It is not waiting for the elusive Muse to strike.
All those days waiting for inspiration to strike, what I was in reality waiting for was understanding.
If you understand your craft you are more facile.
It was not a lack of creativity, that's why you picked the guitar up to begin with. The mood was with you.
So what prevented your genius from coming through?
You don't understand your art as well as you think you did. THAT is a hard admission and usually made after the fact when it is easier to come to gripes with.
The class I have been taking has opened a new door. And another, and another and another.
Gud Gawd
And now I see that lack of inspiration is just an excuse. I have always been inspired. Air, a good woman, a book. I am easily inspired. I go to a show and my urge to play rises. And on & on.
If inspiration wasn't the lacking factor...then what was?
My lack of available tools with which to construct.
I got the new Band In A Box last Christmas and it enabled me to skate even further along with my fundamental lacking holes in my musical education. Key word - enabled.
God Bless Gary Burton for his no nonsense, fundamental approach to teaching. His class has once again shown me I do not know it all. Not even close.
And I love it.
Thinking that you do know it all leads to ruts and boredom. Absolute power can be imagined. And yet still corrupt you.
I am stoked that I do not have all the answers. But perhaps I do have the key to finding the answers that are out there. Looking, exploring, stretching. Just keep reminding me at regular intervals so I do not forget.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
THIS Is Why I love Learning For Its Own Sake
Late last year I signed up for an introductory class from Rochester University, The Music Of The Beatles.
(Online learning has come a very long way...wow)
Coursera
A taxing deep class it was not. There was some discussion of song forms but for the most part even if you just took the tests, never having heard a word of the lectures, using the internet as your reference, you could pass.
40,000 signed up.
4,000 completed the class.
3,000 received a Statement of Accomplishment.
Fine. Let's ramp up the skill level. Yeah.
What possessed me to enroll into a class present by Berklee College of Music, Jazz Improvisation with Gary Burton, I cannot say.
This is no 101 introduction.
The Beatle class consisted of an hour and a half worth of videos. Each had a question at the end and then there was a quiz on all the videos at the end of the lectures.
In the Berklee class, Gary Burton makes five two minute videos. Each succinctly (no, really?) explaining the point to be conveyed.
And then he unloads with, for example (week 2) six modes - are they major or minor (explain your thoughts on separate paper) and then play each mode for 30 to 60 seconds uploading your work to Soundcloud.
Shameless Plug - 'Hey You'
This is serious work.
Half of these applications of the modes are things I never thought of. As a young man when confronted with these modes I tended to play by ear. With rehearsal I can play anything. But I could get away with it, if need be. This assignment took me over three hours to complete. And at that, it was a C at best.
(I knew I could do better but I want to complete this and not endlessly tweak towards imagined perfection - I know what I know)
But it opened a door. And I am of the age and focus to be aware. A light went on.
Tonight I decided to work on some pieces I had written and yet until today could not lay a solo over...not to my satisfaction. And there comes a point when you accept your guitar and it's voice, with all the foibles. The inner critic says - "Let it go," like the assignment.
As soon as I started playing I looked at the neck and without hearing his words, I got what Mr. Burton hoped to get across. I learned something.
I can play with the tunes that had stymied me?!
I have no barriers?
Okay, so the Bruins didn't win, I did.
P.S.
Modes in music are a second way of looking at most "normal" scales. Modes can be Major or Minor or even Altered. My point is they are nothing new. Just a slightly different way to look at scales and the chords that underpin them.
Al had taught me of scales which I devoured and modes which I did not. As I said, I have a great ear and can play with Chick Corea with no qualms without understanding what I am doing.
All at once, the long lost information Al left me coupled with this terse, almost unfriendly man online (he has smiled once so far?) blew the horizons of my musical world wide.
This.is.so.cool.
(Online learning has come a very long way...wow)
Coursera
A taxing deep class it was not. There was some discussion of song forms but for the most part even if you just took the tests, never having heard a word of the lectures, using the internet as your reference, you could pass.
40,000 signed up.
4,000 completed the class.
3,000 received a Statement of Accomplishment.
Fine. Let's ramp up the skill level. Yeah.
What possessed me to enroll into a class present by Berklee College of Music, Jazz Improvisation with Gary Burton, I cannot say.
This is no 101 introduction.
The Beatle class consisted of an hour and a half worth of videos. Each had a question at the end and then there was a quiz on all the videos at the end of the lectures.
