Make Every Note Count

When I was in college studying classical piano, I had the distinct pleasure of studying with an exceptional Juilliard-trained concert pianist/professor named Donald Walker. He worked me hard and demanded my best. As piano playing is an art, it has subjective elements to it, and in any given week I wasn't always sure I was successfully translating his instructions into my piano playing. Often I would show up for lessons nervous that I was going to come short of his expectations for that week. The process at times could be uncomfortable. But as we all know, it is in times of discomfort where the true growth often happens.

During one lesson in particular, I was playing something very technically demanding. In those types of moments, since there was so much to "keep track of", it was very easy for me to fall into the trap of focusing all my efforts on just "getting the notes right". In those moments, what would ultimately suffer was the musical (expressive) element of the piece I was playing.

As I was playing, he started talking loudly into my ear, "Make every note count!! Every note MUST SAY SOMETHING!!!" It was loud and distracting, but he got his message across. This was his bottom-line message that has stuck with me to this day. Think about it for a moment. Music is a heart language. It is meant to be emotionally expressed, not played like a computer or robot. Every note is played for a reason, and must be given respect and have an intended purpose. EVERY note. It must SPEAK. This philosophy has done more to impact my piano playing than anything else and I am grateful for his commitment to passing that wisdom along.

As time has progressed, I have realized that this same philosophy should guide how we live our lives. Let me explain. Everything we do (in other words, "every note we play") must have purpose, must have meaning. It must SAY SOMETHING. Whether it be our actions, our words, our conduct, our thinking... all of these are our "notes". People are watching us, observing us. As Christians, we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ. All our "notes" should SPEAK to the world of our love and devotion to Him. Every "note" should honor Him. No exceptions. I encourage each of us to keep that in mind. Whether you are a musician or not, please let's all make EVERY NOTE COUNT for the kingdom!

Let me leave you with this, from Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks for God the Father through him."

To God be the glory.

Peter

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Scripture quotation from the NIV, ©1984 Biblica, Inc.™