Yo-Yo Ma Once Said To Me...

No really, he did, just today. He said to me "You must be the architect of your own life". It was in relation to balancing my passion for the arts in my life. I love playing piano, bassoon, teaching bassoon, teaching music, teaching music history/appreciation, performing arts management, jewelry making, etc. I can go to work at an arts center and still be a bassoonist. I can still teach - teach my friends - teach my coworkers - teach students - just teach. I can still play - play at work - play at home - perhaps play in a symphony - just play. It goes on from there, I'm sure you get the point.

This conversation could not have come at a better time in my life. I have been spending many hours laying in my bubble baths wondering if I'm going the right direction in my career/life. Guess what, folks? Your career is not your life. Being the architect of your life leaves what you do totally up to you. Perhaps I do work in arts management, who's to say I can't also teach music history some day? Who's to say? I'm no longer going to say.

I can do whatever - jewelry maker/knitting/bassoonist extraordinaire. And soon I'll have my bassoon to prove it.

Note: In case you're wondering why Yo-Yo Ma was telling me this, I work at a fabulous place that allows its staff fabulous opportunities like this. Maybe my being able to talk to him today was one of the reasons I didn't get some recent job opportunities I interviewed for.

Things happen for a reason.

And hey - here's Yo-Yo Ma with another artists making an appearance at Walton Arts Center later this spring - Bobby McFerrin.


And these guys have been to Walton Arts Center too - playing with - you guessed it, Yo-Yo Ma


(hehehe, Fayetteville, Arkansas gets quite the line up)