The Power in the Rests

Music teaches lessons that reach far beyond the instrument. This piece was made for Talia, a middle-school musician, around an idea that can be difficult to learn at any age—but may be especially important when you're young: There is power in stillness. In music, a rest isn't empty. It isn't a place where the music stopped or where the musician has nothing to contribute. The rest is part of the composition. It creates anticipation. It gives everything around it room to breathe. And sometimes, the silence is what gives the next note its power. Life can work that way, too. There will always be pressure to do more, say more, move faster and fill every quiet moment. But strength doesn't always have to be loud. Sometimes strength is silence. Sometimes it's restraint. Sometimes it's waiting. Sometimes it's simply listening. So we paired Talia's name with the instrument she plays and engraved a reminder into stone: Some things are written in the rests. Hopefully it's something she can keep long after middle school—and understand a little differently every time she looks at it. Because becoming a great musician means learning when to play. Becoming a strong person also means learning when not to.