Down to the Doorknobs

Down to the Doorknobs….

Before leaving for Venezuela, we were reminded that this experience is one of the few moments in our lives where we preemptively know that this journey will change us.  Often times, we realize significant moments in retrospect and don’t have the opportunity to prepare.  Yet even after months of preparation and inquiry I was still completely blown away by my initial encounters with el Sistema.  Intention creates reality and here in Venezuela the intention of creating social programs through music is meticulous.  I began to realize this on day one. 

Our first stop was a tour of the Center for Social Action.  This new, gorgeous building in Caracas welcomes 2,000 students A DAY into its orchestras and musical ensembles.  In addition, this building also serves as administrative space, a composition laboratory, rehearsal and performance venues, master class studios, lecture halls, practice rooms, and my favorite word of the tour- multi-purpose rooms.  Except, every room is multi-purpose.  When Dr. Abreu developed plans for this building he wanted every room to be created with the intention of musical functionality.  This meant that the room where we had our business meeting also was made for a chamber ensemble.  As if designing your workspace as a performance hall wasn’t enough, the building also has recording capability in each room.  This amazed me… I remember in college fighting over sound recording space and here it’s in every room.  Next, was something so simple-doorknobs.  Every door has push doorknobs, so that if you have a large instrument or need access to opening doors all you have to do is press.  I kept picturing my brother, a double bassist, being able to more easily grab his stool and bass and just walk out.  No doorknob turning required.  The practice rooms, probably the smallest in the building, were still created with such intention, purpose, and diligence. 

Alignment to purpose and mission was intentional even in the doorknobs.  After all, if el Sistema creates free, musical access programs why wouldn’t every aspect of the building be accessible to everyone? Everything is intentional.  Abreu knew what reality he wanted to create for his students and the communities of Venezuela and he continues to build even down to the doorknobs.