Savour the Small Moments

Spring Break was over, I was returning to mountains and mountains of school work, there are 8 weeks left of the semester, time is quickly draining the remainder of time I have left to spend with my friends, and I was just barely getting over a cold. Needless to say, I was in no way excited for this last portion of the semester to start. To top it all off, I was feeling a tad under the weather, and so the conclusion to the week had been rather bleak.

Then, while sitting in my room, I suddenly hear a burst of music. At first, I thought it was loud music blaring from the room next door, as it natural for music to exceed the normal decibel level, particularly during late study hours. After listening intently, I deduced that it was not the neighbours next door nor was it my roommate playing her music loudly through her headphones. I peered through the window, asking myself where the origin of this music was coming from. I opened the windows, and to my astonishment, there was a band playing outside the dormitory doors, on a bench. A young man was singing beautifully on the guitar, while he had 3 accompanying violists and a percussionist. The young man was singing a rendition of Billie Jean with violins and drums filling the air, as the stars twinkled in the late evening sky. 

With the vocals growing louder, more and more windows began to open, with curious people peering out of the window, perching their necks to see where this beautiful music is coming from. Laughing quickly to myself, I noticed that some dangled their feet from their windows, while others chose to document this moment via instagram (no judgment, this includes myself). With the audience growing in size, the musicians continued playing. All playing spontaneously, without instruction or command, they desired to play out of the volition of their hearts, displaying their extraordinary talent, ranging from vocals to percussion to strings. With the quintet eerily in sync without ever having a single practice together, the music soared throughout the dorms, with the sound of windows being opened growing quickly ubiquitous. Transitioning in and out between acoustic versions of Thrift Shop, Boyfriend, and Don't You Worry Child, they also began to play instrumental pieces, all of which sprang spontaneously, in the heat of the moment. The pleasing sound of violins filling the air, the tranquil strumming of the guitar produced a sweet sound in the ears of those listening, as the drums kept the rhythm, akin to the constant beating of a heart. 

With a slight breeze blowing across my face as I continued listening to the wonderful music, it did not feel like I was school. The scene unfolding in front of my eyes reminded me so closely of summer, as if I was at an outdoor concert, with my feet perched laxly on the grass, with the summer heat radiating off my skin. I could close my eyes and I could envision myself sitting in the grass under the warm summer sun listening to music. It was one of those moments that did not feel as if I was living in the present moment, but rather felt transported through time. I could see myself lying in the grass, the smell of ocean water lingering in the air, the sun caressing my skin, and aroma of summer dancing in the atmosphere. I felt young and free. 

I do not go to a musics school by any means, but all the students in my midst are abnormally musical, playing several musical instruments. In that moment, I felt that I was a music school, with a group of music lovers gathering outside to play the song of their hearts. Still glancing out the window, I felt privileged to observe such a sweet but beautiful moment. It was a moment. As the music slowly producing a visceral decrescendo, the audience applauded, and I couldn't help but smile.