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Our skill is intense concentration. Imagine a soloist violinist mentally rehearsing his performance for later that evening. On the outside he looks sullen, near sleep. Inside, however, there's a 120 piece orchestra with the crazy Russian conductor, and the German harpist is plucking strings, and the soloist is counting in his head, watching the conductor, trying to perfectly time the moment when he begins moving the bow's horse hairs across the fourth string, vibrating his wrist, ring finger on the high e, indicating the moment of the hero's death and ascension to heaven, in the emotional denouement of the 45 minute piece.

Just as there are many people who neither appreciate classical music nor the skill, talent, and concentration required to play it well, so there are many people who neither appreciate computer programming nor the skill, talent, and concentration required to do it well.

As an aside, if you want to hear some fantastically good classical music, head over to youtube and search for the Vienna Philharmonic's rendition of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade conducted by Valery Gergiev at the Salsburg Festival in 2005.




Alternatively, watch the film Amadeus.




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