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March 13, 2009
Musical Enlightenment 2
So what causes those “down days?”
Over the years, I noticed that a “down cycle” would hit after a noteworthy musical setback had hit me first.
I remember the first time I tried to sing one of my songs for an audience. I had written what I thought was a great Contemporary Christian song, and I had the opportunity to sing it in church, accompanying myself on piano.
The reaction was universal:
“Boy, you sure know how to play that piano!”
“What about my singing?” I asked, without shame.
“Yes, you can really play that piano.”
“Did you like the song?”
“You really have a gift for playing the piano. Thank the Lord for that.”
Needles to say, I suffered a “down time” shortly thereafter.
But eventually I learned something valuable. I had spent years learning to play the piano well. I had spent no time working on my singing, or my songwriting. What made me think that these abilities would just spring naturally out of my skill as a pianist? Singing and songwriters were skills that would need to be learned and developed, just like my piano playing.
Another time I was working a recording session in the late 70’s. I was hired to play piano on a jingle. I was given a chart, and was full of confidence, since I knew how to read charts.
But as we ran down the tune, the guitarist on the session turned to me and said, “You’re stepping all over me. You’re playing too much.” I was so self-involved during the session that I was not listening to the guitar player (or anyone else in the band for that matter). My ego was bruised, but my ability to play in a band improved that day.
During the “down” times, those periods of discouragement, I have come to see (with the advantage of hindsight that goes a long way back!) that that was actually a positive signal.
My down times as a musician almost always came as a result of coming face to face with a deficiency in my skills or knowledge. When I suffered a “musical setback” I could now see clearly what my next step forward as a musician would be, whether it was working on my craft as a songwriter, building my skills as a singer, or learning how to listen when playing as part of a group.
Of course it took me many years to fully realize this, and I am still tempted to brood when my “musical ego” is bruised.
But the roller coaster ride isn’t as wild as it used to be, and the down days serve to remind me that I always need to grow as a musician. The process never ends, as there is always more to learn.
Posted by leonolguin at March 13, 2009 09:28 AM