Double Bass A break from listening to recorded music?

[Alexis Duntov]

I was watching the Sting documentary Ten Summoners Travels and at one point he says (at the time) he wasn't listening to much music because he preferred playing it. Not that I'm going to turn into Sting if I turn off the recorded music, but it got me thinking maybe I am diluting my musical energy with the amount of listening I do in the car, on my smart phone, iTunes, Spotify (unless I can avoid it), YouTube etc. It wasn't that long ago that recorded music did not exist and when people wanted to hear music they had to play it. I come from a DJ background first and didn't start playing bass and guitars until I was in my late 20s (now I mostly play electric bass and some upright). I find I am the guy in my band who is far more likely to send around clips and talk about recordings than the others. Are some people just more inclined to play than to obsessively listen, study, collect, share recordings? I'm thinking of taking a break from listening to recorded music to see how it affects my practicing, playing at home, composing etc. Interested to hear if others have had similar thoughts.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I've been through periods like that, and when they happen in an organic way (i.e. - subconsciously), they've been very creative periods where I do a lot more musical exploring of my own tastes than imitation of others. Other times, I just get too busy and find that when i remember to do some listening it's like eating after fasting and I appreciate the music in a fresh way. Another thing i do often is to not define music by style or genre, but just by calling it all "music". In other words, I'm a jazz bassist, but I don't have to be listening to "jazz" to be enjoying or learning from music. There have been recent periods where I listened mostly to the newer Bonnie Raitt records over and over to try to internalize them, or listening only to recordings of different cello recordings of the Bach suites, etc. When those times happened, it wasn't a big master plan but rather just listening to what appealed to me at the time without thinking about it too much. Those periods are always very fertile and satisfying no matter what kind of music it happens to be.

 

[dropbass]

Sweet sweet NPR

 

[sean_on_bass]

I've had the idea in the past that if i abstain from listening to music for pleasure, i will be forced to play quality music myself. Honestly i could never make myself do it. Instead i'll just listen to something totally new that i am not familiar with.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

For an interesting perspective on not listening to any music other than your own taken to the nth degree read a short story by Orson Scott Card called Unaccompanied Sonata.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

You should do whatever inspires you the most. If you get the most from listening to live players and are able to absorb everything they're putting out, then that's what you need to do. It doesn't matter whether it's live, on vinyl, or a download. What matters is that you feed your creative fire with whatever fuel that makes it burn the brightest.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Recorded music gives us instant access to all the best musicians of the last century - why deny yourself the opportunity to enjoy and learn from the very best ? We are incredibly lucky to live in an age of unprecedented access and it seems ungrateful or just wilful, not to make the most of this opportunity.

 

[jthisdell]

I think you do whatever feels good. If listening to alot of music makes you think about your playing, then fine. If listening to less makes you play more, then fine. I heard that after Jaco was going to be a father he decided to get serious about his playing and quit listening to music. Worked for him but obviously won't automatically make you a genius. My banjo player never listens to music and plays constantly. Makes it frustrating when we bring out new songs and he has no clue and won't follow up by listening to them. My favorite quote, "What's a Coldplay?" As in all of life, a little moderation is always a good thing.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

My experiment lasted only a day or so but I can say that I played more that day. It makes sense. When you want to hear music you can either listen to other people or make your own. Not that they are mutually exclusive but I think I'm finding that it works for me to keep an eye on the amount of music I am consuming rather than playing. To be continued.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

I've been through periods like that, and when they happen in an organic way (i.e. - subconsciously), they've been very creative periods where I do a lot more musical exploring of my own tastes than imitation of others. Other times, I just get too busy and find that when i remember to do some listening it's like eating after fasting and I appreciate the music in a fresh way. Another thing i do often is to not define music by style or genre, but just by calling it all "music". In other words, I'm a jazz bassist, but I don't have to be listening to "jazz" to be enjoying or learning from music. There have been recent periods where I listened mostly to the newer Bonnie Raitt records over and over to try to internalize them, or listening only to recordings of different cello recordings of the Bach suites, etc. When those times happened, it wasn't a big master plan but rather just listening to what appealed to me at the time without thinking about it too much. Those periods are always very fertile and satisfying no matter what kind of music it happens to be.

BTW Chris, I love your videos. Fantastic quality instruction. Thank you!

 

[old spice]

I worked in record stores (you may recall those) on and off forever, it seemed like, and after about 25 years decided to avoid recorded music, because there was no pair of notes I could play whose interval didn't remind me of some piece I had heard that I then would try to play.
It seemed to me that I needed to find myself in music.
I've stuck with that and have found a sound I love.
When I tell musicians this they usually think I'm crazy. I don't recommend it to anyone but it's been right for me.
Been playing since 1970.

 

[zontar]

I enjoy music in all sorts of forms, but I do like live music, and I do like playing it myself as well
Kind of hard to play an instrument while I'm driving (Unless maybe I get a harmonica mount type thing and play while driving.)

So I'm not giving up on any one way of listening.
Recorded music is the easiest & most accessible.
And I do listen to stuff I recorded.

It all works together.

 

[Carl Hillman]

Thirty years ago I saw a clinic given by Joanne Brackeen in which she mentioned that she wasn't listening to much music at all.

I found that really odd at the time, because listening is such an essential part of your development as a player...but I don't think it's weird now. I find myself listening to less music the older I get, especially when I'm trying to write.

 

[Anonymatt]

Maybe if I took a month off of recorded music, I'd go and see more live music. By live, I mean, being able to hear mostly the sound of the instruments rather than sound reinforcement. A discussion of mp3 v. CD v. vinyl seems moot when the dimension of non-speaker sound is considered.
I know this isn't what everyone else is talking about. But maybe a worthy experiment when trying to understand the tone of your own playing or the blend in an ensemble.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I've had many seasons of no music.
- working in a record store hearing it 8-10hrs a day.
- after periods of intensive recording where I'd developed a hyper-critical ear.
- burnout/overload at Uni and with music/bands/gigging/touring where I just needed extended silence.

- EDIT: twice I I took breaks because of bad tinnitus.

Longest break lasted 12 months - no radio in car, even turned up late to church after the music had finished. Slowly got my passion/burn back again.


In the end what's important is to do whatever works for you.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

I think at times there may be an overemphasis on replicating sounds that are already out there and is as part of history. Somestimes It's also important to give space for the mind to develop it's imagination - to have the mental space to conceptualize your own sound after all sorts of input. It makes me wonder if we worship some players to the point that it squelches our own creativity with the result after a while that all the music tends to sound the same.

 

[bejoyous]

Maybe it's an age thing, but after teaching music all day then playing a 2.5 hour rehearsal, I just don't want any sound hitting my eardrums.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I think much depends on what type of music you have listened to in general.

If you are some kid in the hood that only listens to Rap/Hip Hop you are obviously being very narrow in your influences.

Same with folks that listen to nothing but modern country or heavy metal or pop or whatever single genre.

Imo, its important to have an accurate playback system and listen to a variety of genres "intently"....not just background music....pay close attention to the instruments and arrangements and the overall balance of the instruments.

 

[zontar]

Maybe it's an age thing, but after teaching music all day then playing a 2.5 hour rehearsal, I just don't want any sound hitting my eardrums.

I found that when I taught guitar--and I did take breaks from playing during the summer--the last summer break I didn't touch an instrument for over a month--intentionally.