Music is an interesting phenomenon.
It's easy enough that many individuals have found that after learning a few chords, they can make their own music. And truthfully, some of it isn't half bad.
But then...there's the serious stuff.
As any highly-trained classical musician will tell you, there are compositions that will keep you up at night due to their complexity. One practise session won't do it, so the musician gathers their instrument - piano, violin, voice, or other - and gets to work trying to get a handle on the piece. Repetition, deep thought, repetition, frustration, repetition, pursuit of perfection, repetition; the hall marks of the professional musician. Being able to go over the same sections of a work, over and over, without the requisite bouts of fear and yes, even anger at times, is the hallmark of what greatness will finally occur.
And here's a thought...
Think of a symphony orchestra. Each member is a highly-trained musician who has spent countless hours perfecting what they do, almost always in solitude and the expense of giving up some perhaps more instantly-gratifying activity. (Which professional musician hasn't yearned to go outside on a beautiful summer day, instead remaining indoors just to perfect that pesky trill passage?)
Now imagine 40, 50, 60 or more of these musicians gathered in one place to play a single work. The symphony concert has begun.
Think of the number of accumulated, behind-the-scenes hours of work that are present. If each person carries a minimum of 10,000 hours to achieve their professional status, well then, you do the math.
Of course it is true that very many other activities require the same amount of work. But hopefully there aren't too many amateur doctors out there like there are amateur musicians, "performing" on their own."
Next time you hear any type of music, think of the total number of hours that are hidden from view.
