Window [Sep 23, 2011]

Today I discovered that opening my window and playing  towards the street is a great way to make new friends! I made one today. His name is Jackson :)  It was kind of funny.  So I live on a well-trafficked road. Usually when I play, people don’t figure out where the music is coming from until they’ve nearly passed my house. They tilt their heads a little, look around, and then keep on moving. And then they find the source. But its too late because they’ve already reached the next house.

But today my new friend heard the music, pulled off his headphones, and decided to lean against a tree to listen. I was nearing the end of the song, but  I decided to repeat a few lines and return to the middle to indulge him :) I wasn’t sure if he could see me or if he was just soaking in the music from an unknown source. But then he pulled out his phone and fumbled a little…almost as if to say, “I’m not really listening even though I am.” 10 seconds later he put his phone back in his pocket and then walked back in the direction he came. He stopped about 5 steps into his stride, now directly across from me (he on the sidewalk, me behind a window), and continued to listen. He cocked his head to the side and looked down the block.

I continued to repeat a few lines and re-repeat different parts of the song, and then gracefully ended it. My audience clapped :)

“Excuse me, I just had to stop and listen! You have a great voice!”
“Thank you! Thanks for stopping for a bit.”
“Do you have any music?
“Yea, I do. I actually play out quite a bit.”
“Oh yea? What’s your name?”

I ended up leaving my house and walking outside. His name was/is Jackson. He was a kid who lived around the block (probably 19 years old). We went on to talk about the fact that there is a group of high schoolers in my neighborhood who have a punk band and go by the name Ike. But, according to Jackson, they’ve recently changed their name. Pfew! That would’ve been some serious competition! :)

I gave Jackson one of my business cards: ”Hmmm…’loves people, hates shoes, makes music.’ Wow! I do all these things too!  High-five!” We high-fived. Very few people go for the high-five. This is how I know that Jackson is cool.

So…i really like music because it is like an open window. It connects people. It says what words cannot.  It opens communication and provides common ground. People are so beautiful and I think, just like eyes, music is a window into the soul. And most importantly, music is a conversation. It’s never really finished until it has an audience.