Really?

So if you are a trained musician you are superior? I posit that anyone who thinks to the same depth in their disciplines is surfing on the same big waves. (Sorry for such a cheap metaphor).

I know that the "total" musician is probably the most balanced intellectual (wow! what a conclusion) will surface well above most in our culture. But is there an over balanced individual? Isn't balance like perfection - anything else than perfection (balance) is less than imperfection. Wow, this is complex.

Regardless, being a musician (and literate) is a very cool place to hang out.

Don

Music and Your Neural Net

Some studies at UCLA a few years ago show that formally trained musicians listen mostly from their left brains while untrained listeners use their right brains. It would seem to me that since we all began as untrained musicians we all listened mostly from our right brain (affective). Those of us who studied formally migrated to the left brain (cognitive) as we learned to analyze what we were listening to. The bundle of nerves that connect the right and left hemishperes is 10-15% larger in trained musicians!! So... what does that say about our discipline? I would guess that we can move quite easily across our brain to solve problems with whatever hemisphere is most suited to the problem. I always figure those that migrate to the left brain and get stuck there will be university teachers and have half-baked neural nets. If you can move back to the right side with all the tools gained from the left side you might create music someone else is interested in listening to. But.... above all, this all shows that learning music will grow new and more sophisticated neural nets few other disciplines can match. Learning music may be a solution to creative thinking in all things.

Music Theory will kill my creativity!

I have heard this over the years as if being analytical about one's music will diminish the excitement or raw expression of playing music. So what is lost when one knows more? Does not knowing about music theory ever become a plus? It is like thinking and speaking with a limited vocabulary. I have found that the more I know the more I can interact with music on so many different levels. I think that I actually hear more than those who have not taken the time to learn the complexities of music and its construction.

But alas, I do love closing my eyes and just playing. This never goes away. It only gets better.

Don

The music of 9/11

So, what music was most prominent on 9/11? What music represented the American spirit and reflected the passion we feel for the tragedy of that day? What I heard most was God Bless America. That disturbs me. When we worry most about the religious zealotry of the middle east should we not promote our own secular independece from religious polity? Why then do we sing a song that stresses God's role in American initiative? Is our religious right more right than the islamic religious right? Does our music speak a truth we are not willing to state in political rhetoric? Maybe our music is more honest.

TV in the cafeteria.

I can hardly believe the new discussion on our campus. It is an email discussion of whether there should be a TV on and the sound up for the students in the cafeteria. Some want to turn it off to better represent the educational goals of "true and worthy discussions" not meaningless programming and commercials.

Can you believe this is even important to teachers? They suggest that the TV be turned off and background music be used. Dave suggested ear-grating Christian death metal music played really loud.

So TV is not appropriate but background music would be appropriate - as if we could all agree on the "perfect" music.

This entire discussion was started by a philosophy professor. Is this a philosophical issue? I think the sociology department is the area that should address this issue.

As a musician, I love the complexity of a cafeteria where people are trying to be quiet, expressive, hungry, bored, etc.

Should the music change for those eating Sushi? Hamburgers? Salads? Brown bag? etc?

Don

Free Music

Well it may have finally happened. Music used to be forced down our throats on albums and later CDs (although some concept albums actually worked). The wildfire of illegal downloads and sharing eventually made the production companies rethink their approach. Apple found the first truly viable solution with its iPod and iTunes. We could actually buy the song we wanted, stay legal and be very cool all for just 99 cents. Today a new company, SpiralFrog, may be offering the ultimate solution with free downloads. All we have to do is bear some advertisement while the music downloads.

Music companies now longer deal in music but in advertising. Music is just the lost leader in the process. How much more corporate can corporate music become? I say we all stop listening to music and make music instead. Why should all the rock stars people worship get all the fun. Sing along when the national anthem is played (just ignore the weird looks). The only place in the last few years I've heard people actually sing together is at the ball park after seven innings of self medication. Play spoons, or kazoo. Reclaim the right to make music, the best free music of all.

Fall Hopes

The fall semester is right around the corner. Beth at Fresno City College and Dave here at MiraCosta along we me are now focused big time to start classes. We have been hoping for renewed strength to find the "talent" and dive in. It is always surprising who shows up with hope in their eyes. It is such a blast to feed the dreams.

So all you future rock stars, get in line and work, work, work.

Don