Playing Music for Its Own Sake

[Ostie]

I've been doing it for almost 50 years.

 

[Ostie]

edit double post

 

[oldNewbie]

Humans have played music for at least as long as language has existed. The brain activity now being mapped during music experience and performance clearly shows that music is absolutely hardwired in to us. You might want to check out the International Laboratory for Brain,Music and Sound research at McGill University :
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One hundred years ago , 90% of everyone played or sang at least once per week. That so few people play music anymore is among the great failures of our time. Music is not consumed but to be participated in.

 

[bearfoot]

Yes, I find that a side job of my being a "serious" musician involves letting people in, and constant encouragement of those who show interest, but have downloaded some mental malware where music is concerned.

Although I am a believer in the empiricism of merit, I do not define merit by how high/fast someone can play.

One cool thing a co-worker has done recently, is build analog synth circuits into a few old joystick toy housings for the disabled people we work with. We have a band practice at 11am. How many of your bands can pull off an 11am rehearsal?

 

[rtav]

I never, ever practiced to play for drunks, never joined a band "to get gigs," never ever cared about how many/few gigs I've played, and am certain that after 42 years of playing it was the right decision.

I do it for it's own sake, and practice almost everyday to get better for my own reasons.

I've been searching for a band for 2 years and if they have gigs lined up - irrelevant - if they don't have gigs - irrelevant.

 

[Joedog]

I can't imagine life without my basses. They are my sanity and bring extra joy to my life. I retired from gigging several years ago, but still need a daily dose of playing. It's like taking a long deep calming breath, capped with a smile.

 

[lfmn16]

Playing for the pleasure of the listener is not something I associate with mediocrity. Being a hack is, cutting corners, not practicing on your own time. I believe as long as you give a damn you're past mediocrity.

Exactly. I play for fun, but still practice at least 2 hours a day. Practice is fun for me. Even more fun is being able to play well.

 

[pigpen1]

I play because I love to play. But mostly I want to play in front of people. I quit playing for 10 years because of the issues with bandmates that always come up. Back then I didn't really enjoy playing on my own as much as I do now. But, and I guess I'm in the minority here, I just don't like to write or record music at all. Zero interest.

I don't know if I really want to play music for a living though, mostly because unless you are sorta elite, it won't pay anywhere close to what I make at the day job, which is what lets me buy the stuff I want and keep the lifestyle I prefer.

 

[buldog5151bass]

As long as you associate getting paid with lack of merit or musical "authenticity". Ron Carter, Mozart, Beethoven, Nathan East, Steven Bailey, John Patititucci and countless other great musicians have put bread on their tables by earning money making music.

 

[mambo4]

Alone, music for its own sake is fine.

In practice, and in my experience,
players who frequently claim to be "all about the music"
prove to be the poorest team players
and typically sabotage group effort
in the name of "artistic differences"

 

[ToneMonkey]

All my best days these days are ones in which I have played music, either shedding by myself or with others. Sometimes I forget that. I slack off. I'm starting to realize that few things in my life are as worthwhile as firing up the rig and playing some music. I'm an addict. I am powerless over my addiction.

 

[RustyAxe]

I've been trying for 2 years now to get a Americana Originals project going but I can't find people willing to commit to a minimum of three rehearsals/sessions a week yet.

I'll bet!

 

[mellowinman]

I used to play a little guitar. And then I realized it was actually a ukulele.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

I play for fun and practice so that when I write something I can create / record a complete song that is close to what I hear in my head when I'm writing. I enjoy sharing my songs much more than the actual playing - but it's all related in some grand mysterious way.

 

[Ezralyte]

Ahhhh, music for the sake of music. It's therapy. It has no endpoint, just joy, distraction , progress.

This is why I started this past summer - therapy. I have no interest in being in a band or playing for others. I just enjoy the rhythm. Even if it is just letting that open E wash over me repeatedly.

 

[JimmyM]

I read THIS article in the NYT, "In Praise of Mediocrity" and it resonated with me. There's NOTHING WRONG with playing a musical instrument just for the fun of learning how to do it and for the joy of performing for the your own pleasure and the pleasure of your listeners. It is, after all, as the author points out, one important reason we have leisure time. I love my work. But one reason I work is so I can play music more and enjoy it more richly.

That's fine, but I'm still going to answer people's questions honestly as if they are trying to be the very best they can be and want to improve in an efficient manner.

 

[FugaziBomb]

Anyhow, that once a week practice thing just isn't going to cut it for me. I saw it too often in the late 70s and early 80s in bands I was in. They all want to do it on the weekends and there's always somebody that has a birthday or something coming up and can't make it and then another band member or two decides unless everybody's going to be there we might as well wait till next week... Yada yada yada

Three times a week is a lot of commitment. I know I would probably move on if one of the projects I was in required that. I work with a jazz combo that doesn't rehearse at all - we all just sight read for the most part. Out of 7 nights a week, do you really expect people to spend 3 of them rehearsing and a possible 1 or 2 performing with only 2-3 nights off a week? Are you paying people to work 15-20 hours a week for your project?

I'm sure it seems alright to you because it's your gig, your passion, and your dream, but put yourself in the head of an ancillary member who has their own things going on in their personal life and isn't getting compensated for mandatory attendance of frivolous rehearsals.

 

[arbiterusa]

For me, the payoff is and always was, since I was a little kid, playing for an audience.

The days of me doing writing projects or co-writing is pretty much over, so if I'm not gigging I'm not playing. Which is fine.

OMG: the guy who expects people to do three rehearsals a week. Why? Are your arrangements not set? Do people not know how to play their instruments? It's just not going to happen. You will find as you climb the skill/money ladder, people actually do far fewer rehearsals. Last TV gig I had, we got flown down, introduced, given a set list, one day prep, did 3 days of paid rehearsals (about 4 hours per day, nothing extreme) one paid dress, and then 4 solid weeks of shooting. Union scale. Love those gigs. Nobody needs to do three days a week of rehearsals unless it's "three days and then straight out on the road/into the studio".

 

[rtav]

... and to piggyback on my last comment.

When I'm practicing and I'm blowing through Dream Theater's "Instrumedley" or some other crazily insane monster song and NAIL IT - the feeling is EXHILIRATING, euphoric, even.

At that point I usually shout outloud, "I effin LOVE playing bass guitar!!! I LOVE IT!!!" and dance around a bit.

Ars gratis artis.

 

[G Aichele]

We have a band practice at 11am. How many of your bands can pull off an 11am rehearsal?

We do, occasionally. And sometimes morning gigs as well. But I confess I'd rather not.