“A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. Du...ring that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

 

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

 

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

 

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

 

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

 

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

 

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

 

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

 

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people.

 

The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

 

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?”

Rather profound. Thanks for posting it.

A few problems with this study IMO:

 

1. If you're pretty good at violen my ear isn't good enough to tell if you're just pretty good or world class.

2. Nor do I care. It just doesn't do anything for me.

3. People have schedules. They're not going to stop for a violin player that is unknown by 99% of America.

 

The overall point, though, is correct.

It's the world we live in. Many more people would've stopped to watch Terry Tate because, to them (me included), it's more entertaining.

 

But, point taken.

I'd like to know how many 100/seat folks passed him by.

 

And why does it have to be flawed? Hell, the study proved a point.

I'd like to know how many 100/seat folks passed him by.

 

And why does it have to be flawed? Hell, the study proved a point.

 

What point did it prove?

the article is fairly self explanatory. Because you have no ear for the violin you poo poo it. What if it was something you would have enjoyed more? Guitar, or something in your vein.

the article is fairly self explanatory. Because you have no ear for the violin you poo poo it. What if it was something you would have enjoyed more? Guitar, or something in your vein.

 

If the point was that people are too busy to appreciate what most consider to be enjoyable music then the world-class violinist, as talented as he is, was the wrong way to prove it.

 

It's like the old joke about the guy who waves his hat out of the bus in order to keep elephants away. When he explains that to another passenger the passenger says "they're no elephants around here." Guy says "See? It works."

 

A better experiment would have been something that has broader appeal.

 

To me this just showed that people aren't impressed by extraordinary violinists.

If the point was that people are too busy to appreciate what most consider to be enjoyable music then the world-class violinist, as talented as he is, was the wrong way to prove it.

 

It's like the old joke about the guy who waves his hat out of the bus in order to keep elephants away. When he explains that to another passenger the passenger says "they're no elephants around here." Guy says "See? It works."

 

A better experiment would have been something that has broader appeal.

 

To me this just showed that people aren't impressed by extraordinary violinists.

Well it didn't happen in KY. Or they'd have had a world class whiskey jug blower on hand.

I'm with Clyde. I don't give a crap about the violin, how it sounds, how much it is worth or who plays it. I wouldn't have stopped if I was just kicking it for the day as a tourist with no shedule. The study proves nothing other than people don't care about the violin. Throw an underground rapper with a beatbox sidekick and I bet I stop and probably kick in a few bucks if they are good.

 

 

And if that means I am not cultured then I'll say you're right. I don't need knowledge of fancy instruments to prove myself.

I'm with Clyde. I don't give a crap about the violin, how it sounds, how much it is worth or who plays it. I wouldn't have stopped if I was just kicking it for the day as a tourist with no shedule. The study proves nothing other than people don't care about the violin. Throw an underground rapper with a beatbox sidekick and I bet I stop and probably kick in a few bucks if they are good.

 

 

And if that means I am not cultured then I'll say you're right. I don't need knowledge of fancy instruments to prove myself.

I don't disagree with that premise. However, it was done in a place that is supposedly more cultured. And those people in that area just filled an auditorium at a Benjamin an pop to listen to that cat.

I don't disagree with that premise. However, it was done in a place that is supposedly more cultured. And those people in that area just filled an auditorium at a Benjamin an pop to listen to that cat.

 

You ever been in the subway system in NYC? Culture doesn't exactly jump out. Plus, those people are from all over the country.

I'm with Clyde. I don't give a crap about the violin, how it sounds, how much it is worth or who plays it. I wouldn't have stopped if I was just kicking it for the day as a tourist with no shedule. The study proves nothing other than people don't care about the violin. Throw an underground rapper with a beatbox sidekick and I bet I stop and probably kick in a few bucks if they are good.

 

 

And if that means I am not cultured then I'll say you're right. I don't need knowledge of fancy instruments to prove myself.

 

Agreed. If they disguised Doug E Fresh and he was beatboxing I, too, would stop to enjoy his skills.

A few problems with this study IMO:

 

1. If you're pretty good at violen my ear isn't good enough to tell if you're just pretty good or world class.

2. Nor do I care. It just doesn't do anything for me.

3. People have schedules. They're not going to stop for a violin player that is unknown by 99% of America.

 

The overall point, though, is correct.

 

^This. And, getting to those things that pay one's bills takes priority over music appreciation. It is what it is.

awesome article, I love the violin, I wish I could play it.