Why Bother If You'll Never Be Great? Options

[davidmackay]

Another good article from the Guardian's Charlotte Higgins:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/1...cal-music-in-uk

This comment hits the nail on the head for me:

...there is something about ­playing that is wholly good for myself, ­uncomplicatedly good, in a moral sense. When you play music you are an agent, you are doing something rather than being a consumer or a subject. For me, it's part of being a human ­being.

[Arundodonuts]

Well I've never been GREAT at anything I've ever done. Reasonably competent at best probably. It doesn't stop me enjoying myself.

[BerkshireMum]

Thanks for the link, David. A very interesting article; few people write about amateur music making, although amateur sport gets good coverage in our local paper.

There's certainly "something about playing" that brings a lot of enjoyment to those who play instruments. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[davidmackay]

Thanks for the link, David. A very interesting article; few people write about amateur music making, although amateur sport gets good coverage in our local paper.

There's certainly "something about playing" that brings a lot of enjoyment to those who play instruments. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Good point about coverage in the local papers. I guess amateur sport can have quite a few spectators and so coverage is not unreasonable. If an amateur music event has no spectators then of course you wouldn't expect any coverage in the press as it's of interest only to those who participate. That leaves amateur music events that are open to the public, and here there is defintely a case for more press coverage. I guess those who organise such events also need to be pushing journos if they want coverage.

[BerkshireMum]

Thanks for the link, David. A very interesting article; few people write about amateur music making, although amateur sport gets good coverage in our local paper.

There's certainly "something about playing" that brings a lot of enjoyment to those who play instruments. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Good point about coverage in the local papers. I guess amateur sport can have quite a few spectators and so coverage is not unreasonable. If an amateur music event has no spectators then of course you wouldn't expect any coverage in the press as it's of interest only to those who participate. That leaves amateur music events that are open to the public, and here there is defintely a case for more press coverage. I guess those who organise such events also need to be pushing journos if they want coverage.

A local amateur wind band has given an annual concert in aid of Christian Aid for the last three years here. I wrote articles about the very good concerts on all three occasions and the paper published once! To be fair, the large choral and operatic societies here do get their concert reviews published, though the reviews don't always appear straight away.

There's a certain amount of the paper devoted to The Arts, some of which is for local professional concerts, art exhibitions etc, and some of which is for amateur productions. So if there's a lot on in the professional world, the amateur things have to take a back seat. The coverage of the Newbury Spring Festival (a fortnight devoted to professional top orchestras, chamber groups and soloists) is always fantastic. It's a pity, though, that even some of the better amateur musical events pass with scant coverage; even our last Newbury Young Musician competition in 2008 barely got a mention.

[Blackbird77]

Many thanks for posting the link to this very interesting article. I may never be great but I can aim to be the best that I can be. When I attended a forum event, it was so fantastic to be with people who love music and take such joy in playing. I've neglected my music lately and it's making me totally miserable so I've decided things have got to change and I can go back to doing something I totally adore.

[anacrusis]

It's a good article, and I'm pleased also to see some interesting links in it - thank you for posting it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

There's more to life than being Great, as measured against our whole community - I can't be amongst the best of recorder players, but what matters to me, and gives me immense satisfaction, is that I can improve, and that I'm a whole lot better than I used to be - progress is itself just as valuable as any absolute level of achievement.

[davidmackay]

.... progress is itself just as valuable as any absolute level of achievement.

nice point - arguably more valuable.

[Fran*Piano]

I'll never be "great", I started far too late and I barely manage to fit in an hour's practice a day on each instrument, but the fact that four years ago, I couldn't read a note of music, and now I can play grade seven piano pieces, that six months ago, I'd never even held a violin and bow before and now I'm working on grade two, that seems pretty "great" to me. A few of my friends are fantastic musicians who have been playing since they were very very young, so being able to keep even halfway up with them amazes me, even if it takes me two weeks to play something they can sight read perfectly. Music is almost like a community in my school, there's very few of us take it "seriously", but those who do range in age right from eleven year olds just entering the school right up to eighteen year olds worrying about university applications. Somehow, we can all just fit together and we all look out for each other-someone once said "If you mess with one of the music-freaks, you mess with them all." And it's true, music is something that's brought us all together, people who would never have become friends otherwise. We have little practices at lunchtimes and breaktimes, all ages and abilities. And every time I play with them, I notice that things just seem ever so slightly easier than they've ever done so before. Progressing is enough for me, that wonderful feeling when you can finally do something that has seemed so challenging...that's the reason I love music (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[The Old Lady]

My Mum thinks I'm great. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[Aeolienne]

Another good article from the Guardian's Charlotte Higgins:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/1...cal-music-in-uk

This comment hits the nail on the head for me:

...there is something about ­playing that is wholly good for myself, ­uncomplicatedly good, in a moral sense. When you play music you are an agent, you are doing something rather than being a consumer or a subject. For me, it's part of being a human ­being.

I had a look at the organisations linked to the end of CH's article. Too bad MakingMusic's only opportunity for recorder players in Devon is Recorders@Plymouth - splitters! - while the South-West branch of CoMA is based in Bristol and/or Bath judging by the committee members' phone numbers.

[Flossie]

I'm glad I managed to miss the photo!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[armandine2]

I played Bartok's Wedding Song today, I felt great. I felt I was getting a personal invite and my rsvp was accepted. It's a grade 1 piece (from 2003-4 piano), so beginners aren't always being patronised.

[davidmackay]

Fran

I just had a look at your profile and see you have just turned 16. This means you started music when you were 12? And this is too late??????

Crikey.

Sounds to me like you're progressing like a turbo steamtrain.

[davidmackay]

Too bad MakingMusic's only opportunity for recorder players in Devon is Recorders@Plymouth - splitters! -

LOL!
Life of Brian - I love the fact that there's a whole world of political intrigue and factionalism (is that a word?) in the world of Devon recorder players.