DEAR BPYO AND OTHERS GOING ON TOUR TO GREECE, 

I WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT ROZ, MY PARTNER IN POSSIBILITY.  YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT ROZ AND MANY OF YOU HAVE READ, OR AT  LEAST SEEN, OUR BOOK THE ART OF POSSIBILITY. SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE GRASPED THE CENTRAL ROLE THAT SHE PLAYS IN MY LIFE AND IN THE LIFE OF THE  BPYO. BUT MOST OF YOU REALLY DON’T KNOW HER AT ALL. 

I ALWAYS SAY: “ROZ IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK WE CO-AUTHORED”, BECAUSE,  THOUGH THE ART OF POSSIBILITY IS FULL OF MY STORIES AND EXPERIENCES, AS  WELL AS MY PHILOSOPHY OF CONDUCTING AND TEACHING, IT IS ROZ WHO  FASHIONED THE THINKING AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF TRANSFORMATION WHICH  IS AT THE HEART OF THE BOOK AND ALSO THE BPYO. YOU ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE  ROZ EVERY WEEK IN THE ASSIGNMENTS I GIVE OUT. SHE IS THE SOURCE AND  INVENTOR OF TRANSFORMATION. SHE DEVISES GAMES AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR  TRANSFORMATION AND I CONSULT WITH HER EVERY WEEK ON OUR  ASSIGNMENTS. BUT THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN THAT. 

HERE’S THE STORY: 

ROZ IS A FAMILY THERAPIST. A COUPLE DROVE FROM NEW YORK TO CAMBRIDGE  TO HAVE A SESSION WITH ROZ TO DISCUSS THEIR ROCKY RELATIONSHIP. THEY  ENTERED HER OFFICE AND SAT DOWN TO WAIT FOR HER TO COME DOWN FROM  THE HOUSE. THEY BECAME INCREASINGLY BEWILDERED AND IRRITATED UNTIL  THEY REALIZED THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO APPEAR. WHAT THEY DID NOT  KNOW WAS THAT ROZ WAS IN COLORADO SPEAKING TO A CONFERENCE AND  HAD FORGOTTEN THAT SHE HAD DOUBLE BOOKED HERSELF. FINALLY, THEY  TURNED TO EACH OTHER AND SAID: “WHAT WOULD ROZ SAY?” THERE THEN  FOLLOWED A LONG AND FRUITFUL DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM  ABOUT THEIR MARITAL PROBLEMS, AFTER WHICH THEY CHEERFULLY LEFT THE  OFFICE, DROVE BACK TO NEW YORK AND LEFT A CHECK ON HER DESK FOR THE  USUAL FEE. 

ROZ CREATES ABOUT HER SUCH AN AURA OF CLARITY, LOVE, WISDOM AND  ENLIGHTENMENT THAT EVERYONE IS AFFECTED BY HER PRESENCE, AND ALSO,  APPARENTLY, EVEN BY HER ABSENCE! 

WHAT I AM HOPING IS THAT ROZ’S SPIRIT AND WISDOM WILL BE GUIDING US ON  OUR WAY AND WHEN WE RETURN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL HER THAT WE  WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE TRIP WITHOUT MISHAP AND THAT HER GUIDANCE  AND INSPIRATION ENABLED EVERYONE TO STAY “ON TRACK”. I AM SURE THAT  THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN WE WILL BE CONSTRAINED TO SAY: “WHAT WOULD  ROZ SAY?” BUT IF WE ARE GUIDED BY THE PRACTICES OF POSSIBILITY THAT I  OUTLINED IN MY TALK A WEEK AGO, I FEEL SURE WE WILL MANAGE FINE, EVEN  THOUGH SHE IS “DOUBLE BOOKED”! 

I AM ENCLOSING A TRANSCRIPT (MORE OR LESS) OF THE TALK I GAVE TO AN  EARLIER TOUR, WHICH WILL REMIND YOU OF THE TRACK WE WILL BE ON AND  HOW IT IS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE PROCEDURES ON A TRADITIONAL YOUTH  TOUR. WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO PRACTICE THEM EVERY DAY ON THE TOUR. 

REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A GLORIOUS OPPORTUNITY TO START YOUR LIFE ANEW 

THE ASSIGNMENT FOR THIS WEEK IS: LET GO OF THE OLD AND GREET YOUR LIFE AND YOURSELF AS NEW.

