interests of those you love.
This lesson is driven home when the loveable Baloo sits Mowgli down and explains to him The Law of the Jungle. Baloo explains:
"NOW this is the Law of the Jungle - as old as true as the sky; And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk the Law runneth forward and back - For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack."
This is as true in the jungle as it is on a jungle gym.
Last week, after a few in-service events, I spent the remainder of the week at the National Association of Music Merchants Convention (NAMM). For those of you who are unaware, the NAMM Show is described as "the world's largest trade-only event for the music products, pro audio, and event tech industry."
To say that the event is overwhelming would be an understatement. Vendors build two-story booths complete with soundproof meeting rooms, twenty-foot video walls, and fully operational television studios. All of this for a four-day event.
The amount of time and money spent is as impressive as it is staggering.
As I walked amongst the hoards of people and towering displays, they served as a stark reminder of how big this industry is. And yes, just because we don't use flash pots and stage rigging (yet), we are still a part of the same industry.
Maybe it's just me, but events like these always make me feel small (insert short joke) and disconnected, which is ironic, because the whole purpose of the event is to make connections.
I am Mowgli, seeing the city for the first time. Yes, this is my industry, and many of my colleagues and friends are here as well, but this is not the jungle I grew up in.
This Mowgli sees his new pack, and it is different than what he is used to.
While much of the NAMM show is geared towards professional gear, audio, lighting, and instruments, that does not make them foreign. They are a part of our pack, just as we are a part of theirs. We don't always act like it, but it is true.
I wish our two worlds were more intertwined. I want to understand them better. I wish we collaborated more. I want to get to a place where we ALL speak with a singular message and a unified voice.
MANY amazing organizations are doing incredible work in advancing the cause of music education. And, they are making a difference and having an impact. Truly they are.
But I can't help but wonder if we wouldn't all be a little better off remembering the words of Rudyard, and Baloo, when they remind us that, "The strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack."
It just seems like this would be the Bare Necessity.
Have a great week.
- Scott
p.s. If you haven't signed up for our #YouMatter campaign, you should. It's pretty nifty.