The Real Reason For Music

[sneha1965]

Sorry to repost this but I wanted to change the thread title to The Real Reason For Music and was not able to. I just found this to be so inspiring and important that I thought perhaps a new title might catch more peoples attention. I truly found this to be one of the most astounding things I've read in about 19 years.

Below is a link to the welcome address to freshman parents at Boston Conservatory, given by Karl Paulnack, pianist and director of music division at Boston Conservatory. Mr. Paulnack is a very moving writer/speaker and has a profound way of addressing the meaning of music. If you have every wondered if what we do as musicians is important or if you were every at a loss to defend what you do, please take the time to read this. Enjoy.

http://www.bostonconservatory.edu/s/...id=1&pgid=1327

[line6man]

The page is unavailable.

[sneha1965]

Try it again, it should be good now.

[EdHunter]

Wow! That is utterly brilliant!

[sneha1965]

Posts from the previous thread.

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

Wow. That was just amazing. Thanks for posting that.

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Beautifully put.

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

Awesome speech.

Originally Posted by bassybill

I loved that.

Originally Posted by stratovani

Those Ancient Greeks were pretty smart, weren't they? Excellent piece, copied-and-pasted to my hard drive for future reference.

[skwee]

We reprinted this in our last concert program, and hosting it on our site. It speaks truth.

[DanAleks]

Thank you for sharing the link. That was beautiful.

[pacojas]

music has infinite reasons for it's presence! there is no definite answer so,.. how can it be mastered?!! even the great Anthony Jackson disputes that any instrument can be truely mastered let alone, music. how is that done.
this subject is way too vast for definition, IMHO. according to the author of my sig, no one piece of music is ever really finished, so how can music be mastered OR defined? my reaction to the speaker was,... MEH.
i would say it was a good sales pitch, nothing more. i've heard better explainations from "listeners" that made more sense than what musicians, philosophers, or scientists claim. (YMMV as always)

[hover]

Tho I appreciate the sentiment in the link, Plato said it better....the "real reason" for music.

[sneha1965]

I think what Dr. Paulnack is driving at, is not about mastering music but to make us aware that it's scope goes beyond entertainment (or in some cases self indulgence.) I would not argue against there being more than one reason for music. However Dr. Paulnack makes a powerful case for what it means to him and to others.

Originally Posted by pacojas

music has infinite reasons for it's presence! there is no definite answer so,.. how can it be mastered?!! even the great Anthony Jackson disputes that any instrument can be truely mastered let alone, music. how is that done.
this subject is way too vast for definition, IMHO. according to the author of my sig, no one piece of music is ever really finished, so how can music be mastered OR defined? my reaction to the speaker was,... MEH.
i would say it was a good sales pitch, nothing more. i've heard better explainations from "listeners" that made more sense than what musicians, philosophers, or scientists claim. (YMMV as always)

[hrodbert696]

NO NO NO This is completely wrong.

The real reason for music is the same as the real reason for language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Dee...eature=related

[pacojas]

Originally Posted by sneha1965

I think what Dr. Paulnack is driving at, is not about mastering music but to make us aware that it's scope goes beyond entertainment (or in some cases self indulgence.) I would not argue against there being more than one reason for music. However Dr. Paulnack makes a powerful case for what it means to him and to others.

when you put it like that, i agree!

[cnltb]

"truely mastered"?
What how when WHO?

Show me anybody who has "truly mastered" anything.

I am almost certain that they would quickly correct you and point out areas that they would like to improve on.

[sneha1965]

Did you read the article?

It has nothing to do with Mastery.

Originally Posted by cnltb

"truely mastered"?
What how when WHO?

Show me anybody who has "truly mastered" anything.

I am almost certain that they would quickly correct you and point out areas that they would like to improve on.

[R. Laevinus]

I was fully prepared for a gigantic cheesedog; I was getting ready to chuckle heartily at your internet-wisdom and later to pick apart your post over a pint with some equally cynical colleagues.

Unfortunately for me, you found something that was enlightening, insightful, and inspiring. Blast! Where do I get my late-morning laugh now?

[sneha1965]

I do what I can.

There were several interesting things about this article for me but, one really stuck out. Like Paulnack, I always had trouble convincing my parents into allowing me to pursue both art & music. I never could put into words why it was so important. At least not well enough to convince them that it would not be a waste of my time. I had read and heard others speak about it but, none as convincingly as Paulnack. I always felt pressured to engage in things that would lead to a good stable living and I think Paulnack offers a compelling view to counter consumer driven thinking.

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

I was fully prepared for a gigantic cheesedog; I was getting ready to chuckle heartily at your internet-wisdom and later to pick apart your post over a pint with some equally cynical colleagues.

Unfortunately for me, you found something that was enlightening, insightful, and inspiring. Blast! Where do I get my late-morning laugh now?

[Richland123]

A very insightful and interesting viewpoint about the importance of music.

[R. Laevinus]

Originally Posted by sneha1965

There were several interesting things about this article for me but, one really stuck out. Like Paulnack, I always had trouble convincing my parents into allowing me to pursue both art & music. I never could put into words why it was so important. At least not well enough to convince them that it would not be a waste of my time. I had read and heard others speak about it but, none as convincingly as Paulnack. I always felt pressured to engage in things that would lead to a good stable living and I think Paulnack offers a compelling view to counter consumer driven thinking.

I never had that problem - both of my parents have Masters' in music, one in performance, the other in composition with a minor in performance. My problem was that I never fully understood the necessity of having a backup plan for putting food on the table - a lack that is gnawing on my hindquarters now.

[sneha1965]

I got lucky. Though not a painter as I had originally intended, I have a career as a motion designer and music as a sometimes paid hobby.

No doubt, having to make money is a reality. However, IMO Americans live in a hyper capitalistic society where sometimes the single minded focus on profits comes at the detriment of the community or society in general or in this case, music.

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

I never had that problem - both of my parents have Masters' in music, one in performance, the other in composition with a minor in performance. My problem was that I never fully understood the necessity of having a backup plan for putting food on the table - a lack that is gnawing on my hindquarters now.

[FilterFunk]

Interestingly enough, I loved every bit of this right up to the point about the talk he will give to the incoming freshman. Before that, it was beautiful and thought-provoking. The part addressed to his future students was, however, overreaching and a bit pretentious, IMO.