 

A TOUR OF POSSIBILITY 

BY BEN ZANDER, INSPIRED BY ROZ ZANDER

 

IMAGINE TWO WORLDS THAT ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN NATURE: THE  DOWNWARD SPIRAL AND THE WORLD OF POSSIBILITY.  

THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL IS THE WORLD WE ORDINARILY INHABIT. IT CONTAINS  ALL OUR FEARS, ANXIETIES, SUCCESSES AND FAILURES, EXPECTATIONS AND  DISAPPOINTMENTS WE ARE DRIVEN TO MEASURE AND COMPARE EVERYTHING.  IT IS WHERE WE EXPERIENCE BELONGING AND NOT BELONGING; WINNING AND  NOT WINNING; SUCCESS AND FAILURE. EVERYTHING GOOD IMPLIES ITS  OPPOSITE; EVERYTHING BAD CONJURES HOPE FOR CHANGE. IT’S A WORLD OF  HIERARCHY WHERE WE COMPETE AND STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN OUR POSITION  IN RELATION TO OTHERS. IN A WORD, IT IS THE WORLD OF SURVIVAL. 

THE WORLD OF POSSIBILITY PROMPTS US TO REMAIN OPEN BECAUSE WE  RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS ALL INVENTED AND SO WE CAN CREATE A SETTING FOR ANYTHING THAT WE SAY IS MISSING IN OUR LIVES. IN OTHER WORDS, WE TELL A  DIFFERENT STORY. INSTEAD OF MEETING EVENTS WITH ANXIETY, DEFENSIVENESS  OR RESISTANCE, WE REMAIN JOYFUL, OPENHEARTED, AT EASE AND IN A STATE  OF CONTRIBUTION.  

WE COULD GO TO THE NETHERLANDS IN EITHER MODE. HOWEVER, I, AS THE  LEADER OF THE GROUP, HAVE DECIDED THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A TOUR OF  POSSIBILITY. THAT MEANS WE ARE OPEN TO FINDING PARTNERS, COMMUNITIES,  MIRACLES, BECAUSE IN POSSIBILITY, JUST BY SEARCHING FOR THEM WE WILL  FIND THEM.  

IN THE SURVIVAL MODE A LONG BUS RIDE, A DELAYED FLIGHT OR A LONG LAY OVER IS LIKELY TO BE AN IRRITATION, A REASON TO COMPLAIN. IT’S A FOREGONE  CONCLUSION. IN THE WORLD OF POSSIBILITY IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A  WONDERFUL CONVERSATION WITH A NEW FRIEND. IN POSSIBILITY NOTHING IS  EITHER GOOD OR BAD, IT IS OUR STORY THAT MAKES IT SO.  

POSSIBILITY IS AN ART. IT DOESN’T COME NATURALLY. DOWNWARD SPIRAL DOES  COME NATURALLY. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORK AT THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL. IT  WILL HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY WHENEVER THINGS AREN’T GOING EXACTLY THE  WAY YOU WANT. WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THE DISCIPLINE OF POSSIBILITY. IT TAKES  PRACTICE, LOTS OF PRACTICE, JUST LIKE LEARNING TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT,  WHICH IS WHY WE CALL IT THE ART OF POSSIBILITY.  

IT IS MY INTENTION, AS THE LEADER OF THE TOUR, TO KEEP PRACTICING THE ART  OF POSSIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE TOUR. I LOOK TO ALL OF YOU TO HELP ME  KEEP POSSIBILITY ALIVE.  

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN PRACTICES OF POSSIBILITY (YOU WILL FIND ALL  THE PRACTICES IN THE BOOK THE ART OF POSSIBILITY):  

 

IT’S ALL INVENTED 

 

STORY: THE TWO SALESMEN ARE SENT TO AFRICA TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY  CHANCE OF SELLING SHOES. 

ONE TELEGRAPHS BACK: SITUATION HOPELESS STOP THEY DON’T WEAR SHOES  

THE OTHER WIRES: “GREAT OPPORTUNITY STOP THEY DON’T HAVE ANY SHOES  YET” 

THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THE SAME FOR BOTH MEN, WHAT IS “INVENTED” IS  THEIR RESPONSE. SO, THE PRACTICE IS TO LOOK AT OUR OWN ASSUMPTIONS  WHEN WE DO NOT LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND ASK OURSELVES: “WHAT  ASSUMPTION AM I MAKING HERE? THEN ASK YOURSELF: “WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE  GOING ON?”  

