I finished reading The Giver last week.
I read the book because I kept referencing it to my kids in lessons. I realized that since the last time I read the book was 2008 or so I should read it again. (I wanted to make sure I knew what it was I was referencing.)
The story is about a futuristic society that has worked out all the 'kinks' in life. Everybody is extremely pleasant and cordial to each other as they follow detailed and legalistic codes for daily life. There is no pain, no warfare, no starvation. All aspects of life for every individual are carefully constructed and designed by a group of elders. I think I remember reading only 50 new children (max) are born each year - I suppose to control population growth. All is 'Sameness'. There is no weather, no true emotion, no deep thought, and nobody can see in color (or hear music, we find out later).
But one boy, illustrated in the picture above, begins to see in color. He can See Beyond.
Seeing Beyond is what I'm referencing to my kids these days. It's the phenomenon in music, or any practice, when perception of a thing begins to change because one has been looking at it hard enough for a long enough time. Specifically, this concept is coming in handy for my high schoolers that are working on transposition. At some point, I tell them, you will look at a C, but you will see a B-Flat. You will See Beyond.
Another reference I've used this semester is the scene from the Matrix where Neo comes back to life. After his resurrection he can See Beyond. He can see the true reality. If you need a refresher, here is a clip:
I'm still growing on my horn (I hope I never stop!), and there are many things I'm learning and relearning. I had my own Seeing Beyond experience this year. I was working in a musical that had a two week run. In the second week, in maybe my 30th hour of playing through the musical, things looked and felt differently. I felt as if I was peering down the lead pipe of my horn and could actually see the music I was making. Before, I could hear what I was playing; and I even felt it. But then, after, it was as if I could see the musical sounds I made.
I'm certain that on the surface this all sounds pretty ridiculous. However, to truly know something, I believe one must know it in every aspect. We have five senses, don't we? Hearing, Taste, Smell, Touch, and Sight. What if you knew your craft deeply with every sense you possess? (True, this Seeing Beyond may be less with the eyeball and more with the mind's eye. That makes me wonder if we have a mind's ear/mouth/nose...)
This is obtained after a long period of looking at the subject at hand. Neo had to crawl before he walked. He had to throw himself off a building and fight lots of bad guys. He even had to die before he could open his eyes and see things the way they really were. But then, after two hours of filmtime, Neo arose as the man he was made to be. He saw floating numbers, defeated Mr. Smith, and saved humanity.
This kind of seeing, thinking, and processing through whatever you are doing will make you a deeper musician and person. So go deeper! Look at something long enough so that you can See Beyond!
