“Well, Joe, what did you observe this time?” Maestro inquired. “First of all, you weren’t leading the group, someone else took your baton and was running about. People were playing the wrong parts, they weren’t paying attention to each other, there was disinterest — it was a mess. It reminded me of — ” Maestro piped in, “A train wreck or maybe 昀椀ngernails on a chalkboard?” Joe smirked. “No, it reminded me of my leadership — the way my company and dealers work together or actually don’t work together. We’re disjointed, out of tune, inharmonious, lacking in leadership and out of sync.” Maestro, again being merciful, interjected, “But Joe, a while ago this very orchestra demonstrated that it could make magni昀椀cent music together. So maybe you and your dealers can too.” “I’m all ears, Maestro,” Joe energetically replied. Maestro began, “Here are 昀椀ve things to realize about making beautiful, inspired music. “First, you have the composition. Tonight’s piece was written by Beethoven and not one note has changed in nearly two hundred years. No one is allowed to tamper with its essence, not even the conductor. When you 昀椀nd a beautiful composition, you must protect it; without it, nothing matters. The best musicians in the world can’t make a bad piece of music sound good, nor should they waste their time trying to change a masterpiece. “Second, you have the sections. For example, the string section — 昀椀lled with violins, violas, cellos — they bring a color, a texture to the music. On their own, they would sound incomplete; without them, the orchestra would lose richness and depth. Each instrument must play music written especially 13