THE EXCITING THING IS THAT OUR BODIES (AND ESPECIALLY OUR EYES) WILL  REFLECT WHICH MODE WE ARE IN. THE QUESTIONING OF ASSUMPTIONS IS A  PRACTICE OF POSSIBILITY THAT LIGHTS UP OUR EYES.  

FOR ME, AN ASSUMPTION I AM MAKING IS THAT DUTCH PEOPLE ARE RELAXED  AND LIBERAL AND NOT VERY PASSIONATE. THERE IS LOTS OF EVIDENCE FOR THIS,  HENCE OUR ASSUMPTIONS. SO I WILL BE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF AWARENESS OF  THE GREAT DUTCH TRADITION OF EXPLORATION, MAGNIFICENT ART AND  PHILOSOPHY, WHICH LIE BURIED IN THE DNA OF EVERY DUTCH PERSON. I MUST  REMEMBER, IT IS ALL INVENTED.  

 

GIVING AN A 

 

GIVING AN A TO SOMEONE IS TO SPEAK TO THE BEST PART OF A PERSON. TO  SPEAK TO THEM AS THOUGH THEY ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO HEAR WHAT YOU  HAVE TO SAY. TALKING TO THE PART OF THE OTHER PERSON THAT IS FULLY  FUNCTIONING, FULLY HUMAN.  

THE A IN THIS MODEL IS NOT A STANDARD TO LIVE UP TO LIKE THE GRADE YOU  GET IN SCHOOL, BUT A POSSIBILITY TO LIVE INTO. THAT IS A POWERFUL  DISTINCTION. 

WHAT GRADE ARE THE ARABS GIVING THE ISRAELIS AND WHAT GRADE ARE THE  ISRAELIS GIVING THE ARABS? AND HOW ARE THEY DOING? YOU MIGHT THINK  OF SOMEONE YOU KNOW TO WHOM YOU HAVE BEEN ASSIGNING A C MINUS, 

AND THEN SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RAISE THE GRADE IN YOUR MIND TO  AN A, NOT JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES, OR A DAY, BUT PERMANENTLY. THAT  PERSON WILL APPEAR IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT HENCEFORTH. THAT IS  WHAT I DO FOR EACH OF YOU WHEN YOU COME INTO THE BPYO EACH  SATURDAY AFTERNOON. AND THAT IS WHY THERE IS SUCH AN ATMOSPHERE OF  TRUST, LOVE, EXPLORATION AND FUN. TRY IT THIS WEEK BEFORE WE LEAVE. 

WHEN WE SET OFF ON TOUR, WE CAN GIVE EACH OF THE 133 PEOPLE ON THE  TOUR AN A AND ALSO EVERYONE WE MEET ALONG THE WAY. IF WE DO, WE WILL  TALK QUITE DIFFERENTLY TO THEM. THINK OF HOW YOU FEEL IN THE CLASSES IN  WHICH YOU GET AN A. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT TEACHERS TALK DIFFERENTLY  TO STUDENTS TO WHOM THEY GIVE AN A THAN TO THE ONES TO WHOM THEY GIVE A C MINUS?  

 

BEING A CONTRIBUTION

 

MOST PEOPLE FOCUS ON TRYING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. GETTING GOOD GRADES,  GETTING INTO A GOOD COLLEGE, GETTING A GOOD JOB, GETTING A RAISE ETC.  ULTIMATELY, SUCCESS WILL BE MANIFESTED IN WEALTH, FAME OR POWER AND  FAILURE IS THE LACK THEREOF.  

BEING A CONTRIBUTION IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT GAME (REMEMBER IT IS ALL  INVENTED, SO LIFE IS REALLY LIKE A GAME – YOU CHOSE THE GAME AND THEN  YOU GET TO INVENT THE RULES FOR THE PARTICULAR GAME YOU ARE PLAYING).  IN THE GAME “BEING A CONTRIBUTION” YOU DEFINE YOURSELF AS A GIFT OR CONTRIBUTION, TO OTHERS AND THEY TO YOU. SO WHEN YOU MEET A NEW  PERSON INSTEAD OF THINKING “I WONDER IF THEY WILL LIKE ME” OR “I HOPE I  AM GOOD ENOUGH TO IMPRESS THEM”, YOU THINK WHAT A JOY IT IS TO MEET  THIS PERSON, “BECAUSE I CAN’T WAIT TO GIVE THEM WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER  AND I CAN’T WAIT TO EXPERIENCE WHO THEY ARE”. THAT IS WHAT THIS TOUR IS  REALLY ABOUT. IT IS NOT ABOUT IMPRESSING THE DUTCH OR COMPETING WITH  THEM OR EACH OTHER, IT IS ABOUT SHARING OUR DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND  ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BEING A CONTRIBUTION.  

