Jules
Formerly known as "nachoman"
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I'm reposting this from a harmonica forum that I frequent, in that, well- it's a particualrly interesting and thought provoking post/essay (by harp player Wolf Kristiansen)....
In the course of playing harmonica for over 30 years, I've occasionally stepped onto the stage seething with anger over something that was said or done to me that day or that very moment. I would seethe over some perceived unfairness in how I had been treated. As I think back, I realize it was always because of an argument with a female, be she girlfriend or wife.
Instead of distracting me, the emotion caused me to play better than I usually do. I know, because bandmates and audiences would tell me how well I played on those occasions, without knowing what I had been feeling.
It was such an obvious and reliable phenomenon, I did my best to analyze what was going on. Everybody wants to elevate their playing, after all. Here's what I came up with, years ago:
1. Any emotion, be it anger, love, joy or sadness will translate into better music, if your music (in my case, the blues) depends on emotion for its power.
2. Anger creates adrenalin, the same adrenalin that readied our prehistoric ancestors to fight or flee as they faced the sabre-toothed tiger. Your senses are heightened during those times; this is good for you as a performer.
3. Your playing, at times like these, is true to your real self.
For me, it's the third point that is far and away the biggest factor in how my playing changes for the better.
Terrible unresolved arguments with girlfriends always made me feel totally alone in the world. I didn't care who I pleased or displeased at that point.
During those angry moments, I played to satisfy MY needs, not the needs of my bandmates; nor the needs of the audience. I focussed on my need to "work it out", there and then. I didn't care who was watching or listening, or whether I pleased them or not. I lost my stage fright, indeed, any kind of self-consciousness.
Ironically, in selfishly pleasing myself, I would end up pleasing my bandmates and the audience. I would stand on the lip of the stage, with my eyes closed, baring my soul. My bandmates were happy to have a true center for the audience's focus, and would fall in line to support whatever magical thing was happening. The music that emerged was better, tighter and more powerful than anybody expected.
What it taught me, more than anything else, is that you should always try to be true to yourself as a musician; as an artist. This is the rule for me, although I appreciate for others their first focus is to entertain the audience. I say, if you please yourself, you will please the audience.
In the course of playing harmonica for over 30 years, I've occasionally stepped onto the stage seething with anger over something that was said or done to me that day or that very moment. I would seethe over some perceived unfairness in how I had been treated. As I think back, I realize it was always because of an argument with a female, be she girlfriend or wife.
Instead of distracting me, the emotion caused me to play better than I usually do. I know, because bandmates and audiences would tell me how well I played on those occasions, without knowing what I had been feeling.
It was such an obvious and reliable phenomenon, I did my best to analyze what was going on. Everybody wants to elevate their playing, after all. Here's what I came up with, years ago:
1. Any emotion, be it anger, love, joy or sadness will translate into better music, if your music (in my case, the blues) depends on emotion for its power.
2. Anger creates adrenalin, the same adrenalin that readied our prehistoric ancestors to fight or flee as they faced the sabre-toothed tiger. Your senses are heightened during those times; this is good for you as a performer.
3. Your playing, at times like these, is true to your real self.
For me, it's the third point that is far and away the biggest factor in how my playing changes for the better.
Terrible unresolved arguments with girlfriends always made me feel totally alone in the world. I didn't care who I pleased or displeased at that point.
During those angry moments, I played to satisfy MY needs, not the needs of my bandmates; nor the needs of the audience. I focussed on my need to "work it out", there and then. I didn't care who was watching or listening, or whether I pleased them or not. I lost my stage fright, indeed, any kind of self-consciousness.
Ironically, in selfishly pleasing myself, I would end up pleasing my bandmates and the audience. I would stand on the lip of the stage, with my eyes closed, baring my soul. My bandmates were happy to have a true center for the audience's focus, and would fall in line to support whatever magical thing was happening. The music that emerged was better, tighter and more powerful than anybody expected.
What it taught me, more than anything else, is that you should always try to be true to yourself as a musician; as an artist. This is the rule for me, although I appreciate for others their first focus is to entertain the audience. I say, if you please yourself, you will please the audience.