structure (usually the cello/bass, but not always) lies, and how their part contributes to the whole. This process places an enormous responsibility on each member of the group. Much as the trapeze artist in the circus depends on the catcher’s skill as well as his own, each player in the Ensemble depends on his fellow musician to play correctly in order to be accurate himself. This can be scary. In fact, performing on the stage of Carnegie Hall can feel a little like a trapeze act without a net! In order to gain skill in playing as a section, new members of the Ensemble meet for extra lunch-time practices. This is above and beyond their private lessons and regular Ensemble rehearsals. More experienced players take on leadership roles during Ensemble rehearsals, leading sections and demonstrating specific passages. The rewards of the rigorous pursuit mentioned above are many. Playing great music is thrilling, and communicating it with an audience can be life changing. Yet there is another, less obvious reward: the camaraderie with those who share this rigorous pursuit. I see this before every rehearsal as the boys greet each other with friendly banter, competing to see who has arrived first, sharing what’s new for the day or sports gossip from yesterday, while simultaneously putting the finishing touches on a math assignment, all before the conductor calls for tuning to begin. There is an unspoken, but deeply felt pride in the awareness of the extra level of effort all are making to reach the lofty goal of excellence in music making. It is a challenge no less rigorous for the boys’ parents, demanding endless patience and determination to keep the boys at it, through the inevitable plateaus and downturns. In many years of teaching, one of my greatest joys is seeing that moment when the student takes on this rigorous pursuit himself. It may be a certain piece, a performance, or just the
camaraderie of rehearsals that ignites from within a fire that can last a lifetime, putting the young musician in touch with the inner experience of great art. Finally, Saint David’s boys are motivated by challenge. I have come to realize it is the very “rigor” that ultimately attracts them as much as the final goal of the perform [??H] ?[??H[H?]Y?[ ] ????&R[?[??&\????\?? \?\?X???\?Z\??[?[???\?Y?\? \? ??[X??]H ?Y???\? \??Z] ??? H[?]\?X??][?[?HY\ HYX[?[??[X?]?] H H??\?X^H [?\?Z?H[? Z\???\??^H ????[?????Y[?]?Z[?]?Y8?&\?[??^[? ?? ?H[?Y?\?\?X??? H[??[X?H]?Z[?]?Y8?&\???[?X\? H[??[??[??[X?H ?ZX\??[[???[X?\? ? LK???BB???[?\? ? L?? ?8?(?? ? ?B??