By Stephen Smoot
Those who enjoy these kinds of music (and every red blooded American, quite honestly, should) someday ought to carve about 45 minutes out of their lives and watch two music videos. No need to watch in any particular order, but those interested must look up Led Zeppelin performing Moby Dick at the Royal Albert Hall and also take the time to find a video of the Dave Brubeck Quartet playing a long version of “Take Five.”
Within these videos, one will witness two different men breaking the laws of both physics and physiology.
Joe Morello in his closely cropped coiffure, black suit, and ruler thin tie and John Bonham, a whirling dervish of hair and pale bare arms don’t at first seem to cut the same figure.
But they do.
Both men reign now, and perhaps forever, as the greatest percussionists to ever pick up a drumstick and perform. In both songs, the two drummers move effortlessly from bare hands to sticks, all the while their feet furiously kicking up their own beat on the pedals. It is said that Bonham could never escape performing this song without blood dripping from his hands, so hard did he strike the set.
In both songs, the arms fly at seemingly impossible speeds, the hands a blur, their faces pictures of pure and intense focus with thousands of eyes trying to follow each flutter. The virtuosity comes from both the quality of play and quality of music played, as both performed alongside some of the best in their time at the music they made.
The pursuit of excellence means something more than a slogan featured on a motivational poster or painted on the wall of a school. True excellence does not mean simply doing one’s best and hanging their hat on it rather than the result. It comes from the dedication of years, or even decades, to fine tuning a craft and setting a standard few others can attain.
Anyone in pursuit of serious excellence invests money, time, and effort. The risk comes from a dedication toward putting everything into a pursuit and possibly coming up short. Some, especially on the small group or individual level, must endure significant personal sacrifice. For some, that comes in time away from family or recreational pursuits. Others will battle real emotional, mental, or even physical pain to attain excellence.
Excellence can come in many forms. During President Donald Trump’s first race in 2016, Congressman Alex Mooney visited the Christopher Peacock cabinet factory in Wardensville. One could see the pride in the faces of all who worked there, especially in the company representative who informed the Congressman that they had a bipartisan company because their high-end market cabinets hung prominently in the kitchens of both Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Just over the ridge in Baker, the East Hardy varsity volleyball team in recent years has achieved excellence even as it fell short in the Class A title match this year. They brought a consistent level of teamwork, aggressiveness, and performance to each game. Winning in sports starts with what a team does between the last and first games of the season, especially in terms of building physical strength and mental toughness.
When children develop a habit of excellence, whether it comes from athletic accomplishments, representing the area agricultural community in national competition, or outstanding academic achievement, they carry those habits forward and apply them to serious adult pursuits in the wider world.
One of the best breeding grounds of excellence comes from competition. Striving to keep pace with or outstrip the accomplishments of competitors, along with rewards given to those and only those who showed excellence, will always be the best source of building that commitment.
What has in too many cases gotten lost along the way, however, is the pride of attaining excellence even in the mundane. For example, when almost any fast food item is crafted with care according to the recipe and served in a timely manner, it will actually taste very good. That said, most who work in these jobs do not motivate themselves to excellence. Those few who do rarely find their level of capability rewarded.
One might say, it’s a hamburger, who cares, but just like the commitment to excellence is a habit, the acceptance of mediocrity is as well. Too often in recent years, the commitment to excellence in too many fields has been downgraded in favor of other priorities. The decline of performance and quality across a number of areas of American life and the acceptance of barely good enough over high standards has been the result.
One example comes from the serious decline that has taken place in the public education system.
Since 1980, when the federal government established the United States Department of Education, student achievement metrics have consistently declined. The measure of this Cabinet department’s worth must come chiefly from results. Almost a half century of decline means that this Department either stands in the way of educational excellence or has at the very least failed to do anything to help.
They are part and parcel of that decline and must either reform considerably or disappear altogether. If either happens properly, state and local systems can shape better ways to motivate excellence from their students without federal laws, rules, and regulations that hamper both schools and teachers.
One may wonder at what point will the decline that everyone sees in so many areas translate into a less powerful, less prosperous, and less secure America?
Perhaps it already has, but it is not too late to recommit and rebuild.
