[MD] Joshua Bell piece in the Washington Post

[Khaled Alkotob]

I have shared the story with a fried who is a local musician, I thought I
would share his comments here. 
Khaled

-------------------------------------------------------------
Very interesting story. It does say a lot about American values -
hardworking, on time, concentration and focus on where we're going. Also
illustrates the weakness in those values. Yeah, you could be on time to
work every day for thirty years, but one day you might just miss
something like this.

I liked the comments about context as well, with the painting in the
coffee shop. In a big city like Washington, I'm sure you're bombarded by
street musicians, artists, crazy people, what have you. When do you let
your guard down enough to really pay attention? If you let your guard
down all the time you'd go crazy in no time.

I also like Bell's comments about his frustration with the audience-no
audience. I've played to the backs of people sitting at bars, to people
walking around a walk-a-thon. If  people don't pay for it up front, they
find it has no little or no value, whether that be music, art, writing.

-V-