Comments on: This Crazy Business Part 6: Individual Artistic Expression

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:17:16 +0000

I enjoyed this post! I recently graduated from music school and I felt that “woosh” shut off my creative light even before considering making a living from music. I now work in an office and I don’t find it so bad. Its in fact comforting to not have to worry about practicing music that I had become jaded with so quickly. I was inspired by composers like Ives, Reich, Glass, and Partch in that they didn’t directly seek a career in music but looked to be honest in their creativity while maintaining “normal” jobs (with the exception of Partch). Also, all of those composers are American which is something I’ve found I really like. In school I felt jammed into a mold from a tradition I had no clue about and being the person I am I just couldn’t enjoy that sort of work (though I tried, HARD). I have so many creative delights ranging from electronica, avant gaurde, hip hop, jazz, drawing, event planning, philosophy, etc! it is hard for me to devote myself to the orchestra. By the end of my bachelors I just wanted that piece of paper that would help me get hired. I was so fed up with “classical” music on my senior recital I had actually arranged a medley of hit rap tunes for a string section and a drum kit. Though the performance was very under rehearsed (one musician never practiced with us and I ended up singing the correct parts to him at some points mid performance while conducting) it was recieved very well and it felt great to do! My professor said he never saw a recital where everyone performing had a huge smile on their face! The solo section of the recital ranged from 18th century music to music composed in 1999! I still feel that need to create and I am still searching for what will satisfy me. I appreciate these ideas and inspiration. A few students might be fun, challenging, rewarding, and help with bills. Also, I may start arranging music that I would like to hear very old instruments play again, just for giggles.

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By: Elaine Fine

Elaine Fine — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:55:00 +0000

What about composing as a creative musical outlet? It is the one thing that I do that I feel has lasting value because it doesn’t “evaporate” like playing does, and it does not feel like work the way teaching often does.

I find a great deal of satisfaction in making what I call “executive decisions” when I write. I get to choose all my material, I get to decide how loud or soft something needs to be played, I get to do with the harmony, voicing, and articulations what I want to do with them, and when I am lucky I get the ultimate satisfaction of hearing a good performance of something I have written.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:53:00 +0000

Thanks for adding me to your blogroll! Also…I really enjoy reading your blog and learn a good bit from it, so I definitely wanted to have a link to it on my blog.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:47:00 +0000

I am glad my earlier question provoked discussion and reaction! Your comments abut the amateur experience ring true to me; I have got a lot of pleasure from my days in college as an orchestra member, and nowadays in early music ensembles. I have come to think that music is a wonderful avocation, but a difficult vocation. (Or, more crassly…. a great hobby and a lousy job.)

Bill

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:46:00 +0000

Bill