On the heels of the pre-Pesach wedding season and Chol Hamoed celebrations comes the silence of Sefirah. As we count upward with anticipation toward Shavuos on one hand, and mourn historic national tragedy on the other, weddings wait and the music goes mute. But what about all the singers and musicians, the mainstay of Jewish weddings and other joyous events?
Composer, director of Shearim Orchestra
For me it’s not such a quiet time, because I also own and operate a kitchen cabinet business. During the rest of the year, I work all day, and then at night I put on my musician hat and play at weddings and simchahs. Working nine hours a day instead of 15 is a welcome break.
The downtime means I get to spend more time in the evenings with my family, which is always great. Sometimes we get lost in the world of work, whether it’s music or anything else that we do, and we forget that the really important part of living is being able to learn and daven well every day and to spend time with family. In that way, the quieter days give us a perspective on what’s really important in life.
Entertainer and composer
I’m assuming most singers use this time to record new music, but ironically, I find that I’m most productive recording during the busiest times of year. I use this as an opportunity to spend time with my family and get to know their names again.
Founder and music director of Zaltz Band
While it might seem like Sefirah is a break for bands, it’s actually jam-packed with intense preparation for the busy season ahead, plus other projects that get pushed off until now. In the music world, there’s never truly a break — success demands constant work.
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