Comments on: You don’t always get what you deserve, nor… http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/ Music, opinion, life as a performing musician Thu, 24 May 2012 07:43:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kenneth Woods- a view from the podium » From the mailbag- rhythm and sightreading http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/comment-page-1/#comment-63808 Kenneth Woods- a view from the podium » From the mailbag- rhythm and sightreading Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:32:24 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/#comment-63808 [...] Otherwise, to the extent we have any inner soundtrack at all, it’s just of the “singing in the shower” variety. No harm in that, except that playing an instrument is hard, and managing those difficulties is bound to screw up your time without some inner monitor keeping an ear on things. Heck, most people can’t even sing in the shower in tempo if they reach for the soap, let alone play the viola. I completely agree with Bob about the extent to which the first minutes of a first rehearsal can tell you a lot about the prospects of a new group being any good. There’s always a sigh of relief when you settle in and realize things are clicking- life would be grand if it were always so. Hah! Even at the highest levels, there are whole religious denominations that seem to abhor accurate rhythm. Travis- you know who I’m talking about.  However, you may have many instances where you have to make a bad or troubled group work, and it helps to have a bag of tricks to get a group. Some of those involve managing the damage that transference does to your own playing, while the rest deal with getting the best out of a poorly matched group. Sometimes, the best trick is working at incredibly slow tempos with a loud metronome clicking eighths or better-yet 16ths instead of quarters. That kind of slow, quasi intonation work can do wonders for rhythm. Bob- I don’t think you take counting too much for granted at all, but I think you hint at a good fundamental point. A good musician has to be not only a poet, but an engineer as well. Our slightly narcissistic society has taught us that emotional self-expression is the our right as musicians, but a bit of humility to deal with the nuts and bolts is essential in making that music making honest and communicative. Subdivision isn’t a straight-jacket that keeps us from freely expressing our musical instincts, it is our very heartbeat itself- rhythm is life, as anyone who’s had heart trouble will tell you. Thanks again for the note, Bob. We’ll see how many more blog posts I can squeeze out of this comment. [...] [...] Otherwise, to the extent we have any inner soundtrack at all, it’s just of the “singing in the shower” variety. No harm in that, except that playing an instrument is hard, and managing those difficulties is bound to screw up your time without some inner monitor keeping an ear on things. Heck, most people can’t even sing in the shower in tempo if they reach for the soap, let alone play the viola. I completely agree with Bob about the extent to which the first minutes of a first rehearsal can tell you a lot about the prospects of a new group being any good. There’s always a sigh of relief when you settle in and realize things are clicking- life would be grand if it were always so. Hah! Even at the highest levels, there are whole religious denominations that seem to abhor accurate rhythm. Travis- you know who I’m talking about.  However, you may have many instances where you have to make a bad or troubled group work, and it helps to have a bag of tricks to get a group. Some of those involve managing the damage that transference does to your own playing, while the rest deal with getting the best out of a poorly matched group. Sometimes, the best trick is working at incredibly slow tempos with a loud metronome clicking eighths or better-yet 16ths instead of quarters. That kind of slow, quasi intonation work can do wonders for rhythm. Bob- I don’t think you take counting too much for granted at all, but I think you hint at a good fundamental point. A good musician has to be not only a poet, but an engineer as well. Our slightly narcissistic society has taught us that emotional self-expression is the our right as musicians, but a bit of humility to deal with the nuts and bolts is essential in making that music making honest and communicative. Subdivision isn’t a straight-jacket that keeps us from freely expressing our musical instincts, it is our very heartbeat itself- rhythm is life, as anyone who’s had heart trouble will tell you. Thanks again for the note, Bob. We’ll see how many more blog posts I can squeeze out of this comment. [...]

]]> By: Roni http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/comment-page-1/#comment-19182 Roni Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:49:37 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/#comment-19182 And, of course, do share your other "tales of concert happenings". You make it sound so alive, I can practically remember being there! And, of course, do share your other “tales of concert happenings”. You make it sound so alive, I can practically remember being there!

]]> By: Roni http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/comment-page-1/#comment-19144 Roni Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:57:27 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/#comment-19144 Thanks for the reply, Ken. You are right, but you know, with the greatest performers - who are musicians in the full sense of the word - I always find myself so immersed in the music, having to mentally take myself out of it to be able to actually listen to what's going on, technically. A few minutes later - same thing - I forget myself and the world around. That's what leaves me literally "speechless". Not with the average concerts - they get the critique they deserve! Thanks for the reply, Ken.

