[HAM] (BF Test #9) Theory v. Feel v. Ear etc.

[Linda Dachtyl]

I recommend these books.
http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Game-Music-Barry-Green/dp/0385231261

http://www.amazon.com/Effortless-Mastery-Liberating-Master-Musician/dp/ 
156224003X

I read the Inner Game book in college and Kenny Werner's sometime in  
the last several years. Similar ideas.
Kenny gets a little "out there", but that's ok. I got to see him at the  
Green Mill when visiting Harvey a few years back.
His music is "out there" too, FWIW.

Not a magical thing, as you have to practice, of course, but I like  
both of these philosophies on letting the subconscious mind take over  
and stopping the critical mind from cussing yourself out:-)
(Good thing that the mic is on the Leslie in another room when  
recording, I have to admit:-)...)

Luckily, I had both strict classical training (with a very open minded  
piano teacher who loved Liberace, FWIW) and studied with two fellows  
who taught me how to read lead sheets before I knew the term.

IMO, I find people who have had only strict classical training are the  
ones who find it hard to let go. On one occasion, I played with a  
classical flautist for a ladies tea and she was sweating bullets  
playing stuff like "Blue Bossa" and the like. FWIW she sounded very  
good, but was uncomfortable with the idea of improvising.
They would have loved anything we would have played this side of the  
Art Ensemble of Chicago so it wasn't a stressful kind of gig where they  
were sitting there with a score.......

Luckily my early teachers saw improvising as a nice thing to be able to  
do, rather than a "flaw". I think there is something to your early  
training concerning that kind of thing. These books might help  
deprogram you if that was your early experience.

Linda

On May 16, 2007, at 1:25 PM, David Damroze wrote:

>
> On May 16, 2007, at 10:00 AM, Scott Hawthorn wrote:
>
>> At 09:45 AM 5/16/2007, Randal Muir wrote:
>>> What I find annoying is that I need someone, or rather an
>>> organ freak to point all this stuff out before I take notice of it.   
>>> i
>>> particularly like #8 and how he then drops the bass right down low  
>>> and
>>> really grinds with the pedals. stunning effect.
>>
>> Hey Randal,
>> Well, the idea with these examples is to raise your consciousness  
>> about
>> stuff like this so that next time, you will recognize it without my
>> nagging. You just watch and see...
>    Hey Scott ,
>   This all brings together a question I've had for some time regarding
> how
>   much of the theory is going through the musicians mind while
> improvising ,
>   and how much of it is feel , ear , whatever you want to call it.
>      For instance , a gospel player who grew up in the church , heard  
> the
>   music all of his(her) life and just plays because they " know " what
> sounds right.
>     Or , to put it another way , are the musicians actually thinking
> "13th " " 9th "
>   etc  in the moment , or is it after later analysis that these are
> shown to be what was played ?
>    Or does it depend on the musician ?
>   My keyboard skills are fairly rudimentary . But I've been in jams
> where I decided ' what the heck'
>   and just let my fingers go wherever and people seemed to dig it.
>     Is it possible for the right brain to take over and play , even if
> the left hasn't a clue ?
>
> David D.
>>