𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬

When you play the cello

As the bow slides across the string

you feel the vibration against your chest

And hear the instrument sing

Gliding through the notes alone

As your fingers dance

Something magic happens

Playing in the orchestra

Looking at the music

It doesn't sound like much alone

But when the violins, violas, cellos, and basses

Begin to play their separate parts together

And a song begins to form

Something magic happens

Wood against your body

A bow in your hand

Sitting in the living room

Trying to remember how the song went

One more time you think

Using everything you know

The sound comes out

Not like a dying cat

Or a breaking race car

But like a singing bird

Something magic happens

Sitting on a stage

Among your friends

500 strangers watching

Your stomach begins to knot

Worries fill your head

You begin to doubt yourself

The conductor waves their hand

And music fills the room

Something magic happens

January 2021

When I wrote this, I had been playing cello for around 1 1/2 years. This one was based mostly on a memory that's still burned into my brain. I was in 5th grade in beginner orchestra, and we were learning to play a well-known song. Well, the advanced orchestra came in to play with us, and I remember clearly all the different parts blending together and... I have no real way to describe it, it sounded exactly like the song was supposed to, but there was something else there. Something that you only get making music. Something... well, magic.

Happy Holidays, friends!