You are right, but you know, with the greatest performers – who are musicians in the full sense of the word – I always find myself so immersed in the music, having to mentally take myself out of it to be able to actually listen to what’s going on, technically. A few minutes later – same thing – I forget myself and the world around. That’s what leaves me literally “speechless”. Not with the average concerts – they get the critique they deserve!

]]> By: Kenneth Woods http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/comment-page-1/#comment-19122 Kenneth Woods Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:33:35 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/#comment-19122 Travis---- You genius.... I, of course, have no idea whatsoever what or who you are talking about. None. Really, I mean that, sincerely. No idea.... Maybe they can only count in that meter? No, I didn't say that. I have no idea what you're talking about. K Travis—-

You genius….

I, of course, have no idea whatsoever what or who you are talking about. None. Really, I mean that, sincerely. No idea…. Maybe they can only count in that meter?

No, I didn’t say that. I have no idea what you’re talking about.

K

]]> By: Kenneth Woods http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/comment-page-1/#comment-19121 Kenneth Woods Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:31:03 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/#comment-19121 Hi Roni Thanks for the comment- great to hear from you, as always. Of course I agree with you, but there is an entire category of "tales of the unexpected," whether great artists falling flat in concert or not-so-great ones rising to the occaision. I can think of a few truly great musicians where I either love or loathe their performances just based on how much coffee they seem to have had. The ability is always there, but the energy may wax and wane... So often, it comes down to something as simple as will- great performers have it, almost without exception. In this case, you had two of us who were absolutely determined not to let the thing go south. We were able to pull him up, which is not surprising. What is surprising is that by making us dig so deep, he got us to give more of ourselves than we knew we could. Would I ask him to do it again to try and acheive the same result- no!!!!! But I now know there is something attainable in that passage that I didn't know about before, which I'll have to try to make happen next time. As it is, I've got plenty of strange tales of concert happenings to share here- hopefully they make an interesting case study of peformance issue. Thanks again! KW Hi Roni

Thanks for the comment- great to hear from you, as always.

Of course I agree with you, but there is an entire category of “tales of the unexpected,” whether great artists falling flat in concert or not-so-great ones rising to the occaision. I can think of a few truly great musicians where I either love or loathe their performances just based on how much coffee they seem to have had. The ability is always there, but the energy may wax and wane…

So often, it comes down to something as simple as will- great performers have it, almost without exception. In this case, you had two of us who were absolutely determined not to let the thing go south. We were able to pull him up, which is not surprising. What is surprising is that by making us dig so deep, he got us to give more of ourselves than we knew we could. Would I ask him to do it again to try and acheive the same result- no!!!!! But I now know there is something attainable in that passage that I didn’t know about before, which I’ll have to try to make happen next time.

As it is, I’ve got plenty of strange tales of concert happenings to share here- hopefully they make an interesting case study of peformance issue.

Thanks again!

KW

]]> By: Roni http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/comment-page-1/#comment-19117 Roni Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:53:18 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/#comment-19117 Amazing story, but I find that those players who can deliver a good performance again and again are the best, and deserve the corresponding title. We often hear and see one-time outstanding performances, and not only in music, but other arts as well (figure skating for example). We then expect the said performer to get better each time, only to find him or her to be really very average. The public doesn't tolerate such disappointments, nor do the critics who prefer fresh meat. But, nevertheless, well done - on that night! Amazing story, but I find that those players who can deliver a good performance again and again are the best, and deserve the corresponding title. We often hear and see one-time outstanding performances, and not only in music, but other arts as well (figure skating for example). We then expect the said performer to get better each time, only to find him or her to be really very average. The public doesn’t tolerate such disappointments, nor do the critics who prefer fresh meat.

But, nevertheless, well done – on that night!

]]> By: composerbastard http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/comment-page-1/#comment-18982 composerbastard Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:25:25 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/#comment-18982 Maybe you discovered something about Schubert. Just because he was the penultimate tone-poet and dreamy songwriter doesn't mean he should be played like a girlie-composer... Maybe you discovered something about Schubert. Just because he was the penultimate tone-poet and dreamy songwriter doesn’t mean he should be played like a girlie-composer…

]]> By: Travis http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/comment-page-1/#comment-18954 Travis Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:16:40 +0000 http://kennethwoods.net/blog1/2007/09/25/you-dont-always-get-what-you-deserve-nor/#comment-18954 Lucky number 7? Lucky number 7?

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