It seems that when I can't sleep I write, it is not that often but a dear artist friend once taught me that a fantastic art mode is the middle of the night. This writing came to me at about 3am, and I have learned if I just get up and write it will then let me go back to sleep ( read Elizabeth Gilberts Big Magic if this interests you).
What is Music?
A concept, an idea- delivered through sound. that's pretty much it. I asked a young student the other day, did you know you were a songwriter? She literally said, "no I just had all these ideas, I didn't know..." and I said "that's what songs are! Ideas!"
A song is conceived somewhere in the brain and delivered to the outside world through short and long frequencies that fly through the air and vibrate the inner ear. It doesn't even need to be a sound that the listener "likes" to be classified as music, but where is the line between noise and melody?
One of my favorite questions to answer as a teacher is the invariable "why is this music?"
I love this question because it fascinates me, and there is no real answer just like "why is this art?", but there IS a conversation to be had here.
I say "press these notes (a group of dissident notes) and tell me if they sound "good" to you", predictably the student scrunches up their face and shakes their head, "nope, sounds bad".
"Now press these notes" a group of harmonic notes, and their face relaxes, "yes, i "like" that, it sounds nice".
Now of course this reaction is based on the listener's experience and comfort with certain sounds, most people don't like the sound of jackhammers or the robot in a grinder sound that dubstep music uses, but just as well not everyone likes the sound of running water, crickets, or the band Genesis ( I know, gasp!)
The phenomenon of what music is; lies in when a grouping of notes is played with a vision and sound melodic, then that same grouping of notes played clumsily, on accident, or without vision ( not hearing the notes in the mind before you play or sing them) and alternately, somehow, sound completely - not right.
When a player plays without vision (without hearing the notes in the mind beforehand, or without emotion) there is a lack of connection for the player and the listener, it lacks interest and holds no real power.
Music, like life, holds a phenomenal and magical quality, achieved through vision and is made of 4 components:
The science ( what it is to make and hear sound vibrations)
The emotion ( the players' ability and willingness to connect to the sounds )
The magic ( the vision of the player to write and or play the sounds)
Time ( the time spent cultivating a certain level of skill ).
I hope that this article helps you better understand your own creative being and those around you. Creative talk makes up a small percentage of our day and life and the more familiar we become with it the deeper it reveals itself to its ultimate importance to our being.
Sincerely,
Aja
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