Ever notice there will occasionally be something someone has said that resonates for you? It could have been a critical remark, a compliment, or even a cruel put-down. It also may have been a general observation that “hit home” in a way that you remember for the rest of your life. Or perhaps you read or saw something that sent your mind on a new journey. If we open ourselves to “collecting” these nuggets, we can learn and grow. I have left most of them anonymous in order to avoid any hint of “name dropping.” This isn’t really about me anyway! 😉
Musical Wisdom
As a musician, we should listen carefully to the comments made by more experienced performers. When we are young, we tend to think we know everything, but as we mature, we realize there is a lot to learn. Fortunately, if we remember these words, we can learn from them when we are ready. Here are a few of the things I heard in the past that “stuck.”
“Why did you make that face? That was a cool solo!”
I was playing at a bar, and I had taken a solo and made a disgusted face afterwords. This was a great lesson: People might like what you are playing; if you look unhappy, they won’t think you have high standards, they will think you sounded bad, or that you are a negative person. Best to keep your “game face” no matter what you think of what you played. Also, sometimes you actually sound better than you think!
“Every time I stopped playing, there was a chord there” – Tony Carere
While we were playing a gig, Tony was describing a pianist who he had worked with who seemed to be able to “fill in the holes” between phrases, rather than “stepping on” his lines while comping. I realized he was subtly hinting that I was overplaying. After that, I made a game out of listening to all soloists and trying to anticipate when they would take a breath. The result: I try to be aware of what others are playing and to compliment it.
“That guy is just running up and down scales”
As a young man, after playing what I thought was a hot-shot gig, this comment came to me second-hand. What hurt about it was that it was true. My idea of improvisation in those days was fast and flashy. The problem was, I didn’t have enough vocabulary and lines to play an intelligent, interesting solo, so I compensated with fast runs. And I was busted… somebody could tell. My goal from then on was to strive for meaning and substance.
“Well, you either have a gig or you don’t”
Years ago, I played some gigs with a famous drummer. Needless to say I was excited, since I was a giant fan of this guy’s playing. At one point, I told him how excited I was to be working with him, and the above quote was his response. A great lesson in humility from a truly humble and kind person: to him, we’re all just musicians. It’s good to always keep that in mind.
“Always finish your tunes!”
This comment was actually made to one of my students during workshop by a famous guitarist. The student had asked about composing, and this was the first comment given. And great advice it is; giving up and starting a new song when the going gets rough is probably the worst mistake a composer can make.
“Sometimes it’s okay just to play your part”
This was from a musician who had gotten a high-profile jazz gig, despite being unknown and much younger than the seasoned members of the group. At a clinic, he described being a bit intimidated by this high-profile situation. What I got from this is that sometimes you may not be totally comfortable, but if you just do your job and play the appropriate part, things will work out. It is not realistic to feel totally at ease in new situations, and doing your job will get you through. (He ended up working in that group for more than ten years.)
These are just a few of many remarks and moments that have shaped my outlook. In a future article, we can discuss the cruel and painful comments that can hold us back if we give them too much power.
What are some of the words that have influenced your growth as a person and artist?
