Hi Folks -
Practice was practice tonite…. figured I better get a fun one in, because grad school sets in again tomorrow, and I probably will not get any time in at all.
The Music Lesson – discusses the 11 elements of music. Groove notes, Articulation/Duration, Technique, Emotion, Dynamics, Rhythm/Tempo, Tone, Phrasing, Space/Rest, Listening.
Some of these elements have been over-emphasized in my formal training, leaving large gaps in the basic areas. Lots of schools pay attention to technique – how to play an instrument, music theory, all the “academic” stuff your average listener (or reader) does not really get. Now, if you are a schooled musician reading this, you do get it, but you still know that most people appreciate the sound of a good band, and can easily tell the difference between good and not so good.
SO for the next few weeks, lets focus on the fun stuff that gets the smiles, laughs, and toes tapping. The groove, the emotion/feel, and the use of space, which helps the phrasing. That will be my focus for a while at least. Tonight I played along with Bob Berg, Coleman Hawkins, Chris Potter, and Tom Scott – a powerhouse quartet. The goal was to feel the groove, and feel the emotion/use of space/phrasing. To me, they are all tied together.
Musical comments?????
Peace
Posts
This is a great topic! I myself am just getting into the the more technical part of training because most of what I know is about conveyance of the feeling in music. My mother (vocal teacher) talked on and on about the "tyrany of the barline". How some musicians could only focus on notation and not on the feeling behind it.
ReplyDeleteNow, as I try to write for others, I know exactly what I want to say, but lack the tools in which to bring it out. I could sing or play my keyboard with such fervor, but I wouldn't be able to really show you on paper what I want.
Striving for all seems to be a daunting task. I can tell you that recording and listening to yourself helps immensely. I work all the time with my vocal students on the conveyance of emotion. Some get it, some don't. Depends. Anyway, that's my take. :P