Let the hands and feet do the talking

Sunday, May 9, 2010

@5:14 PM

Music,

Like a language, has no fixed permutations or formula that tells you how exactly it should be like;

Like in a language, for example, English, the basic building blocks are given as words, alphabets and sentences, but there is never one definite way for any person to respond to anything that another person might be saying:

Take a simple "Hello, how are you?" as an illustration. A few basic, mood-dependent responses to this would be "I'm fine, thank you", "Good, you?", "Can't be better!", or possibly a "Terrible day today...".

Sure, there are rules that we have to abide by, and that's where the English teacher comes in, to teach your verbs grammar nouns adjectives and whatnot.

Can you imagine constricting yourself to a single fixed answer to every single question in the world, like in a script, or a pre-planned template?

Same for Music.

Just as you think that these responses to the simple question may be all reflex actions possibly all second nature like at the back of your hand, do not belittle them as there is one very important thing to note, that they do, in most, hopefully sincere cases, embody our wholehearted emotions that we feel deep in our heart, as little as it may be. Take a few minutes to think about it.

When was the last time you cried because someone scolded you?
When was the last time you shouted at someone because of something stupid he/she said?
When was the last time you comforted someone with a broken heart?

All the various emotions that we feel with our heart...
Why are we so eager to express them out in words and actions, yet so conservative to do the same, when it comes to our Music that we are talking about?

Call and response, fundamentals of jazz.
Why is it that only jazz players are confined and bound to this "rule"?
Doesn't anyone here except me feel absolutely constricted and robotic, trying to play the same thing over and over again, without any variation, no soul, no feel, and absolutely no musical value?

Why do people see the need to play the exact same thing they play every time they play a song?

Why do song covers even EXIST in the first place?

Please, my friends, do not let anyone dictate over how you must play.
Let me repeat myself.
Music, as a language; Speak as you wish.

I do not dare proclaim myself a musician, but i do, to the best of my ability, try to play music. - JH Ho

I sing; Not with my mouth, but with my limbs, my instrument, my heart, and my soul. - JH Ho

The ability to play is one thing. But coming up with inspiration, composing the different elements, organizing the structure, coordinating the various roles, piecing it all together as a team, and most importantly - feeling it wholeheartedly, and then flamboyantly expressing it in as much fluidity as possible through pure, sheer music, takes it to a whole new level altogether. - JH Ho