Annie, The Urban Gypsy.

I found this urban gypsy, Annie, rocking a violin by the entrance to Left Bank Arcade. Her sign told me she’d only been playing since September; I’d have guessed closer to 2 years by the seamlessness of her sound. I listened to her for a couple of minutes, mostly playing folk riffs I vaguely recognized from my high school Celtic band days but couldn't (and still can't) remember the names of. I get the feeling she’d do well out here on St Patrick’s Day.

Her beautifully written sign also told me that any money made from busking will go towards paying for lessons; the mark of a true music-lover: playing on the street for the ability to invest in better playing.

“You’re doing better than I ever did at learning violin.”

I bought a violin a couple of years ago, hoping to learn the intricacies of a baroque instrument but never made it past the hideous bow-screeching, nails down a chalkboard phase before giving up in frustration.

“Thanks!”

“Hey, I was wondering if you might want to help me out with a little creative project I’m trying to kick off, 

have you heard of a project called Humans of New York?”

She thought for a bit before replying enthusiastically with

“Oh…Humans of Cuba Street?”

“Yeah, what I want to do is sort of similar to that…”

She responded with largely the same level of intrigue as the others I've approached, an increasingly encouraging occurrence for an anxious young writer trying to put an idea into practice.

I asked her the question of the day, which I’ll change on an “as I feel like it” basis. Maybe I’ll make it a different question for every day I go out on a busker hunt.

“If you could give everyone in the world one piece of advice, what would it be?”

“It is never too late to start learning…EVER…and you don’t have to learn things the way everyone says you do.”

I cannot think of a more appropriate piece of advice for her to have given than this. Here she was playing an instrument she’d been learning for less than a year, of course I wasn't so bold as to ask her age but I’d guess within 5 years of myself (I'm 20) and probably wouldn't be far wrong, and this was the best piece of advice she thought to give in the spur of the moment. I've found that generally speaking in life, it’s a rare occurrence to find a match between someone giving advice and living it at the same time.

As well as a clear talent for violin, Annie had an infectious smile, and a radiance I doubt I’ll forget for a long time. Hell, I doubt I’ll forget most of the characters I meet through this project for a long time, if ever.

To witness Annie’s string skills for yourself, bop on down to the middle of Cuba Street on a weekend, next to the Left Bank entrance and look for the eclectically dressed lass with the bright blue eyes. Be sure to leave a contribution toward her lessons too, it’s a worthwhile investment.