How to Be a Musical Scientist
This is Part 3 in the Competencies Series. See also Part 1 (Personal Comeptence), Part 2 (Social Competence) and Part 4 (Practical Competence).
What sets Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits apart from you? Well, he was lucky.
Most famous musicians were lucky somewhere down the road. But so was Britney, and I will not begin calling here a musician just yet. As a musician, Knopfler was a heroic master of the guitar, and played so well not only because he practiced for hours a day, but because he had a great intrinsic knowledge of musical theory.
Music theory and the entire science of music is often what most hobby musicians love to shun. But it is what may set you apart, what will increase your enjoyment of music and what will in the end empower you to be creative.
We’re talking scientific competence here, and there are a few key points you need to develop:
- Music Theory: We’ve spoken about this many times, but I will wash, rinse, repeat – knowing your music theory is knowing what you’re playing. You may want to start here.
- Music history: The origins and development of music are equally important. Know the roots of what you’re playing, know it’s historic context. Did you know that Beethoven’s 9th was one of the first symphonies ever to include a choir? It sparked a revolution. Wikipedia often helps.
- Practice methodology:If you practice how to practice, you’ll practice better. Methodic and systematic practice will yield results faster, more efficiently, and will thus let you advance at a higher peace with ease. Stop wasting time doodling around and work on what you’re supposed to work.
- Instrumental Physics: Learn enough about your instrument to be able to explain how it works to someone who knows little to nothing about music. A scientific understanding for what’s going on when you make or listen to music will make your approach to music as such much more diverse and deep. A good starting point is here.
You get the general idea. Everything that’s methodic, theoretical or subject-related is of relevance to your scientific competence of music. Build your knowledge and then take personal stance towards it.
Be critical: Question your instrument and your practice methods, confront your teacher and the local guitar shop.
5 Comments
Being a musical scientist is good, but never forget to put your true passion into every piece you play.
Too often have I seen classical pianists focusing so much on finger dexterity but not knowing what artistic value the piece was trying to convey.
Too often also have I seen jazz pianists executing killer jazzy licks that doesn’t suit the whole context of their solo improvisation lines.
Science will help you improve and develop art. But true art still comes from the heart. Science is only a tool.
Absolutely right. Musical science is an important component of a musician, but it’s just a module of a perfect system.
Music transcends its notation just as good literature is more than the alphabet. The problem with most theory instruction is the focus on the trees, not the forest. It’s something I wrestle with everyday; making a lot of dry, fundamental concepts and definitions point to a higher understanding and valuing.
[...] 9. The Good Musician tells us why Music Theory is the best. [...]