February 13, 2006 Don’t be affraid to make “Mistakes” in Music!!!
Filed under » Drums, Cymbals, Percussion, Music, Jazz, Rhythm, Aesthetics, Philosophy of Music — DF @ 4:24 pm Hello Folks,
SiMoN the Daddy Funk is back with a few more Thoughts & Ideas from the World of Drums & Music!
At two separate points ReCeNtly~ During an eVening of Drum~TeaChing & while working oN a New F&R Composition with Mr.StoNe ~ I had a series of thoughts oN the nature of “Mistakes” in the Practice & Execution of Music >>>
I beGan wondering whether, from a Philosophical perspective, there IS such a thing as an ALL OUT Mistake in the realms of Drums, Percussion & Music >>> Here is what I caMe up with! >>>
I’ve found in My Teaching Practice that My Students are often VERY UNCOMFORTABLE & get Very STRESSED when they make even the Smallest “Mistake” or Error while practicing Grooves or Rudiment excercises on Drum~Set or Congas>>>
This is particularily true of the Adults that I Teach >>> Most of them are SO Hard on Themselves & SOOO Impatient to ACHIEVE & MOVE ON!!!!>>>
This is such a Symtom of the HECTIC, FRENETIC Modern LIFE that We ALL seem to Live & Work in, on a Day to Day Basis >>> “Must Do Better, Must Be Quicker, MUST ACHIEVE!!!!!” >>>
Even some of the Young Kids I Teach & DEFINATELY the Teen~Agers are Infected be this Goal~Driven malaise >>>
This is NO WAY to Learn any Musical Instrument, in My mind >>> It takes ALL the enjoyment out of the process of Learning, making the study of Your chosen instrument Stressful & Uncomfortable >>> Quite frankly NO FUN AT ALL!!!
As in LIFE, the Journey TO the required “Destination” should be an ENJOYABLE part of the Learning process & is often the Way to a MUCH DEEPER understanding of the Rhythm, Beat, Groove or infact ANY Musical Shape or Sound You are trying to perfect >>>
A more Peaceful & Relaxed approach to the Learning of Your Instrument will be MUCH MORE FULL~FILLING & will help You to APPRECIATE & LOVE Your Instrument SO MUCH MORE!!! >>>
Most of all try & retain a SENSE OF HUMOUR!!! >>> What IS the point in getting all worked up & Annoyed with Yourself if You do Something Unintentional!!!>>>
Which brings Me to My Next & Final Point…..
If You are completely Closed to “Mistakes” in Your Playing, You are Closing the door on the “Magical Unintended Moment”>>> that Fantastic, Unpredictable Place where Inspiration happens >>> Just when You least expect it, Something REALLY COOL comes out of You that You can Use, Develop upon & LEARN FROM!>>>
This is Improvisation in a Raw form>>> Jazz in it’s essence >>> Philosophically this is the “Chaos~Moment” revealing something FRESH & DIFFERENT that You may never have discovered had You NOT made that ALL IMPORTANT “MISTAKE” >>> This is a FACT In My Drum~Lessons & PARTICULARLY in My ReCordiNg Studio Work >>>
Some of My favourite Drum & Vocal Performances in My own Musical Compositions came out of an Unintended HappeNing!! >>> These Recordings just would not be the same or as GOOD, if it wasn’t for these Welcome “Errors”>>>
& Some of My favourite Grooves & Rhythmic Ideas that I Teach every Day caMe from a “Mistake” made by Myself or the Student whiCh I quickly Jumped on & Utilised!!
So ENJOY THE JOURNEY!
A “MISTAKE” could be SoMething GREAT Waiting to HappeN!>>> You Just NeVer Know!!!
PeaCe, RespeCt & MusiCal Pleasure to You ALL,
***<<< SiMoN the Daddy Funk >>>***
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