How to Play Music Vol. 1 - Introduction
I am currently writing a book. I plan to post my work bit by bit on this blog as a means of motivating me to finish, and getting some feedback and editing done as I go. Your comments and questions are welcome! -CF
HOW TO PLAY MUSIC
This is a humble book. I do not intend to imply that this is the only way to make music, the best way to make music, or that these ideas haven’t been said many times before. This is my current best summary of the knowledge, skills, and tools that I have learned from other musicians and my own practice. This is a method that has worked consistently for myself and my students. This book features a combination of philosophy along with exercises. I believe any musician who can perform all of the exercises is a good musician, ready to serve themselves, others, and music.
This book does not contain everything you need to know to be a great musician. The information within is heavily condensed in order to focus on effective exercises. Each section could have a full book of its own, but we are taking a surface level approach to what I think are the most important and basic elements of musicianship. I stand by my statement that any musician who can perform all of the exercises within is a good musician.
This book is not centered around any particular instrument, style, or approach. This is a book about making music, starting from nothing. It should be of great use to a total beginner, and a good refresher for someone with years of study.
The book is laid out in an order where each exercise implies skills and knowledge from the last- the exercises work best when you do not move on a step until you have truly succeeded in the current one, be patient with yourself! Though each exercise has many steps, the steps are designed to add one level of complication at a time, just try to remember to maintain the habits built from the early exercises. With experience, performing the whole book won’t take long.
Enjoy your journey.
-A note on integrity-
Without being honest with yourself and truly opening your ears, these exercises serve no benefit.
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POINT OF IMPORTANCE!
This book is called How to Play Music
Play is a very interesting word- it is almost entirely reserved for things definitely intended to be lighthearted and fun. Play is typically related to games, but I can think of three possible exceptions that fall into a gray area- a theatrical play, playing a sport, or playing music. My conclusion is that all of these activities are in fact games, and taking them too seriously can carry risks for players and audiences.
Since we play games, and music is a game, what game is it? I would say that music is the game of arranging sounds to create a message, craft a sensation, or just have fun. The gamepieces in music are sounds (any sound can be made functional by a skilled musician), and the game of music can be played by any number of players at any given time. It doesn’t take lots of sounds, or super impressive sounds to make great music- the most important thing is putting your sounds to best use to enhance the music as a whole. Teamwork matters, and when you have multiple musicians, it’s more important that their sounds work together well than it is for anyone to play anything too difficult.
When you play the game, don’t forget the point. Don’t forget that the music is the message. Practice your technique so that you don’t have to think about it when you play. Learn your fundamentals and strategies so that you can have fun when it’s time to play. Put your ego and fears aside when it’s time to play. This is a game, it’s fun.
You’ve got to play, you’ve got to get your hands dirty.
You will learn how complex systems work while learning responsibility, you will communicate deeply on a spiritual level with others, and you will discover new understandings of yourself. You will find microcosms of life and the universe contained within the vibrations of a single note. Just remember- it’s all a game, don’t forget to have fun.