What I Didn't Know About Music

Before today I thought I knew most things about the various genres and practices involved with music. It contains countless genres and influences while inspiring emotions and thoughts in those that listen. Yet I've completely neglected the entire ideology of musical presentation. I have learned that through various forms of music making, people communicate artistic values and goals as well as the dynamic of social relationships in their cultures. The way we present or experience music says a lot about the world and the role music plays throughout life. 


Participatory Music Making: 

I found this interesting video that documents an example of music making without the presence of an audience. This is Michael Marcionetti, a professional music therapist. Here he is teaching another group of music therapists how to play the frame drum. He begins by giving examples of the various sounds made by striking the drum. Then in a demonstration of sequential participation he encourages each person to join in with their own unique rythm (this begins at around 5:30 in the video). There isn't any pressure to be the most talented drummer or the most unique, he simply desires to improvise music as a group. By contributing his or her own sound, each member of the circle is involved with creating the "song." This gives each person a sense of belonging and accomplishment, which is why this method is used in music therapy sessions. 


I definitely have the least amount of personal experience with participatory music. It simply isn't a practice that is valued where I come from. With this type of music making, there is no need for rehearsal since there is no audience to perform for. I know that this type of music is intended to create a sense of community, and maybe that's what a lot of Americans need. Instead of competing against each other or showing off our fancy belongings, we should focus on this form of social bonding.  


Presentational Music: 

This is a simple example of presentational music performance. The pronounced separation between audience member and performer is what distinguishes this process. This type of performance is accessible to anyone in any society willing to pay or watch musicians essentially do their job. In this example the band Coldplay is putting on a show in Japan. Thousands of people pay money to be entertained by the music and spectacle of these artists. No one in the audience gets to dictate the specific performance they see, since it is strictly rehearsed. Artistic freedoms like lighting, stage, costume, and music are determined by Coldplay and are designed to sustain the interest of audience members. 


I get way too excited when I go see an artist or band that I love perform live. The concept of live performance intrigues me and I find it very rewarding. This Saturday night I'm going to a concert and I'm going to be thinking of this class and everything I've learned so far while I'm there. Being an audience member allows me to lose myself in the entertainment being provided and forget about all my worries for a while! 

High Fidelity:

I thought it might be funny to use this video as an example of music made through the process of high fidelity. This concept is pretty straightforward and simple to understand. By listening to this song on my computer, phone, or iPod I'm being exposed to the most common medium of music in our culture. High fidelity simply refers to any music I hear that isn't actually being produced at that moment. It's recorded digitally in a studio once and distributed via the internet or CDs.

I appreciate this form of music because it allows an artist to reach a large number of people easily. Almost every time I turn the radio on I hear this song which is an indication of how saturated this form of performance can become. Without it, I can only experience music by creating it myself or witnessing it locally. I wouldn't have been exposed to any of my favorite artists without this process, so for that I am grateful.

Studio Audio Art:

 

This genre of music really intrigues me. I can't say that I'm the biggest fan of audio art, but I do appreciate the technology and skill required to produce it. I think that this presentation of music reflects the role computers play in our society. Using the computer as an instrument parallels the emerging forms of media consumption. Now we can get our newspapers online, watch movies, and meet our future lover! Why not create music with the same tool used for everything else? As well as high fidelity, this process limits audience involvement and reaches a broader base of people.  

-- Matt