The Importance of Pushing the Envelope

[Steve Killingsworth]

A few weeks ago I took what for me was a major step—playing an arco solo in a public performance. It certainly wasn’t the Dragonetti—just What Child Is this (Greensleeves) played in a Christmas Eve church service along with a mandolin and guitar. I certainly can’t say it was flawless or even crisply done but I made it through it without any major stumbles. My purpose in mentioning this is certainly not to blow my own horn (or maybe I should say, bow my own strings) but rather to open a discussion on moving out of comfort zones.

Over the last two years, various factors have required me to move beyond what I was accustomed to doing. While it could be uncomfortable at first, there is no doubt in my mind that I have become a better musician because of it. This whole arco thing came about because I wanted to “go where I had never gone before.” It really made me focus on practicing and listening. I now realize now more than ever before the importance of pushing the envelope. It makes me wonder how many people are stuck in ruts because consciously or unconsciously they don't want to give up the familiar?

[Scottgun]

On a related note, check out Artie Shaw on Ken Burn's so-so Jazz series. He said something about Glenn Miller's band that is burned in my memory: The thing about them [GM's band] is that they never made a mistake. And if you never make a mistake, it means you aren't trying. You aren't playing at the edge of your ability. And the result is it's boring!


Scott

[bassist1962]

When we first picked up the instrument, It was a whole new area we had never explored before, no matter what we did on it. Once we start learning we do one of two things: We learn just enough to say that we can play, try or even care not to progress any further, and we start developing the ruts. Or we push ourselve and say if I was able to learn this, then what else can I learn. There has to be a balance though, because music that pushes the envelope,just to push the envelope can be just as boring as the music that is in the rut. I started playing the DB after a 25 year hiatus. Because of this I have started listening to music that I may never have listened to. As a result of all this, my BG experience is enhanced, and I am trying new things on it. It has made me think of the music I have always listened to or played in a different way. These are good things. Keep pushing yourself to do something you have never done before, It can only be beneficial.

[hdiddy]

Involving yourself in challenging situations is always good. How else are you supposed to grow if you're not being challenged?

I think it's also helpful if you go at it with a thick skin too. It doesn't help if you mess up, think you suck too much, and give up by taking your ball and going home. It's no use being overly sensitive about your performance.

[Mike Goodbar]

I took a concious leap into the ether a few years ago when I decided to stop hauling my Real Book around from gig to gig. It's been a slow process, but I've learned to trust my ears a lot more.

My next self-inflicted ass-whooping will be to play a classical recital at the university where I have a couple of students (something I never really got around to when I actually went to school there). Won't be for another year or so, but I'm starting to prepare already.