Do Your Craft
“If we were a medical school, and you were here as a med student practicing appendectomies, you’d take your work very seriously because you would imagine that some night at 2 AM someone is going to waltz into your emergency room and you’re going to have to save their life. Well, my friends, someday at 8 PM someone is going to walk in your concert hall and bring a mind that is confused, a heart that is overwhelmed, a soul that is weary. Whether they go out whole again will depend partly on how well you do your craft…”
An excerpt from a speech delivered to freshmen at Boston College by Karl Paulnack, then Director of Music Division and member of the piano faculty. Dr. Paulnack is now the Dean of the Music Department at Ithica College. You can read more about him here.
