WHERE ARE YOU ARTURO?
In 1937, the NBC Orchestra was brought to life specifically to serve under the baton of renowned conductor, Arturo Toscanini. Widely considered the finest orchestra of it's time, the group rehearsed, recorded, and performed at NBC's renown Studio 8H, which currently houses the cast and crew of Saturday Night Live.
Toscanini was the original and sole conductor of the iconic group until his final concert on April 4th, 1954, at Carnegie Hall.
It was during this concert when Arturo suffered a significant memory lapse brought on by an ischemic attack. He retired at the age of 87, leaving behind an epic list of accomplishments, concerts, and recordings that unquestionably establishes him as one of the great musical minds of all time.
But he was no saint.
By all accounts, Toscanini was not an easy person to work alongside. He was known for being curt, irritable, and disagreeable. But then again, so were the diva musicians he was leading.
Many outsiders minimalized and marginalized his impact, but his musicians respected and revered him for what he was able to do with them as an ensemble.
With no Toscanini, the NBC Orchestra floundered for a bit and reorganized as the Symphony of the Air, until it disbanded in 1963. Despite having more talent than any other orchestra on the planet, without their leader, they were unable to find their footing and continue forward.
The collapse of the world's finest orchestra shows us that conductors matter and that leadership is essential. If nothing else, a good leader can establish a clear vision, delineate shared goals, and point people towards a common destination.
The COVID crisis has me feeling a little bit like a group without a director. We are a profession FILLED with incredible, creative, diligent, and hard-working professionals who will do ANYTHING to help their students find success. Still, I feel like we are missing a leader. Someone to assess the situation, triage the damage, and get people collaborating and working towards a common goal.
Triage the damage: What industries and activities are getting hit the hardest? How bad is the damage (musical, financial, and otherwise)? What resources (instructional, informational, & organizational) do we need to support those in need?
Get people collaborating: Assemble the troops (the entire profession), create a unified voice, separate into like-minded groups (education, businesses, professional collegiums, b/c/o, elem/MS/HS), and brainstorm solutions. Create a plan that will help us not just survive this crisis, but to GROW music education over the long term.
Move towards a common goal: Break down the areas and establish best practices and shared resources into prioritized and actionable plans. Produce and promote the tools/products/collateral necessary for us to succeed, not just in real-time, but moving forward.
In times of crisis, we need a singular voice, presenting a cohesive and coherent message. That does not necessarily mean a single person, but a group of people speaking as one. But it's not there.
It's not the first time I have felt this way. I distinctly remember feeling very similar in the aftermath of 2008. It's one of the main reasons we created Be Part of the Music. It was a group effort, working towards a singular goal. I believe that this crisis represents a similar opportunity, and it feels like we might, once again, miss our chance to unite, create, and collaborate as a community.
Don't get me wrong, there are MANY incredible organizations (private/public/educational/philanthropic) that are burning the candle at both ends and putting together INCREDIBLE resources, and I do not, in any way, mean to minimize their contributions and achievements.
But, I believe that we would be better served with a conductor. Someone to tell us where to start and how to end. Someone to prioritize the melody and help us find harmony. Someone to provide a direction, insist on collaboration and accept nothing short of our very best.
To be clear, I do not fancy myself that person. And, I am not Polyana enough to believe this to be a simple task. There are institutional boundaries, instructional territories, and professional careers on the line. But it needs to happen.
This will not be easy. It will likely ruffle some feathers and bruise some egos. It will require personal sacrifice and professional pain, but in the end, it will be worth it. Make no mistake; we can do this.
If that need is being met, and I am missing it, that is my blunder, and I apologize. But, we are the very best educators, artists, manufacturers, publishers, and music advocates the world has to offer, and the moment is at hand.
But, I find myself looking around and wondering: Where are you, Arturo?
We need you more than ever to bring the music back.
p.s. This week's webinar is called COVID Stir Crazy - Connecting With Students In An Online World. This webinar is for ANYONE who is teaching or connecting with their students online. The webinar will be hosted on The BAND App. You can RSVP here.
p.p.s. I am hosting all previous webinars on my website. If you missed any of them, you can watch them here.