Visualize the music

It is amazing how many choices there are on the internet, but for some reason the choice I'm looking for is not usually there. I don't know what that means. Perhaps it proves that being "Appalachian" really does qualify for the minority position of life.
Take for instance the obstacle of signing up "The Muses" on most internet sites. First of all, what is your genre? "Folk" pretty well sums it up even though it is Appalachian traditional with influences of Celtic and Soulful Blues, it is Celtic with modern Scots, it is singer song writer, it is a cappella (I never can spell that word, but this is right!)
So, we have the choices, Country, World Beat, Blues.......hmmmmm

So for blogging on "MySpace," there is not the choice of teaching! Can you believe that! No "educational" choice. I guess they don't believe that people on Myspace want to learn or want to share what they have learned in an educational way. Here I can label it myself......nice.

To the topic......Visualize the music.

One of the things that makes a performance, no matter what the style of music, is being able to define the layers of sound. I could stop right there. This is really a profound point and if you get it, it will revolutionize your performance.

The layers have to fit together, but each layer should have something to say. This is why Schumann said that all good musicians should spend some time singing in a choir. I know you probably don't want to do that, but singing in a choir makes you become aware of how the voice will create a flow on the bass line, the tenor line, the alto line,etc.

The more each line has it's own message, not a disruptive message but one that makes sense the more the listener becomes enthralled.
For instance, play or listen to Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. Of course the top melody note is important but it is when you can sing that tenor note with your fingers that the entire work becomes heart rinching!

No matter what kind of music it is, rock, blues, what ever...... you individually have to know how your part connects to the whole.

Besides practice alone and with others, learn to listen. I think that is the biggest challenge among musicians today.........listen and you will be a greater musician. Don't be afraid of the silence.