 

I HAVE LONG SINCE GIVEN UP THE GAME OF SUCCESS/FAILURE AND TAKEN UP  THE GAME OF CONTRIBUTION FULL TIME. THAT IS THE REAL REASON I CONDUCT  BPYO AND GO ON TOURS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES WITH YOUTH ORCHESTRAS. I CANNOT WAIT TO BE A CONTRIBUTION IN THE NETHERLANDS AND BE  CONTRIBUTED TO. I ALSO AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO  CONTRIBUTE TO YOU ALL AND BEING CONTRIBUTED TO BY ALL OF YOU.  

NB SUCCESS AND FAILURE ARE LIKE THE BACK AND THE FRONT OF A HAND, AND,  OF COURSE, YOU CANNOT SEPARATE THE FRONT OF A HAND FROM THE BACK.  SUCCESS AND FAILURE ALWAYS GO TOGETHER. THE NICE THING ABOUT CONTRIBUTION IS THAT IT DOESN’T HAVE A BACK OF THE  HAND, EXCEPT BEING CONTRIBUTED TO, WHICH IS JUST AS SATISFYING AND  JOYFUL AS BEING A CONTRIBUTION.

 

RULE #6

 

TWO PRIME MINISTERS ARE SITTING IN A ROOM DISCUSSING AFFAIRS OF STATE.  SUDDENLY A MAN BURSTS IN, APOPLECTIC WITH FURY, SHOUTING AND  STAMPING AND BANGING HIS FIST ON THE DESK. THE RESIDENT PRIME MINISTER  ADMONISHES HIM: “PETER” HE SAYS, “KINDLY REMEMBER RULE #6,” WHEREUPON PETER IS INSTANTLY RESTORED TO COMPLETE CALM, APOLOGIZES  AND WITHDRAWS. THE POLITICIANS RETURN TO THEIR CONVERSATION, ONLY TO  BE INTERRUPTED YET AGAIN TWENTY MINUTES LATER BY AN HYSTERICAL  WOMAN GESTICULATING WILDLY, HER HAIR FLYING. AGAIN THE INTRUDER IS  GREETED WITH THE WORDS: “MARIE, PLEASE REMEMBER RULE #6.” COMPLETE  CALM DESCENDS ONCE MORE, AND SHE TOO WITHDRAWS WITH A BOW AND AN  APOLOGY. WHEN THE SCENE IS REPEATED FOR A THIRD TIME, THE VISITING  PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES HIS COLLEAGUE: “MY DEAR FRIEND, I’VE SEEN  MANY THINGS IN MY LIFE, BUT NEVER ANYTHING AS REMARKABLE AS THIS.  WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SHARE WITH ME THE SECRET OF RULE #6?” “VERY  SIMPLE” REPLIES THE RESIDENT PRIME MINISTER. “RULE #6 IS ‘DON’T TAKE  YOURSELF SO GODDAMN SERIOUSLY.’” “AH,” SAYS HIS VISITOR, “THAT IS A FINE  RULE.” AFTER A MOMENT OF PONDERING, HE INQUIRES, “ AND WHAT, MAY I  ASK, ARE THE OTHER RULES?” 

“THERE AREN’T ANY.” 

THIS IS THE PRACTICE WHERE YOU GIVE UP YOUR PRIDE, YOUR FIERCELY-HELP OPINIONS, THE “SHOULDS”, “OUGHTS”, “NEEDS” AND “MUSTS” IN YOUR LIFE, IN  ORDER TO MAKE YOUR WHOLE SELF AVAILABLE. 

THIS IS A LIFE-LONG PRACTICE. THE TRIP TO GREECE IS A WONDERFUL  OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO PRACTICE THIS ONE.  

THE CONDUCTOR’S VERSION OF RULE #6 IS “DON’T TAKE YOURSELF SO GODDAM  SERIOUSLY, TAKE ME GODDAM SERIOUSLY.” HERBERT VON KARAJAN JUMPED  INTO HIS LIMOUSINE AND SHOUTED AT THE DRIVER: “QUICK, DRIVE, GO, GO, GO,  DRIVE, QUICK.” “VERY GOOD SIR, WHERE TO?” “DOESN’T MATTER”, SNAPPED  KARAJAN, “THEY NEED ME EVERYWHERE!”  

