Parisot gave the “Keynote Address” at the Harid Conservatory Commencement Exercises in Boca Raton, Florida, on 6 May 1994. He is listed as being on the “Board of Advisors.”

[Handwritten document, by Aldo Parisot, in the possession of Aldo Parisot]

Harid Commencement 1994

Class of 1994, Faculty and Friends,

I am honored to be here today as guest speaker at Harid Conservatory's commencement ceremony. But rather than give a formal commencement address, I would like to offer you something more like a talk about the joys as well as the trials of a career in music. In the language of today, I'd like to share with you the good news as well as the bad news.

Although English is not my native language—which I'm sure you never could have guessed—I discovered at a very early age that my real native language is music. And that wordless language has a power unmatched by any other. Those of us privileged to learn it are blessed, indeed, even though learning it presents an immense challenge that can be daunting, sometimes discouraging and occasionally even tedious. But becoming fluent—truly fluent—in this wonderful language can contribute to a life of uncommon happiness and fulfillment. It certainly has for me and I want nothing less for each of you.

Of course I am talking mainly about fluency as a “speaker” of the language, although listening with well-trained ears is ultimately almost as important. Ears that are quite unlike those of the legendary American General Ulysses S. Grant, who once bragged that he knew only two songs. “One,” he said, “ is Yankee Doodle, the other one isn't.” Although a few concertgoers may fit into this category, we as musicians must train our ears to detect every nuance of sound, phrasing, tension and release—the entire musical landscape. While it may go without saying, don't ever underestimate the power and importance of solfège. Being able to hear the music in your head before you've played a note—no matter if it's “Yankee Doodle” or a Bach suite—is just as necessary to a musician as being able to imagine the sound of the spoken word is to a poet.