THE SITUATION

In Washington DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a Stradivarius violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:

*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

Very thought provoking.

Since my dx and subsequent loss of my job I've had alot of time to just "think". I believe one of the best things about having this disease is that it has forced me to slow down......to really take in my surroundings and look at things from a different perspective.

I think if I was present during this "concert" I would stop and listen....because now I know that beautiful things can happen even in an environment where one never expects them to.

I LOVE the violin. I would have plunked myself down and listened. applauded and cheered. I too since my dx have slowed down to smell the roses. I cant help but think in my working life, I would have loved the music, but wonder if I would have slowed down for it. makes me sad to think about it.

I love this post, Thank you.

I think the did the experiment in the wrong place. Peeps are always in a hurried trans when in a train station.

They should have done it on the streets of NY. Ppl are in a bustlely hurry there too, but they always have time to stop and chat or stop and listen....Or in Central Park.

WOW!
he should come here to St. Augustine and try the same experiment.
i'd love to listen.

my MS has also made me slow way down. i'm more patient with myself and everyone else too.

thanks for the post. that was a very nice read.

Great experiment. Honestly, on my life, I'd have spotted him

I'm a b-i-g fan.