`MY DAUGHTER’S VERSION OF RULE #6 IS “DAD GET OVER YOURSELF.”  

I WILL TRY TO REMEMBER TO GET OVER MYSELF ON THE TRIP. YOU ALL HAVE  PERMISSION TO REMIND ME IF I FORGET. ONE CANNOT BE A GOOD COACH  UNLESS ONE IS COACHABLE.  

IT IS GOOD TO SURROUND ONESELF WITH COACHES. HENCE THE WHITE SHEETS!  BE GOOD COACHES TO YOUR FELLOW MUSICIANS AND ALWAYS REMEMBER RULE #6! 

 

ENROLLMENT  

 

THIS IS THE ART OF LIGHTING A SPARK OF POSSIBILITY SUCH THAT OTHERS  GENERATE THE POSSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES.  

THIS IS THE MAIN REASON I LOVE TO GO ON TOURS WITH A YOUTH ORCHESTRA.  WE GET TO ENROLL OTHERS IN OUR WAY OF SEEING THINGS AND IT OFTEN HAS A  PROFOUND EFFECT ON THEIR LIVES. I HEAR ABOUT IT FOR YEARS AFTER. THE  STORIES OF THE EFFECT WE HAVE HAD ON OTHERS ARE LEGION AND NEVER  CEASE TO AMAZE AND DELIGHT ME. I KNOW THAT THE EFFECT OF OUR TOUR  WILL BE FELT BY THE DUTCH PEOPLE FOR A LONG TIME TO COME AND BY US FOR  THE REST OF OUR LIVES.  

FOR ME THE DOWNWARD SPIRALS ARE: THE SENSE THAT COMES OVER ME  SOMETIMES THAT WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IS IT WORTH ALL THE EFFORT? 

THEN I REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE GIRL WITH THE STAR-FISH AND I SMILE  AND GO ON DANCING ALONG THE BEACH. HERE IS THE STORY FROM THE ART OF  POSSIBILITY: 

THE FOURTH PRACTICE: BEING A CONTRIBUTION  

STROLLING ALONG THE EDGE OF THE SEA, A MAN CATCHES SIGHT OF A YOUNG  GIRL DOWN THE BEACH WHO APPEARS TO BE ENGAGED IN A RITUAL DANCE. SHE  STOOPS DOWN, THEN STRAIGHTENS TO HER FULL HEIGHT, CASTING OUT HER  ARM IN AN ARC. DRAWING CLOSE, HE INQUIRIES INTO WHAT SHE IS DOING. “I  AM THROWING THESE STARFISH BACK INTO THE SEA.” THE MAN LOOKS AROUND  AND LIGHTLY MOCKS HER: “THERE ARE STARFISH AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE,  FOR MILES UP THE BEACH. WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN SAVING A FEW OF THEM  POSSIBLY MAKE?” BENDING DOWN ONCE MORE SHE TURNS TO HIM SMILING,  AND AS SHE TOSSES A STARFISH OUT OVER THE WATER SAYS SERENELY “IT  CERTAINLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO THIS ONE.”  

FROM OUR EARLIEST DAYS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE TASKS AHEAD OF  US TO ACCOMPLISH AND LANDMARKS TO ACHIEVE. LIFE OFTEN LOOKS LIKE AN  OBSTACLE COURSE. IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE SUCCESS, WE SPEND A GOOD DEAL  OF TIME DISCUSSING WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF IT. THE MAN IN THE STORY  SEES ONLY OBSTACLES WHEN HE SPEAKS OF THE COUNTLESS STARFISH. HE  WARNS THE YOUNG WOMAN THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY STARFISH ON WHICH  TO MAKE AN IMPACT. TOO MANY STARFISH, NOT ENOUGH TIME, NOT ENOUGH  STAFF OR RESOURCES, RESULTS TOO DIFFICULT TO TRACK… 

THE STORY AS TOLD, HOWEVER, REVEALS NOTHING ABOUT THE “SUCCESS” OR  “FAILURE” OF THE RESCUE MISSION, OR WHAT PROPORTION OF THE STARFISH  SURVIVED OR PERISHED. IT DOES NOT DESCRIBE THE PAST, NOR FORETELL THE  

FUTURE. ALL WE HEAR IS THAT THE YOUNG WOMAN WAS SMILING AND SERENE,  AND THAT SHE MOVED IN THE PATTERN OF A DANCE. ABSENT ARE THE FAMILIAR  MEASUREMENTS OF PROGRESS. INSTEAD, LIFE IS REVEALED AS A PLACE TO  CONTRIBUTE AND WE AS CONTRIBUTORS. NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE A  MEASURABLE AMOUNT OF GOOD, BUT BECAUSE THAT IS THE STORY WE TELL. 

