Professional Subway Musicians

Every time I find myself buried underneath the Manhattan grid, navigating my way through the tunnels between trains, it is without fail that before I am able to reach the surface of the city streets, some out of tune acoustic guitarist bombards my ears. For all the musicians I have heard panning away in the subways, I can count the number of times on one hand that I have stopped to listen. Maybe it’s the piercing sound of the steel drum that rings in my ears, or the amplified electric guitar reverberating off the tile walls that gives me a headache. Sometimes, I just want to ride the subway in peace, but give it a minute and the once quiet train ride is interrupted by a 4-part harmony barbershop quartet. While they sing beautifully, I wish I could experience them on a stage rather than a train.

I think it is safe to say that many people who are riding the subway feel the same way. They don’t make eye contact; keep their heads down and ear buds in. There is the occasional pity gesture of a couple coins tossed into the guitar case as if the person is saying, “I was going to throw these pennies away but I guess you can have them”.

So how do you react to street musicians? Do you turn up the volume on your ipod, or do you listen intently? Do you consider them as valuable as a professional musician who performs at Lincoln center or as just a beggar trying to make a living? Please hold off on your answer until you watch this video.

Sometimes it takes a professional jazz singer to step down off the stage and into the subway to catch our attention and remind us of the talent the NYC underground has to offer. Cole finds value in sharing his music in the same space as the bucket drummer in order to show us how we can enjoy music anywhere. So maybe, next time you jump on the Q-train to Brooklyn you can appreciate the sound of the guitar player with 3 strings. Maybe, he is just trying to share his music with you too!

Cole Porter’s performance reminded me of the beauty of street music and the performers who share their gifts (small or grand) with us everyday. So next time your come across an open guitar case in the subway, do more than just throw in some loose change and walk on. Try and listen for the beauty and appreciate the music experience that the musician is inviting you into! If a professional jazz player can find beauty in it, then maybe we all can too!

*** Check out a really cool story of one musician’s humble beginnings as a street performer and how it has shaped her musical career. Check out this TED talk from Amanda Palmer, lead singer of the Dressden Dolls.