Perception: An Email Forward

The Situation

In Washington D.C. 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 3 Minutes: A middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds then hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 Minutes Later: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money into 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 walk again.

At 10 Minutes: A three-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. The 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 six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.00.

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 was aware that this violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where seats sold for an average for $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

The Experiment

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

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?