My friend, fifer Joe Korber, said something today that reminded me of Mr. Marsh’s famous closing salutation, and I thought it was worth repeating here. I’m probably paraphrasing, but it’s very close (I wasn’t running a tape recorder - I’m not Nixon, for Pete’s sake!).
“Great skill does not always equal great sucess
or satisfaction. There’s many a hack musician
riding the wonderous wave of happy satisfaction
while a skilled genius full of self doubt gnaws
away at his or her soul in a dark garret somewhere.”
I’ll go ya one more: what is a hack anyway? Really great musicians are loath to pin that on others, because they have come to appreciate the value of all the sawing, tooting, plucking and pounding and the love and interest in music that it represents. Only insecure newcomers and amateurs are quick to put down the value of other’s musicmaking. As for the fine art of music criticism, well, ask a really good musician what he thinks about music critics…
I may not be a really great musician but I have been doing this for so many years that you won’t ever find me using that word on anyone. The only exception are some of the Elvis impersonators. I have to convince myself that, what the heck, they are bringing enjoyment to somebody out there so who am I to , etc . etc…
I belong to a music group. There is a professional flutist in the group that comes to practice guitar. This person often has to be reminded “smile, have fun,” because indeed music is work for this individual. However, it does not always have to be work.
Some people focus on the limitations and negatives of certain ways of learning, certain pieces of equipment (at both ends of price), and in my opinion, lose sight of the ultimate goal. The goal is to have fun. Few are going to be recording in studio, and few need that level of proficiency or equipment. Enjoy it for what it is–a hobby. If buying lots of whistles is what makes it fun, more power to you. If spending years playing an old $9 whistle is what does it, again, savor the experience.
For me, music, especially composing music is a spiritual experience. It is something that few people experience. It is a gift, and it is one that I enjoy almost every day.
Interesting how people are taking this. The author, or so it seems to me, might be pointing out how easy it is for the mediocre to be satisfied and how much pain might be involved in teh creation of something of transcendent beauty. Were Beethoven and Charlie Parker somehow missing the point?
Actually, on very quick reflection, I think it’s a very good thing that both attitudes to music exist. It’s good that most musicians can experience joy just bashing out tunes for the fun of it. But it’s also good for all of us that some musicians are prepared to suffer in order to produce transcendent works of art that it might be impossible for someone jolly to create. They suffer; we get the joy of listening to their creations. That’s not fair, but, in this respect, life isn’t fair. But let’s please not compound the injustice by patronising them.
Here’s something rather odd - the effect of any given piece of music on you and others… “Tour de Taille” as played on violins, is a piece that I find grabs my heart in a way that brings tears to my eyes. The other night, though, I put on a headset and played it on whistle, along with the violins, and recorded it on MP3. On playing it back, to my surprise, it came out a happy song! Yet I put great effort into emulating the “feeling” of the strings. Same music, same emphasis, totally different emotions!
Go figure…
At least one of us can’t play worth beans, but I thoroghly enjoy the tunes I attempt to play. I don’t think anyone else would ever be pleased by my playing but I am not playing for them. I could never devote my life to music like some have. I do enoy listening to those who have though. I play for my own joy. I intend to keep whistling no matter how good or bad I may be. I whole heartedly support Lee’s admonition to enjoy your music.
The gist of this thread has been discussed many times on this board and others, but I’m glad to see it again. Playing music has wonderfully expanded worlds, given reason to live to someone who had given up on life, provided easy and fun physical therapy, introduced friends, calmed tense nerves and energized the depressed. Each of the members of this list is there through my life’s experiences. The mere fact that I am a pitfully amateur player will never take this richness from me.
How many things in life can one do, on a stage, in the bathroom, in the shower, at a session, in a studio, in a church, at a party, alone at night, alone at sunrise, all day, etc., etc., etc.,…besides playing music? Not much surpases it.
And look what we endure to do it: sore fingers, lips, arms, callouses, ears, shoulders, relationships, finacial burdens, sacrifices, time commitments, months or years of wait (for an instrument to be made, or a song to be learned).
Who knows why blowing into a tube, plucking strings, singing, or otherwise cranking out a tune feeds my soul? I don’t know, I quit trying to figure it out, but I can’t not do it. I’ll never be professional or even very good, but music is a healthy, positive addiction, unlike many others.