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Metaphors, Music, and Mindset: An Essay on Excellence

Writer's picture: Wake and DistrictWake and District

Excellence is a concept that resonates deeply in music, art, and life. It’s not about being perfect but about striving for something extraordinary. Let’s consider this through two contrasting musical pieces: the simple, familiar “Chopsticks” and Beethoven’s intricate Sonata Pathétique.

On one side, we have Chopsticks. It’s a tune almost anyone with access to a piano can play. It’s straightforward and requires minimal effort or skill. The rewards for playing it are equally modest—it doesn’t challenge the player or leave a lasting impression on the listener.


On the other side is Beethoven’s Sonata Pathétique, a piece of depth and complexity. Mastering it demands serious commitment, technical skill, and countless hours of practice. It’s rare for someone to play this piece well, and that rarity makes it remarkable. The rewards are immense—for both the performer and the audience.


So what bridges the gap between Chopsticks and Beethoven’s masterpiece? Hard work. While we often attribute excellence to talent, one of history’s greatest composers, Johann Sebastian Bach, believed otherwise.


There’s nothing remarkable about it,” Bach said. “All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time, and the instrument plays itself.” His humility underscores an important truth: mastery comes not from innate ability alone but from industriousness. Bach also noted, “I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well.”


The lesson is clear. Whether your goals are musical, athletic, or academic, the key to success is the same: demand much of yourself, work hard, and aim for the extraordinary.


This principle applies to everything we do as a band. Whether it’s learning new music, honing technique, or performing as a cohesive group, excellence requires commitment. It requires us to move beyond the familiar and easy, toward something challenging and exceptional.


Be industrious. Do the work. Choose the path of excellence. Be uncommon.

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