Music hath charms to soothe the snoring beast

I recently had one of the best naps ever, at a classical piano concert.

Apparently there’s something about Beethoven that induces bouts of narcolepsy. I just want to avoid being a guinea pig in a new medical study when this news gets out.

On Monday night, I was debating over whether to study for a test or go to the Galaxy Series piano concert. Like any other college student, studying is the bane, I mean joy, of my existence, but this time culture trumped homework.

A friend and I sneaked into Memorial Hall right before the concert began.

Valentina Lisitsa swept over to the piano and sat down, pausing dramatically before she began. The auditorium was silent, except for my conscience which was squealing, “You fool! You have a test tomorrow!”

I tried to muffle it as the people around me threw dirty glances in my direction. I swear, I’m not schizophrenic…

Then Lisitsa started playing, and I forgot about everything. I was hypnotized.

She played languidly, then frantically, beating the piano into musical submission. I stared at the stage, transfixed, as she played one complicated piece after another, all from memory.

And here I had trouble remembering basic things, like where I’d left my car.

My eyes grew heavy, and my head began to nod. The misquoted idiom is “music hath charms to soothe a savage beast,” but in my intimate experience, “music hath charms to soothe a tired college student.”

Before the concert began, I heard a man threaten to lob spit wads at anyone who fell asleep. I closed my eyes and pretended that I was focusing on the music in the event that he was sitting behind me.

I drifted in and out of consciousness as the strains of classic piano music lulled me to sleep.

All was calm – I was in a happy place, where there were no such things as tests or homework and everybody got at least eight hours of sleep a night.

My friend poked me, and suddenly my happy place vanished, along with my dignity.

I gasped and lurched forward, nearly falling into the next row of seats, where my boss happened to be sitting. It was intermission.

While falling asleep at a concert might seem rude, I liked having a live soundtrack to accompany my naps.

Now if only pillows were provided at Galaxy Series events.