This is an impromptu blog. Today I've been thinking a lot about why I am a musician and what I try to say and do with music. The question I've been contemplating is 'WHAT SORT OF MUSICIAN DO I WANT TO BE'? I think it's pretty important.
I didn't start out playing with any of this in mind. I started drums basically because my brother became a musician, formed a band and the band rehearsed at my parents' house. I saw that big drum kit setup and couldn't help but want to play the thing - simple as that. I played in some (aweful) bands in high school and by the end of it I somehow decided I wanted to study music at college for a year, and after college I somehow got into uni to study music. Up until 4th year of university I didn't 'get it'. Music that is. I wasn't a musician, I was a drummer and a pretty shit one at that. My time wasn't great, my touch was terrible and my listening skills were rank. I wasn't even that into music, certainly not in the way I am now.
But sometime in April 2009 I feel I started to 'get it' a bit more. I went to a masterclass and then a gig and I was inspired in a way I had never been before. It was like when that spoilt brat in Gran Torino looks under the dust sheet in Clint Eastwood's garage to find that shiny, untouched, green sports car that oozes nostalgia, beauty and reminds people of when high quality, mass-manufacturing was an industry not only reserved for the tiger economies.
I'm not going to bother to tell the story of April 09, it'd sound pretentious and wanky. However, since that day i've really seen music and drumming in a new light. Here's my outlook:
I play drums because I love music. When I sit down on a drum kit on a stage I feel empowered and comfortable, I feel like I can speak clearly to people. I think that when people watch me play they might be able to see and hear some of what's going on in my head, and I definitely feel that some of personality comes across when I play. I'm not up my own ass though. I know there are bags of people of there who are so much better than I ever could be. That said I truly believe that every musician can have their own voice, and there are people who claim to really enjoy my playing ahead of other drummers - both musicians and non-musicians. Unless all these people are liars (possible to be fair) then maybe something I do on the drums gives other people pleasure in way some other drummers don't. Maybe.
On the flip side of that I know there are things I do on the drums that a lot of people don't like - again both musicians and non-musicians. There are also things I cannot do on the drums that people would like to heae. Some of these things I can remedy and some I cannot - the ones I can't will probably shape me more as a musician than anything else.
People's imperfections say more about them than anything else; take my favourite mixed-martial artist for example. George Saint-Pierre is a role model for me and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world...I think the reason I like him so much is that he isn't as naturally gifted as Anderson Silva when it comes to boxing. Nor is he as naturally giften at Royce Gracie at Jui-Jitsu. Nor does he have the chin of Chris Levin (he once got knocked out by Matt Serra in a freak defeat that he later avenged in pretty epic style). But he is incredibly intelligent and he is incredibly good at athletics. This has made his the fighter he is - he is the perfect strategist (He doesn't have the best chin in the world so he fights in a way that keeps him out of high risk positions where opponents could expose this) and the most explosive mixed-martial-artist around...no-one has the plyometric power he does. What makes him argueably the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet is the way he was made the most of his strengths and addressed his weaknesses as best he can.
So yeh in regards to music - I got some good things and some bad things going on. And I guess we all do - no matter where we are in the hierarchy. And in my own regards to music I think I want to 'say something, and say it as clearly and as well as I can'. That means using creativity and technique together create the best music I can. I'm not overly arty - but a bit of arty farty crap doesn't hurt now and again, so long as you can back it up with the goods (ie good music - whatever that is).
In my work as a musician I encounter lots of other musicians who have varying attitudes to music. We're not all in it for the same reason, that is a given. I've come across a lot of people who's attitudes are quite different to mine - and I've learned loads from them. In fact the fact they disagree with my approach or feelings about music has made me grow as a musician and question my own opinions. That said there are a few polar extremes I still don't get:
1 -
The Scientist
The Stereotype
The person that has all the chops and sees music as a competitive sport. They want to be fastest, strongest meanest. They often love the term 'technical' e.g 'technical drumming'.
What I don't like about this
Chops mean nowt without musiciality - without intent and good contect chops can be totally rank. Also i feel that technique is a means to an end and that music isn't borne out of a need to showcase technique, in fact I feel technique is born out of the need of the player to play the music he wants to be able to play.
What I like about this
People who spend a lot of time on the chops side tend to respect their instrument and they have the ability to not be limited by their technique - provided they are not guided by it.
2 -
The Creative Hippy
The Stereotype
The person who is perhaps only interested in the creative side of music. Trying to not conform to the existing parameters of music
What I don't like about this
Being creative is awesome but it's not a sin to be influenced by other music. Sometimes the creative hippies arn't exactly technically solid either - and sadly in my eyes the execution and presentation of the ideas and concepts in a piece of music are as important as the idea. Just as you can't polish a turd, you've got to make sure a fine piece of art isn't easily mistaken for a turd due to it's poor presentation! Additionally just because something is innovative it doesn't make it good
What I Like About this
Creativity is important and most of my favourite artists have made their own mark in music by doing something different from their contemporaries.
3 -
The Scene-ster
The Stereotype
Not sure this needs much of an introduction but everyone knows someone who makes music to be part of a scene and are often more worried about image and being cool than the music itself. Perhaps the person will make and perform music in a particular way to appeal to that scene.
What I don't like about this
Most things - to me good music speaks to a large demographic of people and reaches across boundaries. Maybe i'm being cheesy, naive and a bit of a dick though. But yeh - the idea music is made to speak to a specific type of person isn't one that I agree with it. Additionally the idea you have to dress, look or act in a certain way to make your music believable or appealing makes me want to spew my guts out.
What I Like About This
N/A
I guess at the end of the day everyone gets their own thing from music, including the people I disagree with. And the people that pay to hear music do so for different reasons so my opinion counts for sod-all...APART FROM my prejudices and opinions have helped me realise what kind of musician I want to become. And that is super-important if we are to learn and develop in a way that suits us best. So maybe next time you contemplate what kind of musician you are, or want to be maybe you'd be better thinking about the things you don't want to be. Add that to your strengths and weaknesses, and how you think you can best combine the two - any maybe you'll come to the same conclusion as me: I don't know, and I don't care I'll just keep learning, keep loving music, and keep on doing my thing.
R