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THROWING STARFISH INTO THE SEA!

DISTINGUISH THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL: LISTEN FOR EVIDENCE OF SURVIVAL  THINKING – THESE WILL SHOW UP IN OPINIONS, COMPARISONS, IDENTITIES,  WARNINGS, PREDICTIONS, AND THE USE OF THE WORDS: “YOU SHOULD”, “YOU  OUGHT”, “YOU NEED” AND “YOU MUST”. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HAVE  NOTICED, BUT I RARELY, IF EVER, USE THESE WORDS. IT HAS TAKEN A LONG  PROCESS OF PRACTICE TO ELIMINATE THEM FROM MY VOCABULARY 

AS SOON AS YOU NOTICE THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL, YOU HAVE STEPPED INTO THE  WORLD OF POSSIBILITY. THE NEXT STEP IS TO FIND A WAY OF SPEAKING THAT  TRANSFORMS THE EXPERIENCE FOR OTHERS.  

SPEAKING IN POSSIBILITY: THERE IS ONE GUARANTEED WAY OF SPEAKING IN  POSSIBILITY: PRECEDE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY WITH A SILENT “I HAVE A  DREAM….” IT WILL TAKE YOU AUTOMATICALLY INTO POSSIBILITY. TRY IT OUT  THREE OR FOUR TIMES TODAY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. 

TRY SAYING “WHAT IF….”, “IMAGINE THAT….” “WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE  HAPPEN IS”…. SPEAKING IN POSSIBILITY IS TO TELL A STORY THAT EMPOWERS  ALL. WHAT A GLORIOUS WAY OF BEING ON A TRIP ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE  OF THE ATLANTIC WITH 132 OTHER PEOPLE. 

CREATING A VISION: CREATING A POSSIBILITY FOR OUR WORK OR OUR LIFE THAT LEAVES NO ONE OUT  – THAT ANYONE COULD BECOME ENROLLED IN.  

IF YOU ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION WHY ARE WE GOING ON TOUR YOU MIGHT  COME UP WITH ANSWERS SUCH AS THESE:  

• TO SHARE WHAT WE HAVE  
• TO LEARN FROM THEM AND EACH OTHER  
• TO GIVE OUR MUSIC TO OTHERS 
• TO REPRESENT OUR COUNTRY
• TO EXPERIENCE OTHER COUNTRIES AND PEOPLE
• TO EXPERIENCE THEIR FOOD, THEIR ART, THEIR ARCHITECTURE TO HAVE AN ADVENTURE
• TO UNDERSTAND NEW PEOPLE AND CULTURES
• TO STEP OUTSIDE OUR COMFORT ZONE
• TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTER
• TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT AN ORCHESTRA CAN BE  MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY GIVING GREAT CONCERTS.

YOU PROBABLY COULD COME UP WITH A FEW OTHER REASONS. 

ALL OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER MAKE UP A VISION FOR THE TRIP,  A VISION IS SOMETHING THAT ENCAPSULATES ALL THE PURPOSES AND IDEALS  THAT WE CARRY FOR OUR LIVES. 

YOU CAN’T ACCOMPLISH THEM ALL. YOU CAN’T SAY “VISION ACCOMPLISHED”!  IN THAT SENSE IT IS DIFFERENT FROM A MISSION. THAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH. A VISION IS A POSSIBILITY TO LIVE INTO FOR A GROUP OF PEOPLE 

THE WAY TO CLARIFY A VISION IS BY COMING UP WITH A POWERFUL PHRASE  THAT ENCOMPASSES THE IDEA SO THAT EVERYBODY INVOLVED CAN KNOW IT,  GRASP IT AND EMBODY IT. 

