Just Waiting. What Will Happen?

I've always loved the sight of an empty stage, set up and all ready for the musicians to appear. I guess it's just the potential for creativity, the promise (and the hope, of course) that something good will happen. This picture is keyboards, but I really like the sight of a nice drumset, too, with light reflecting from golden cymbals.

The process, after all these years, is still mostly a mystery to me. Some nights the music flows and seems new, and maybe even pretty good. Other times it is more difficult, and nothing "really happens." Why? Don't know.

This scene of the workplace was from a recent pool party in Atlanta. The music, with Del and Jen, was special. Who knows why? Maybe something in the air. The realized potential of the untouched instrument . . . .

It's interesting to hear about new uses for music. This morning, NPR did a piece (on Morning Edition Sunday) about a town in California--Lancaster--where the mayor is experimenting with playing quiet music and nature sounds through speakers downtown.

Here's the story. Though some residents scorn the idea, most seem to like it. And it makes sense to me. If the army sometimes uses rock and rap music at high volume as a weapon, then why wouldn't quiet music calm people in a similar way? Of course, we know that it does--and Muzak has reams of research to prove it.

So, bravo to the mayor for taking a unique step to bring a measure of relaxation and peacefulness to the people of his town. Let's hear if for a slower pace and more quiet music!