Last week I saw two things which on the surface didn’t seem connected, but turned out to be entwined. First, I attended a local high school’s Spring Chorus concert. The performances from the various choirs were good, but when the number of singers was small — the soloists, duets, quartets, etc. — various weaknesses were apparent. Mistakes were even made. But the students didn’t seem to mind a bit; they beamed throughout, unfazed by hitting wrong notes or forgetting phrases. I thought the teachers must take the warm-hearted, make them feel good about themselves, approach. As opposed to the stricter, more demanding type. You remember, the ones who can make you cry.
I was bothered by the mistakes, but wondered if perhaps they were worth the students having a good music education experience. I thought hmm, maybe for this age group it’s better to have them feel good about performing. To be confident and happy.
A few days later, I watched the American Masters episode on PBS about dancer/choreographer/director Jerome Robbins. Which is well worth watching for a lot of reasons, but what I want to discuss here is how I was struck by how many of his dancers and actors commented on how demanding he was. How hard he pushed. How he was never satisfied, either with their work, or his own. One actor told a story about Robbins directing him in Fiddler on the Roof. After dress rehearsal, Robbins told him his performance was so weak that as the director he felt sorry for the other actors, and it made him want to walk out of the theatre. The actor said those comments hurt him deeply, but also way down deep, there was little voice that said, “you know, he’s right.” And after he recovered from the sting, he focussed on improving his performance, and got much better in the role.
I think all creative people can benefit from that kind of painful, demanding expectation. I know I’ve received comments on my fiction that stung so much I almost couldn’t see they also had merit. But like that actor, deep down inside I could hear a little “yes, yes, there’s something to this” voice. I want to open up to that voice. Listen hard for it. And then push myself hard to make my work better.
Here, here. Demanding is good. I think soft creates soft. Although not necessarily for kids when they’re just doing something for fun. But us adults? Bring it on, baby.
I feel like this is something I already knew, or halfheartedly knew, if that makes sense. But watching the profile of Robbins reminded me of how vital it is, and how easy to avoid. Because it hurrrrts.
And I think talented high schoolers should be pushed too. Not in a mean way– the teachers should respect the limits of the age group. But achieving a really great performance is worth not feeling warm and glowy about yourself all the time.