THE VISION OF THE BOSTON PHILHARMONIC, OUR PARENT ORGANIZATION, IS  PASSIONATE MUSIC-MAKING WITHOUT BOUNDARIES. THAT IS A POSSIBILITY TO  LIVE INTO FOR ALL OF US, AND YOU NOTICE THAT NO ONE IS LEFT OUT. THAT IS  A NECESSARY PART OF A VISION – IT IS FOR EVERYONE. 

OUR VISION FOR THE TRIP TO GREECE COULD BE: 

BRINGING THE SONG OF POSSIBILITY TO THE CRADLE OF DEMOCRACY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ON OUR T-SHIRT 

HERE ARE A FEW ADDITIONAL PRACTICES:  

WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T ENHANCE THE SITUATION:  “THANK YOU FOR SHARING!”  

REMEMBER YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET HOOKED ON SOMEONE ELSE’S  DOWNWARD SPIRAL “BAIT”  

NOTICE YOUR LANGUAGE (BODY-LANGUAGE AS WELL)  

THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL LIVES IN OUR LANGUAGE. WE CAN GO INTO AND OUT  OF THE WORLD OF POSSIBILITY ENTIRELY WITH THE WORDS THAT WE SPEAK,  EVEN WITH A SINGLE SHRUG, GRIMACE OR SMILE. LET’S HELP OUR AUDIENCES  ENTER THE WORLD OF POSSIBILITY NOT ONLY WITH OUR PLAYING, BUT ALSO  WITH OUR BODY LANGUAGE. LOOK OUT INTO THE AUDIENCE AND SMILE!  GREET PEOPLE WITH WARMTH AND APPRECIATION. 

A WOMAN I KNEW WHO WAS IN AUSCHWITZ DURING THE WAR TOLD ME THAT  WHEN SHE WENT TO AUSCHWITZ SHE WAS 15 AND HER BROTHER WAS 8.  

SINCE THE PARENTS WERE NOWHERE (AND NEVER AGAIN) TO BE FOUND, SHE  WAS IN CHARGE. SHE NOTICED HER BROTHER HAD LOST HIS SHOES. “WHY ARE  SO STUPID, YOU IDIOTIC CHILD? CAN’T YOU KEEP YOUR THINGS TOGETHER, FOR  GOODNESS SAKE?” SHE SHOUTED. NORMAL, RIGHT?  

EXCEPT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS THE LAST THING SHE EVER SAID TO HER  BROTHER, BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T SEE HIM AGAIN.  

WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF AUSCHWITZ SHE MADE A VOW. SHE TOLD ME HERSELF.  SHE SAID “WHEN I GOT OUT OF AUSCHWITZ, I MADE A VOW. I VOWED THAT I  WOULD NEVER SAY ANYTHING THAT COULDN’T STAND AS THE LAST THING I EVER  SAY.” PROBABLY IT’S NOT POSSIBLE TO STICK TO THAT ALL THE TIME, BUT IT  CERTAINLY IS A POSSIBILITY TO LIVE INTO!! NOT A BAD POSSIBILITY TO LIVE INTO FOR OUR TOUR, WOULDN’T YOU SAY?  

ROZ SAYS: POSSIBILITY IS ALWAYS ONLY ONE SENTENCE AWAY

HERE IS OUR AGREEMENT: 

 

THE AGREEMENT  

 

FOR SAFETY, LEGAL AND OTHER REASONS, YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SIGN AN  AGREEMENT CONCERNING YOUR BEHAVIOR ON THE TRIP. FUNDAMENTAL TO  AGREEMENTS OF THIS KIND IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT IF YOU BREAK THE  AGREEMENT WE WILL WITHDRAW THE PRIVILEGE OF THE TOUR AND SEND YOU  HOME AT YOUR FAMILY’S EXPENSE. THAT IS A NORMAL ARRANGEMENT IN ALL  ORGANIZATIONS AND LIVES IN THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF: “PEOPLE CANNOT BE  TRUSTED TO BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY UNLESS THEY HAVE A THREAT OF SOME KIND  HANGING OVER THEM”. MOST RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN COUNTRIES ARE BASED  ON THAT KIND OF FORMULA.  

IN POSSIBILITY, IT WORKS QUITE DIFFERENTLY. WE TRUST THAT THE VALUE,  PURPOSE AND PLEASURE OF THE TRIP AND THE MUSICAL DEMANDS MADE ON  YOU WILL DRAW YOU TO BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY AND, OF COURSE, NO ONE WILL  BE SENT HOME. HOW CAN THEY BE? WE NEED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!  

