What motivates us to play music ?
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:29 pm
The older I get and the more I discover the unending aspects of music, both with my own ability and the music of the world, the more I come to understand that musicians need to share their voice with others.
Musicians who enjoy what they are playing will propably help the listener enjoy it too and style preference will work itself out since the audience/listener is what it comes down to.
Most "non-musician" music fans don't really care how much of a technical monster a player is but what they do care about is how the music makes them feel. Music is emotion.
Music without words, no matter how increadible us musicians think a piece is (Love Supreme comes to mind among many) the general casual listener wants to hear lyrics and a beat they can tap their toe to, dance to, whatever. Most people just want to hear a song, not an arrangement. Some do which makes it worth the extra effort.
Music also has a powerful effect on memories, both good and bad. We have all been in a situation where someone reguests a certain song when it didn't fit the band, scene, set-list, etc. Earlier this year I was in a project cover band for the fun of it (remember the fun part?) and this half lit, half dizzed out hot blonde walks up to me between songs and asked me if we played any Byonce'. The band went silent for the first time ever. The male lead singer didn't hear the request, thankfully. My reply was simple. "Um, mam, we're a rock band".
Ya now what ? She wanted to hear what made her feel good, not that the martini's weren't working their magic lube just fine. She was right though.
So anyway, sorry for the long reply. I just think musicians invest so much time in honing our skills (rightly so) that we forget that everyday people just want entertained and don't give a rats ass about most things technical and want us to help them feel good, make some good memories for the night and off they go back to their regular lives.
Another aspect and frustrating for some musicians is the more refined or avant-garde the music is, the more limited the audience will be. Very limited in a small city.
The choice of style or styles is a musicians choice and I totally understand it and support it. A paying audience may not be so understanding.
In a nutshell, there are far more non-musicians than musicians and they will always determine what is popular and what is not. We don't have to like it (one way or the other) but it is worth taking some time to understand it, especially if you want to play music and actually make a few bucks along the way. Finding a way to share your music with those that appreciate it is worth the effort, but it may not pay a dime.
Playing music for our own enjoyment is fine too and I'm not looking to be flamed or agreed with here. I also agree to step outside our normal musical boundries, styles, genre, etc. and find ways to incorporate all of it in a coherent way. It may take a lifetime but isn't that what helps motivate us to play and keep learning ?
Music is the last Universal Language to survive. Do your part, whatever it is you choose to play or not play.
It's not all bad having the freedom to choose either.
Musicians who enjoy what they are playing will propably help the listener enjoy it too and style preference will work itself out since the audience/listener is what it comes down to.
Most "non-musician" music fans don't really care how much of a technical monster a player is but what they do care about is how the music makes them feel. Music is emotion.
Music without words, no matter how increadible us musicians think a piece is (Love Supreme comes to mind among many) the general casual listener wants to hear lyrics and a beat they can tap their toe to, dance to, whatever. Most people just want to hear a song, not an arrangement. Some do which makes it worth the extra effort.
Music also has a powerful effect on memories, both good and bad. We have all been in a situation where someone reguests a certain song when it didn't fit the band, scene, set-list, etc. Earlier this year I was in a project cover band for the fun of it (remember the fun part?) and this half lit, half dizzed out hot blonde walks up to me between songs and asked me if we played any Byonce'. The band went silent for the first time ever. The male lead singer didn't hear the request, thankfully. My reply was simple. "Um, mam, we're a rock band".
Ya now what ? She wanted to hear what made her feel good, not that the martini's weren't working their magic lube just fine. She was right though.
So anyway, sorry for the long reply. I just think musicians invest so much time in honing our skills (rightly so) that we forget that everyday people just want entertained and don't give a rats ass about most things technical and want us to help them feel good, make some good memories for the night and off they go back to their regular lives.
Another aspect and frustrating for some musicians is the more refined or avant-garde the music is, the more limited the audience will be. Very limited in a small city.
The choice of style or styles is a musicians choice and I totally understand it and support it. A paying audience may not be so understanding.
In a nutshell, there are far more non-musicians than musicians and they will always determine what is popular and what is not. We don't have to like it (one way or the other) but it is worth taking some time to understand it, especially if you want to play music and actually make a few bucks along the way. Finding a way to share your music with those that appreciate it is worth the effort, but it may not pay a dime.
Playing music for our own enjoyment is fine too and I'm not looking to be flamed or agreed with here. I also agree to step outside our normal musical boundries, styles, genre, etc. and find ways to incorporate all of it in a coherent way. It may take a lifetime but isn't that what helps motivate us to play and keep learning ?
Music is the last Universal Language to survive. Do your part, whatever it is you choose to play or not play.
It's not all bad having the freedom to choose either.