Posted by giveawayboy on July 07, 2003 at 03:19:27:
I have one bottle of GROLSCH left over from New Year's Eve 2001/2002. I do not know why I never drank it. I do not know why I haven't thrown it out. It has taken up residence like those forgotten boxes of baking soda. I can't get rid of it now. It's family.
Tonight I was talking to Cantor21 who really helped me come to an understanding of why I like music and how I would like to help others develop an appreciation for music as well. We'll see if it ever materializes, but here is a sample of our chat. Thanks C21 for helping me here:
JAZZ
giveawayboy: Just got done watching my IMMACULATE COLLECTION DVD. I totally love Madonna
cantor21: I don't listen to much of that kind of music, which is a deficit in several ways, although I don't feel really deprived....
giveawayboy: no problem, i miss most pop music
cantor21: miss it?
giveawayboy: Yes, most pop music is not very captivating for me. I'm more into good songwriters.
cantor21: yeah, same here, although this weekend I've been listening to a lot of classic rock. I like jazz, though
giveawayboy: I surprised myself the other day when I guessed a chuck mangione song I had never heard before
cantor21: Yeah- I like Chuck Mangione. It's a nice, fresh sound
giveawayboy: yeah, summer time sound
cantor21: I think that's what the classic rock was for me, although I'm no expert on jazz
giveawayboy: me neither. all I can mention is Mangione, Miles Davis, Pat Metheny and Koinonia
cantor21: Actually- Miles Davis is cool.
giveawayboy: yeah, bitch's brew
cantor21: very funky
MUSIC APPRECIATION CLASS
giveawayboy: Well, you see, Mangione's music was used as the backdrop for a dolphin show at Busch Gardens
cantor21: really?
giveawayboy: Yeah! When I was in 6th grade I heard it there and it transformed the way i listened to music. so now i always associate his music w water, pools, the ocean and dolphins
cantor21: oh- I can kind of see that
giveawayboy: but it was neat. i had obviously heard the song before -- one of his great hits i'm sure--but never HEARD it before that day. it was sort of an epiphany. like for the first time i NOTICED it-- and all the subtleties of it. Later I would listen to lots of Koinonia, Abe Laboriel, etc. and learn more and more about HOW TO LISTEN to music. Now I'm really able to appreciate all kinds of music.
cantor21: Yeah- there are some good books on that kind of thing
giveawayboy: I think I could teach a music appreciation class. I mean, I dont know music theory too well, but I could teach people HOW TO LISTEN.
cantor21: Well, that's what music appreciation is about -- that and learning how to think aesthetically about music
giveawayboy: But, they'd have to hear me sing quite a bit, which might scare them
cantor21: Oh, I don't think so
giveawayboy: right. well, maybe i ought to think about this. i like to challenge the idea that visual art or music are the realms of gifted folks. Sure there are those who have a natural gift or connection, but that doesn't mean others cannot participate. So, maybe i'll teach a class.
cantor21: sure- everyone can do art!
giveawayboy: I could teach a music appreciation class. It would be a very interactive class.
cantor21: yeah! I was just gonna say that
giveawayboy: Heck! We could even do a project where people create their own music.
cantor21: sounds great!
giveawayboy: We'll see what happens. If I do it, I'll remember this conversation and be sure to mention you, the CANTOR
cantor21: I'm glad I'm a source of inspiration!
giveawayboy: oh but you are, my friend.
PLAYING KEYBOARDS BY EAR
giveawayboy: I used to play in a band years ago. It was a pop-alternative band called Pilot to Copilot. I was the keyboardist.
cantor21: Oh- cool! Keyboard?
giveawayboy: yes.
cantor21: I play keyboard too.
giveawayboy: I do not read music well. I play by ear. I can pick things up rather quickly.
cantor21: Yeah, I kind of play by a combo of ear and theory
giveawayboy: one night i was jamming w this guy named michael. we both played a section of the keyboard. it was awesome. really the chemistry was awesome. he and i both didn't know the other could play.
cantor21: How interesting
giveawayboy: well, if i were a serious musician i'd study theory more. i CAN read music, but it takes me a few weeks to hammer out a piece. i can't simply sit down and play it. i have to feel a connection to the piece, not just see the notes
cantor21: I see what you mean- I think that's what its like for a lot of people
giveawayboy: same with language. I can begin to talk to someone in another language and I'm fine, but leave me with books and I'm bored.
(after the keyboard phase of my life I gave my two keyboards to a church in Haiti)
SOUNDFIELDS...OR WATCH OUT! HERE COME THE MUSIC POLICE! (and Yes! I DO like Charles Ives!)
giveawayboy: I also experiment with sound fields or ranges of the keyboard. this might sound destructive to some people, esp. formally trained musicians.
cantor21: oh- I see what you mean.
giveawayboy: rhythm
cantor21: what do you mean sound fields?
giveawayboy: well, I think of using sound fields as more mathematical. It's like this. i'm not going for the resolution that everyone's ears are used to hearing. i'm going for whole zones of the keyboard--but it is systematically thought out.
cantor21: hmm- I'd probably have to see it to understand.
giveawayboy: i'd have to get a four track and record some of this for ya
cantor21: You should study theory
giveawayboy: this is all experimental and i'm sure trained musicians would laugh at me, well, some would and others would understand and help me
cantor21: No! That's why you need encouragement. That's where you have to start
It has to start with things that might sound silly.
giveawayboy: yes!
cantor21: that's how I started with my composing. I laugh at myself now
giveawayboy: or perhaps people will think it is noise.
cantor21: Well, you start, and you learn from different composers who use noise effectively. And that's a lot of what composition and orchestration are about, when you take those classes or lessons or whatever. I did a lot of work with that kind of stuff when I was in HS, with kind of avant garde stuff. And it was a start. I had a lot that I wanted to say, but I didn't yet know how to say it effectively.
CLOSING SALUTATIONS
giveawayboy: This is great! With your permission I'd love to put some of this onto my church's website, of course leaving out any comments of a personal nature. however, if you don't want me to I won't.
cantor21: Oh, I don't care. I don't think I've said anything personal anyway.
giveawayboy: Good--well, then we're safe.
cantor21: I'm glad I could be an inspiration to you.
giveawayboy: Just by listening and bouncing your thoughts back you are helping me conceive of a whole new possibility of me and music.
cantor21: Well, keep experimenting. Will you be here later?- I'm sorry- I'm watching the Practice.
giveawayboy: no problem. see ya later dear.
cantor21: Okay!
giveawayboy: Cheers!