My musical strength has always been sight-reading and it’s been a long process to develop any ability to play by ear. After reading this funny little anecdote my Dad sent me today, though, I’m feeling pretty good about myself…

The symphony musicians had little confidence in the person brought in to be their new conductor. Their fears were realized at the very first rehearsal. The cymbalist, realizing that the conductor did not know what he was doing, angrily clashed his instruments together during a delicate, soft passage. The music stopped. The conductor, highly agitated, looked angrily around the orchestra,
demanding, “Who did that? Who did that?”