Introduction
Art Notes
  Travel Diaries
  Lives
  Management
  Poem
  Friends

Shirley's Writting: Artistic Life & Art of Life --003: Improvisatory Accompaniment & Minor Role

One afternoon, in a summary meeting of a cooperated product launched, facing all guests and department managers, my boss interrupted my speaking. I was very embarrassed. In case my boss explained later, plused my art dreams -- I do not think that work is whole of my life, I felt relieved soon.

Last Sunday, I suddenly realized the “knack” of piano improvisatory accompany, my long term dream has been true. With a happy heart, I caught each little time, to make improvisatory accompany for myself and made record for my works for feeling the actual result. During this process, I suddenly understood the action of my boss and I got some inspiration about my own post as an assistant general manager/vice general manager.

My job is just like the improvisatory accompany of piano. One hand, I should have the ability to play piano with my left hand ? to deal with or to arrange the business job independently, to match the main work theme of the company forwardly; the other hand, I should be most willing to be a minor role, to obey and to match the demand of the main theme, to assure it more standout, more beautiful and more gliding. If the left hand’s improvisatory accompany is going beyond or play the peacock too much, it will make the main theme to be disturbed and the music will less the distinguishing of main theme and minor sounds, listener will not know the main meaning of the music and the departments do not know what to do. If the improvisatory accompany too passive, to wait the main theme always, then, the music will be too thin because the main theme is too alone. Also, if the improvisatory accompany is too high or too low, the time and power is not suitable, the music will no a tune and less the beauty of strewing and harmonious. So, as long as we accompany at a suitable time, with the suitable power, to play the suitable sounds, accompany and the main theme will march case, to create a beautiful and tuneful music together. My job is same.

As an assistant general manager and a deputy post, I must have the ability to take charge of a department alone when the company needs. At most of the other time, I must be most willing to a minor role to assort the main theme of the company, at a suitable time, with a suitable style and force, to assist the boss to mobilize every finger -- everyone’s activity, to remove any disturbs and suitable sounds, to complete the center job of the company in different phases. We can be really like a piano’s improvisatory accompany, to create some tunefulness music and to share its beautiful and wonderful together.

Have you work on any post to be an assistant to anyone? Do you agree with my views?

     即兴伴奏与当"配角"

     一天下午,在本公司与合作伙伴新产品上线小结会上, 老板当着客人与全体中层管理人员的面将我的发言打断,弄得我十分尴尬。幸亏事后老板解释,加上有我的艺术梦想 -- 并未将工作看做生活的全部,很快亦就释然了。

     上星期天,我突然领悟了钢琴即兴伴奏的“诀窍”,实现了自己多年来希望用钢琴为自己伴奏的愿望。带着愉快的心情,抓住每一点业余时间,我试着为各自己即兴伴奏,并将音乐录制下来,以了解实际的伴奏效果。在这个过程中,我突然理解了老板的做法,亦对自己作为助理总经理/副总经理的工作有了新的感悟。

     我的工作恰如钢琴的即兴伴奏,一方面,要有能左手独立弹奏的能力 ? 能够针对不同时期的各项工作,独立解决问题,安排工作,主动配合主旋律的演奏;另一方面,要甘当配角,时时处处服从主旋律需要,确保其突出,优美,流畅。如果左手的伴奏过分超前或炫耀,就会使右手的主旋律受到不必要的干扰,音乐缺少主次之分,听众听不出所以然,下级部门无所适从。如果左手过于被动,事事等待主旋律的要求,则可能跟不上后者的速度与韵律,主旋律的单一将导致音乐总体效果单薄而不丰满。如若左手伴奏音高不当,时间不对,力度不足,又可能使整个音乐不够协调,缺少错落与和谐之美。因此,只有在恰当之时,以恰当之力,奏恰当之音,才能使伴奏与主旋相符相成,演奏出优美和谐的乐曲。我的工作亦然。

     作为助理或副手,一方面,应有能力于主旋律需要的时候独挡一面,更多的时候,须心甘情愿当好配角,时时处处配合主旋律,在恰当的时候,以恰当的方式与工作力度,调动每一个手指的积极性,排除不恰当的干扰与声音,积极主动又不喧宾夺主,辅佐、配合公司工作的主旋律,完成公司不同阶段的中心工作。这样,才能象钢琴的即兴伴奏一样,与主旋律一道,共创和谐之音,分享其美妙。

     你曾担当过配角吗?你赞同我的见解吗?

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com. You are welcome to publish your opinions in Forum For Friends as well.

Shirley

Written and Edited on Sunday, August 24, 2008