DOES THIS MEAN THAT YOU CAN SAY: “AHA! WE CAN BREAK THE RULES,  BECAUSE NO ONE WILL BE SENT HOME?”  

NO, IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT AT ALL. THAT COMES FROM THE WORLD OF THE  DOWNWARD SPIRAL.  

 

DRUGS  

 

THIS IS A CATEGORY OF ITS OWN. IT IS LIKE WHEN A SMALL CHILD TRIES TO  CROSS THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WE DON’T SIT AROUND DISCUSSING  DOWNWARD SPIRAL VS POSSIBILITY THINKING!  

ANYONE WHO INDULGES IN ANY KIND OF DRUG ACTIVITY HAS FORFEITED HIS  RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BPO NO FURTHER WORD ON THIS SUBJECT IS NEEDED.  MAKE SURE YOU ARE CLEAR ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE LEAVE.  

 

ALCOHOL 

 

SINCE THIS IS A MIXED HIGH-SCHOOL AGED AND COLLEGE YOUTH ORCHESTRA  WE HAVE DECIDED THAT WE WILL FOLLOW U.S. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU  DRINK AT HOME OR HAVE PERMISSION FROM YOUR PARENTS TO DRINK. ON  TOUR, STUDENTS UNDER 21 WILL NOT DRINK ALCOHOL.  

OUT OF COURTESY AND TO SIMPLIFY MATTERS, COLLEGE STUDENTS OF  DRINKING AGE PLEASE DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL IN THE PRESENCE OF HIGH  SCHOOL STUDENTS. MOREOVER, SINCE THE DEMANDS OF THE TOUR SCHEDULE  AND THE MUSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS REPERTOIRE ARE SO GREAT IT IS PROBABLY  WISE FOR THOSE OVER 21 TO AVOID DRINKING FOR THE 11 DAYS OF THE TOUR.  

THERE ARE VARIOUS OTHER ASPECTS OF TRAVEL AND LIVING TOGETHER THAT  ARE PRETTY SELF-EVIDENT.  

CONSIDERATENESS, TIMELINESS, COURTESY, OBSERVING QUIET AT NIGHT,  NEATNESS AND CLEANLINESS, QUIET ATTENTION IN REHEARSALS, ARE ALL WAYS  WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OTHER. GRACE AND OPEN HEARTEDNESS ARE  MANIFESTATIONS OF POSSIBILITY, JUST AS ARE SHINING EYES.  

IF SOMEONE GOES OFF TRACK AND “BREAKS A RULE”, YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS  THE WHOLE GROUP GOING OFF-TRACK. YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION; INDEED, I  REQUEST THAT YOU COME TO ME AND TELL ME ABOUT IT.  

IN THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL IT IS CALLED SNITCHING; IN POSSIBILITY IT IS CALLED  TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WHOLE – NAMING YOURSELF AS THE SOURCE  OF THE ENTERPRISE.  

IF WE GO “OFF TRACK” WE WILL HAVE A MEETING TO DISCUSS IT. THE MEETING  WILL TAKE PLACE IN POSSIBILITY. 

WE COULD STEP INTO THE ROLE OF BEING REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS COUNTRY,  BRINGING POSSIBILITY, DIGNITY, OPEN-HEARTEDNESS AND PASSION TO THE  PEOPLE OF THE NETHERLANDS, WHERE THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT AMERICA. WE WILL BEHAVE IMPECCABLY, NOT BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE  WILL BE PUNISHED, BUT BECAUSE OUR VISION CALLS US TO SUCH BEHAVIOR. 

STAY JOYOUS. STAY HEALTHY. HELP DR. SHECKMAN WITH HIS TASK OF KEEPING  YOU HEALTHY.  

I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE TOUR – EXCITED ABOUT THE NETHERLANDS,  ABOUT YOU ALL, ABOUT THE MUSIC MAKING, THE GREAT CONVERSATIONS WE  WILL HAVE AND THE CONNECTIONS WE WILL MAKE.  

I KNOW IT WILL BE AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL GROWTH  AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL OF US AND FOR THE DUTCH TOO. I KNOW THAT  OUR EYES WILL BE SHINING. AND “I HAVE A DREAM” THAT THEIR EYES WILL BE  SHINING TOO.  

I CANNOT WAIT.  

MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL  

SEE YOU IN HAARLEM ON MONDAY! 

BEN ZANDER