Ola!
What a fun time in class today. We were really getting the swing of those Jansa rhythms.
Dr. McCoy wants a drum circle at the DePauwpalooza pizza bash Friday evening--so I hope you'll join with "my" MUS 130 section in making it happen. "Jansa" definitely needs to be part of it. Let's start creating a DPU rhythmaculture.
Homework, homework:
Wednesday
Speaking of using music to make a difference in a community . . . it's time to start exploring the Citizen Musician project, as presented by the Chicago Symphony and Yo-Yo Ma. Check out the home page, and watch YYM explain the concept. (BTW, when she first heard the term "citizen musician," one of my colleagues thought it sounded "vaguely communistic." What do you think?) Explore the other areas of the site as well.
Friday
Friday we'll be talking about Christopher Small's idea of "musicking"--redefining music as a verb rather than a noun. We'll read the text of this lecture. It's full of ideas. Lots and lots to think through and start to absorb, so you may want to get started soon. There's also a fabulous book if you want to explore the ideas more. Highly recommended. Christopher Small's ideas have had as profound an effect on who I am as a musician as has the work of Arthur Hull and David Darling. (And all those classical people, too.)
And then after Friday afternoon ensembles, it will be time for some musicking in Bowman Park.
The value that you are always working toward something that is bigger than yourself in music really rang true to me. How to define success is another value. Success can be so many things but he sees it as having an influence on others. Then your work is done.
ReplyDeleteThe same came to me, but for me, being a religious person, all of my music is for God. The only reason I am a Christian today is because of being involved in my church's orchestra. Music opened the door for me to find Him and come to Him, so now it is all dedicated back to Him. Also, this means that when I have "success" maybe I can affect others to see the reason I play, my driving force. Maybe I can interest them in that. If I can, then I've done my true job here on Earth.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the internationality of this concept and the fact that it can bring people from all over the world together to express themselves and celebrate great moments in our history. I feel personally that nothing can bring people from different cultures together more than music. It can also be a great bonding force for people from the same culture to perform their native music together. I also agree with the statement that we have to use music in both happy and sad situations, because there is nothing more cathartic than musical expression for me.
ReplyDeleteI love Yo-Yo's definition of success, that is being a citizen musician. The idea of not being successful until you have shared what you have learned is sooooo awesome! Instill your love for music in others... however you see fit
ReplyDeleteSome of the most amazing moments in my life where when I influenced people by music or I've been influenced by someone's music. I feel that music can connect any group of people from any walk of life so it's exciting to see that Citizen Musician Project is getting involved in that. One of my favorite moments in the video was when Yo Yo Ma was talking about what success is when you are a musician. His words are very inspiring and I can only agree with him. Also, the girl playing the purple violin?! I want that. Awesome vid! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty brilliant...it's really interesting to go to the website and look at the profiles of the artists that contribute to this idea. One group that caught my attention is a choral group called Bella Voce. What's really neat is that they specialize in doing music that is written by composers in the midwest. Yay for regional pride!! Take a listen:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bellavoce.org/listen.html
I liked how this includes everyone who appreciates music because that is as important as those who perform. Not everyone is comfortable performing but all can enjoy music and citizen musician makes these people equals to performers in what they can do for their community. In this way everyone can have an influence on others.
ReplyDeleteHW DUE FRIDAY!
ReplyDeleteAnd, further, they mean specifically the work's effect on a individual listener, not on a composer, and certainly not on a performer. This is curious when you think about it, since performers are without doubt the most active members of the composer-performer-listener triad, and one would imagine that they would be most in need of a good reason for doing what they do. It's a curious fact that performers and performance are hardly ever mentioned in writings on the meaning of music.
This part of the lecture really stood out to me. It kind of confused me in a way so if anyone wants to comment about what they thought i'd love to hear their ideas!
On the other hand I completely understood the meaning of: Now if there is anything that's clear about performing it is that it is action, it's something that people do.
When he goes on to explain this it reminded me of the past reading of Rhythmaculture and how it is linked to nature and earth.
Success isn't always monetary, in fact it often is the opposite. Success can come in the form of inspiring someone else to love music. I think it's great that the Citizen Musician Project is bringing music to people that wouldn't normally enjoy music, or think of themselves as musicians. Whether it's your profession, or just a hobby, music brings people together in a way nothing else can.
ReplyDeleteThe multifaceted point of view of music, or better musicking, that Chris Small gives is without any doubt more comprehensive and complete than the concept of music we generally have. I liked the relativistic conception that he gives of it, like in the example of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Also, by giving to music an active meaning, a peculiar characteristic of verbs, the dynamic and flowing feature emerges more clearly.
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting that Small included so many people in the process of "musicking" for a performance. It was odd to consider the people taking tickets and those that set the stage as being a part of the performance, and yet it does make sense if you focus on a performance event as a whole and not just the music that it produces. I also enjoyed his modification of the definition of a performance to include any time that music is made whether or not anyone is listening. It almost reminded me of the classic if a tree falls in the forest conundrum but his example seems much more practical.
ReplyDeleteI thought all three of Yo Yo Ma's values on citizen musicians were all very inspiring. When you do something you must have a goal in mind or else there really is no point in doing it. I think its really cool that his big picture and definition of success is to reach out to others and inspire them with his music. When I play I play to express emotion and also to touch and inspire others by the performance. Other people are the reason that music is so great to both the performer and the listener.
ReplyDelete"To take part in the performance of a work of classical music is to experience a special case of the ritual narrative, in which particular paradigms of change and development in relationships are articulated. I say a `special case' because not all ways of musicking are dynamic in that way, and very few musical cultures espouse that concept of change and development through opposition, struggle and final resolution which characterizes the musical works of the western symphonic tradition. That tradition is in fact something of a freak among world musics as a whole and even within the history of western musicking."
ReplyDeleteThat shocked me. It was almost funny to see someone call Western Music a "special case." I suppose I'm very biased because Western music is what I'm most comfortable with, but I find it hard to believe that the style of it wasn't/isn't more popular with other cultures. It's pleasing to listen to, it can convey more emotion than words, and it can evoke a ton of passion from the performer. I guess other cultures just never really got into the whole "organized" feel of music, which is understandable. Sometimes I would rather view notes on a page as suggestions, not rules. :)
"to take part in a musical performance is to take part in a ritual whose relationships mirror, and allow us to explore and celebrate, the relationships of our world as we imagine them to be." I like how Chris Small mentioned that all musicking is serious musicking. There are so many different cultures and different styles of music. So often, I think we get sucked into the mindset that western music is the "right" music, or "normal." Whether you're in a performance hall, or in a classroom, music is music.
ReplyDeleteSomething that caught my eye was Small's idea of music education, and how he thought that it should be removed from the classroom. He thought that the socialization of music should take place at a central location, where people of all spectrums may join... cool but kinda crazyyyy
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really cool how he defined musicking, as not just being the work or just the performer but rather everything combined together - the composer, the performer, the environment, and the listeners. I also liked his idea on performances too, that any time you make music is a performance rather it be in a recital, classroom, or even the practice room. Thinking of everything as a performance really helps you enjoy the music and gives it that much more character and meaning.
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