Posted by Erik on March 21, 2002 at 01:44:07:
In Reply to: Phrasing posted by Hiram Diaz on March 21, 2002 at 00:54:17:
I think hte act of making music is very similar to other forms of communication, and the analogy can be used to explain (at least what I think about) this topic...
First, think of how you learn how to write. You learn the basics--the alphabet, vocabulary, grammar, etc. Eventually you learn enough so that you can express most things through the written word. However, the more you read and write, the more you pick up on nuances that different writers use. You start to use the vocabulary and grammar you already knew to express yourself more clearly or more elegantly. But what makes someone a really good writer can't really be taught--it's a combination of little things one picks up and a bit of creativity.
Likewise, when it comes to music-making, a similar progression applies. You start out by learning the fingerings, scales, etc. Eventually you progress to the point where you can play well in an ensemble--tuning notes, moving with the group. But when it really comes to making music, no one can really describe to you HOW to make good music. Sure, they can explain a few things about the direction of a line or how you fit into some larger context, but those are piece-specific. To be good a making music, you need to amass knowledge about music (just as the writer does) so that you can "see" how the music works and how to communicate that. That is why we listen to recordings and performances--we pick up little bits about how to make music. And that is why the best musicians are so enjoyable to listen to--they've figured out how to communicate the meaning and emotion behind the music. That's why 2nd movements exist in concertos, or the raison d'etre behind Barber's Adagio for Strings.
So how do you learn this? Listen and practice. Lots.
That's what you wanted to hear, right? :-)
Erik