25/09/2025
PUT THEM IN A MUSIC ENSEMBLE
When a small town wanted to curb the growing sense of disconnection among its youth, the local community center launched an experiment: they formed a music ensemble. At first, the teenagers who signed up barely knew each other. Some came from different schools, others from different social groups. Many were shy, withdrawn, or unsure if they even belonged there.
On the first day of rehearsal, the conductor handed out sheet music and asked them to play together. The result was chaos—different tempos, clashing notes, no harmony. But instead of scolding them, the conductor smiled and said, “Good. Now we know what happens when we don’t listen to each other. Let’s try again.”
Over weeks of practice, something began to change. The drummer learned to soften his beat so the flutist could be heard. The violinist realized she couldn’t just race ahead without waiting for the cellos. The singers discovered that breathing together kept them in sync. Slowly, the noise turned into music, and the strangers became a team.
By the time of their first performance, the youth weren’t just playing instruments; they were playing with each other. They had learned patience, respect, responsibility, and the joy of creating something greater than themselves.
And long after the applause faded, the bonds they had formed remained strong—because in learning to make music together, they had also learned how to live together.
“Want young people to work together?
Put them in a music ensemble.
Want them to listen to each other?
Put them in a music ensemble.
Want them to learn the importance of personal responsibility?
Put them in a music ensemble.
Want them to connect?
Put them in a music ensemble.”
~ Vaughan Fleischfresser
🎶🎹🎧🪗🥁🪇🪘🎻🎸🎺🎷♥️
