PLAY YOUR TUNE

PLAY YOUR TUNE

I live in the Music City, home of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium (the mother church of country music) and the Grand Ole Opry. The National Museum of African American Music is located just a couple of blocks away. A visit, whether a fan of either genre or not, quickly leads one to understand that the most influential artist of both genres played or sang their own tunes. The artist may or may not have written the lyrics or composed the music, but their authentic expression and unique delivery of the music propelled them to iconic status.

“Originals play their own tune” were words that caught my attention as I browsed a magazine published here in Music City. I was looking for words to incorporate into a self-portrait collage, a requirement for a digital photography class that I was taking. I didn’t recognize the depth of the meaning until I prepared for the presentation of my self-portrait to the class.

The nine-week class, composed of twenty seasoned participants, provided an opportunity to explore an historical old post office, now an art museum and a tour of a restored train station that is now a hotel. Direct instructions by the instructors for using digital devices and the composition of photographs was ongoing. The final assignment: use printed photographs taken during the nine weeks to compose a self-portrait.

On the final day of class, the collages were displayed as well as each participants’ favorite photos. All of us received the same instructions. We had explored and collaborated with each other, yet our final piece expressed our originality. We each played our own tune.

As each of us spoke about their self-portrait, the listeners, if they listened closely, walked away with a peek into the presenter … their creativity, ethos, family dynamics, desires, and general outlook on life etc.

The question that I hope you are asking yourself now: Do I know my original tune?

Living a balanced life becomes much easier if you know. Why? Not knowing leads to playing a tune belonging to someone else or no tune at all. Which means a void is left in the world that only you can fill.

FYI, the nickname “Music City, originated from the Fisk Jubilee Singers and was popularized by the Grand Ole Opry’s radio broadcast.

Ephesians 2:10

PONDER THIS THOUGHT---Be the imitated not the imitator.