4 Responses to “Stop and Hear the Music - Audio”

1. Clea Holdridge Says:
   April 21st, 2010 at 8:40 am

   Hi, Mike Robbins, truly, a great example of missed opportunities.I appreciated the children in the story, who were still aware and expressed a desire to stop and listen. With appreciation, Clea Holdridge.

2. judy Says:
   April 22nd, 2010 at 1:40 pm

   sometimes we dont realize the beauty of those we are close to. we dont take time to really listen. on the recieving end of this attitude, i know how much it hurts. MY JOB is to be conscious that i am not that way to the rest of my family. not having time for family is a crime. assuming that they will always be here, is presumptive, and it is easy enough to reduce the feeling of loss by taking the time to PAY ATTENTION to those we say we love. we miss family in the course of our busy lives. we owe it to ourselves to schedule them in if we have to. they dont have to know. what they will remember is that we appreciate them.

3. Rani Says:
   April 22nd, 2010 at 9:06 pm

   This story has really touched me. I am a musician myself and I love music and especially the music from J.S.Bach. And love string instruments like the violin or the violoncello.
   But it is not only about music. It has to do with attitude and where and how I place my priorities. Priorities require some time, of cause, but they do not necessarily need to take up much time.
   Some time ago I made friends with some stray cats in my neighborhood. Some of them became my best teachers. They taught me to slow down, to remain flexible, to take time with them, to appreciate just being together and exchange affection for sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes 10 minutes, rarely more than 15 minutes. That is all it requires to make them happy and to feel their appreciation and love also changes me and my attitude towards life.

4. PaulG Says:
   October 21st, 2010 at 9:27 am

   I came across your email from April 20th this morning. I was very touched by the story of Joshua Bell appearing incognnito in the DC Metro station. My purpose is “Through the gift of musical instruments, we empower children to experience the powerful joy of music!”. I founded Bring On The Music, http://www.BringOnTheMusic.org, earlier this year to fulfill this purpose. My motivation came from a very profound experience of re-introduction to my true passion for music that had been sitting idle for 43 years. As a young man playing clarinet, I ask for a better instrument to keep my musical journey in motion, but was denied due to financial challenges. I retired the clarinet as I graduated from high school. On November 8, 2010 at a seminar, I portrayed that story before 250 attendees with tears in my eyes. A women approached me after I spoke, and whispered in my ear, “When are you going to buy the clarinet?”. I began to see this puzzle-like picture before me of a mission to help children with access to musical instruments. You see, the women had just handed me the final piece of the puzzle for my future direction. I could only respond with an emphatic and emotional, “I know!”… We finished with an enthusiastic hug. Within two days, I made the decision to start a non-profit to fill this gap with children around the world. By March, 2010, we were up and running and beginning to serve children here in Colorado. Our goal is to place 100 instruments during the current school year.
   Music is one of the most powerful forces that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Think about the positive influence that Joshua Bell had on many of the 2000 commuters going through the DC Metro station back in 2007. We can wish and will that he had a positive impact on all 2000 people.

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