The Art of Possibility 9 of 15: Partnership in the Pit
February 2, 2010 by dr. lam
Zander recounts when he went down to Cuba to conduct with the local maestro a combined orchestra of American and Cuban players. The Cuban maestro began the orchestra trying to play a difficult piece that highlighted the Cuban rhythm. None of the Americans could get the swing of it. In frustration, the Cuban maestro screamed out, “Enough. They can’t do it.” Zander lept to the stage and asked each Cuban orchestral player to teach his/her adjacent American counterpart how to play the piece. With a lot of pride on their faces, the Cuban players zealously taught the Americans, and in a short while to the amazement of Zander and the Cuban conductor, the Americans and the Cubans played together flawlessly. The Cuban conductor nodded in assent.
Then it was time for Zander to lead the orchestra. He had picked a very complex piece by Bernstein, “the Overture to Candide”, of which the score he had sent 3 months earlier to give the Cubans plenty of time to practice to get it right. Startled to find that the score had languished at the Cuban post office, Zander turned ashen at the prospect that the orchestra would not be able to master such a complicated arrangement so quickly. However, he thought brilliantly that now the Americans could instruct each of their Cuban counterparts on how to play this difficult piece, and again the playing went forward without a hitch.
I like the saying leaders lead leaders. I try not to create followers but leaders who can lead even better than I can. That is my passion and my undying vision for my practice, my building, and for all of you faithful blog readers!
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6 Responses to “The Art of Possibility 9 of 15: Partnership in the Pit”
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Wow! I really like this concept! I never really contemplated the fact that leaders could lead leaders and a nice story to show it.
I’ll remember that! That is a great passion and vision, Dr. Lam!! Keep it up! 
Thanks for all your hard work and vision for even us blog buddies! 
i really do appreciate your appreciating it! i finished 18 blogs in the last few days and they are super fantastic coming up!
Awesome, Dr. Lam!!!
You’re a super blogger! 
Still got to catch up on your other awesome blogs that I missed last week! Will get to them soon!
Can’t wait for your new ones coming up!!! I won’t be able to sleep! lol
haha!
That was a sinister laugh! errrr!