From our musical instruments to our means of transportation, a good tune-up helps make things better for our audiences and our passengers. It’s no different when it comes to our everyday lives. I’m sure you’ve certainly had years that seemed flat and out of tune. I’m sure you’ve experienced maring and jaring moments when life seemed more like nails on a chalkboard than sweeping symphonies…including more maladies than melodies.
Nevertheless, no matter how out of tune, or out of whack you’ve felt, and perhaps still feel, it doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to play off-key for the foreseeable future. It may just be that you need a timely tune-up.
As a side note, pianos go out of tune often as their strings become too loose or too tight. This is mostly affected by humidity and altitude. Regardless, even an untrained ear can hear the sour notes of an out-of-tune piano (instrument). While playing that piano is still possible and painful (it will hurt the ears mostly), living an out-of-tune life can do much more damage. In such cases, there’s nothing wrong with getting a tune-up from friends, family or professionals. If they aren’t available at the moment, perhaps we can take a few helpful notes from Norman Rockwell’s “The Piano Tuner” to assist each of us with a personal tune-up.
Just like pianos, guitars and cars, we each have moments in life when we need a tune-up to help us play, sound, run and live better.
First, even with his pocketful of gadgets and gizmos and a box of tools at his disposal, if the Tuner is not listening properly, how will he know what tool to use? Also, he can’t discover where the tuning is needed by simply staring at the piano. As such, he is making a conscious choice (action) to play a chord and then just listening. He is not distracted by other sounds or experiences. He is creating an environment to help him be able to better tune in to what’s out of tune. The young boy beside him is also being quiet—no apparent questions or qualms—just watching, curious and trusting the Tuner and hopefully learning something for the future.
If your environment is always out-of-tune then it will be difficult to listen for and recognize the places where your life needs a tune-up.
Now, if the Piano Tuner never played a single note, or tried to listen to the piano while the T.V. or other music (noises), was playing in the background, he wouldn’t be able to hear what he needed to hear. He wouldn’t know where the problem was let alone which tool would be needed to fix it. Using what are called “Mutes” the Tuner can also isolate individual strings and then using a “Tuning Fork” (actual or digital) he can determine the best way to get that string back into harmony with the rest. Sounds like a lot of work, right? It takes time and effort, but with practice you’ll become more efficient and proficient.
Also, noticing that something is out of tune won’t do you any good if you don’t acquire the proper tools (and the training) to help you use them.
Here’s some tuning tools to help you get started:
ACTION (play a note).
LISTEN (does it sound, feel right?)
ENVIRONMENT (create a healthy environment to help you recognize when something is out of tune and to help you stay in tune).
TOOLS (Patience, Perspective, Peace, Proper Pace, Prayer, Presence, Purpose, a Partner).
TEST (play additional notes, verify and readjust where necessary).
As you learn to listen and re-tune your ears, heart and life, then you will begin to create and play your life’s magnum opus!