On Saturday, we were invited to Yo-Yo Ma’s rehearsal at Tanglewood.
The first piece was Schumann’s Concerto in A minor.
Before playing a note, Yo-Yo Ma invited both the orchestra and the audience to reflect on the quality of daydreaming, reminding us it’s a powerful state we all know, yet often forget.
He spoke about how daydreaming can be soothing, joy-filled, and creative, often inspiring answers to perplexing questions while filling our hearts and souls with delicious energy. He shared that this is exactly what this concerto evokes for him.
Me being me, he had my full attention.
The conductor, Earl Lee, who is less than half Yo-Yo Ma’s age, then shared how, as a child, he had a videotape of Yo-Yo Ma playing this very concerto at Tanglewood. He would watch it repeatedly, dreaming of one day conducting the same piece.
The surprise and delight on Yo-Yo Ma’s face as he heard this for the first time was palpable. I’ve been blessed to see Yo-Yo Ma perform before, but witnessing a rehearsal offered an intimacy I hadn’t experienced.
What touched me most beyond the music was the energetic flow between a master who has perfected his craft and each person in the orchestra, and how that energy transformed the experience for the audience.
Sidebar: I intentionally didn’t use the word perform because he was in a state of being, not performance.
I’m confident this concerto is something Yo-Yo Ma could play in his sleep. Yet he used his energy to invite everyone into the experience—an extraordinary moment only available if you were willing to put down your phone, your to-do list, and any other distractions, allowing yourself to be fully present to receive this joyful medicine.
Each of us has skills and practices we excel at—things we could do in our sleep. So my curiosity is this: How can we each integrate the magic of Yo-Yo Ma, using our overflow of energy during these moments of unconscious competence to pour into those around us who are learning and growing?
Perhaps this practice could even elevate what seems like a mundane, everyday experience—one that we don’t need to buy a ticket for.
Love + Magic,
Amber
PS: Send me a field report. I love to read them.