In the Berklee class, Gary Burton makes five two minute videos. Each succinctly (no, really?) explaining the point to be conveyed.
And then he unloads with, for example (week 2) six modes - are they major or minor (explain your thoughts on separate paper) and then play each mode for 30 to 60 seconds uploading your work to Soundcloud.
Shameless Plug - 'Hey You'
This is serious work.
Half of these applications of the modes are things I never thought of. As a young man when confronted with these modes I tended to play by ear. With rehearsal I can play anything. But I could get away with it, if need be. This assignment took me over three hours to complete. And at that, it was a C at best.
(I knew I could do better but I want to complete this and not endlessly tweak towards imagined perfection - I know what I know)
But it opened a door. And I am of the age and focus to be aware. A light went on.
Tonight I decided to work on some pieces I had written and yet until today could not lay a solo over...not to my satisfaction. And there comes a point when you accept your guitar and it's voice, with all the foibles. The inner critic says - "Let it go," like the assignment.
As soon as I started playing I looked at the neck and without hearing his words, I got what Mr. Burton hoped to get across. I learned something.
I can play with the tunes that had stymied me?!
I have no barriers?
Okay, so the Bruins didn't win, I did.
P.S.
Modes in music are a second way of looking at most "normal" scales. Modes can be Major or Minor or even Altered. My point is they are nothing new. Just a slightly different way to look at scales and the chords that underpin them.
Al had taught me of scales which I devoured and modes which I did not. As I said, I have a great ear and can play with Chick Corea with no qualms without understanding what I am doing.
All at once, the long lost information Al left me coupled with this terse, almost unfriendly man online (he has smiled once so far?) blew the horizons of my musical world wide.
This.is.so.cool.
Why Do You Play Music?
It is form of expression. It is a way for me to unload feelings or thoughts in such a way that no two people will see it the same way I do, but perhaps will enjoy it as much.
We all like to tell stories. Some of us are better at it, and some have issues when speaking to groups of people, but playing is Tale Spinning (Weather Report).
Sometimes it is incoherent ramblings. They can be fun, are somewhat difficult to follow and easily done.
Sometimes you have a heartfelt story to share with others. This is a difficult thing to accomplish. This is where you want your vision to align with the audiences; that's tough. Lyrics make it easier (obviously), but still leave room for interpretation.
Maybe you have a bout of playfulness. As with word play, you start riffing on a theme and with subtle changes and shifts you move the tune forward thematically.
My first interest was to attract girls. The bands at school dances seemed to be the object of all the young ladies desires. So this was an in.
That summer (1969) my parents sent me to summer camp; the overnight trip was to Woodstock.
We went to bed every night to the strains of Tommy.
My love of all things music bloomed. Music for its own sake.
Now, it is an integral part of who I am. I can easily express myself non verbally. I can release tension. Or reinforce new things I've learned. Or laugh or cry.
Artists can 'doodle,' musicians 'noodle.'
Part of the integration is the eternal desire for knowledge. I take a class...I take another. The first was an introductory sort of class. The second is a no nonsense music theory class.
Stretching muscles, gray or otherwise, is a good thing.
What does music do TO you, FOR you?
We all like to tell stories. Some of us are better at it, and some have issues when speaking to groups of people, but playing is Tale Spinning (Weather Report).
Sometimes it is incoherent ramblings. They can be fun, are somewhat difficult to follow and easily done.
Sometimes you have a heartfelt story to share with others. This is a difficult thing to accomplish. This is where you want your vision to align with the audiences; that's tough. Lyrics make it easier (obviously), but still leave room for interpretation.
Maybe you have a bout of playfulness. As with word play, you start riffing on a theme and with subtle changes and shifts you move the tune forward thematically.
My first interest was to attract girls. The bands at school dances seemed to be the object of all the young ladies desires. So this was an in.
That summer (1969) my parents sent me to summer camp; the overnight trip was to Woodstock.
We went to bed every night to the strains of Tommy.
My love of all things music bloomed. Music for its own sake.
Now, it is an integral part of who I am. I can easily express myself non verbally. I can release tension. Or reinforce new things I've learned. Or laugh or cry.
Artists can 'doodle,' musicians 'noodle.'
Part of the integration is the eternal desire for knowledge. I take a class...I take another. The first was an introductory sort of class. The second is a no nonsense music theory class.
Stretching muscles, gray or otherwise, is a good thing.
What does music do TO you, FOR you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)