Comments on: Masterclass tour finished – some thoughts on teaching…

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:22:00 +0000

nice anecdote, Gus! just goes to show that our western mathematically worked out but-still-not-quite-right understanding of ‘in tune’ isn’t always the most desirable. Just listen to any indian, chinese or middle eastern music… Things that are out of our tempered scale can be just as lovely, and are worth playing with. I guess how it sounds to YOU is paramount, cos no-one wants to play music that they themselves feel is out of tune…

By: gustaf

gustaf — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:47:09 +0000

Well said, Steve!

Interesting sidenote on “just playing in tune”…

I was showing off my new bass cello to a friend of my wife and I hastily ran through a very badly intonated phrases…

Her response wasn’t “Ew… that doesn’t sound good”… but rather “Ooh, I really like that sound where its almost in tune, but not really…”

Hmm… Go figure.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:44:26 +0000

Jean-François,

thanks for your comment – I think part of the problem is that the ‘youtube-ization’ of online marketing has arrived before the bass has been able to mature as a solo instrument. So even before bassists have had a chance to build a body of work that inspires those attempting solo music with the bass to look beyond the technical display, they’ve been drawn into an ‘attention currency’ that requires you to ‘wow’ your audience within the first 30 seconds on youtube or myspace, or they’ll just switch off.

I’m going to write a whole blog post about this soon, as it’s a really important topic. Thanks for your contribution. Miles is a great example of someone with a pretty flawed technique in pure chops terms, but with an expressive gift that went way beyond it. At the other end of the spectrum, John Coltrane had both – he was possibly the greatest technician to ever pick up a tenor sax, but harnessed that technique to serve his creative and spiritual goals. On bass, I think Michael Manring does that better than anyone else I’ve seen – his technique is exemplary, but I’ve never seen it get in the way of the beautiful, deep, engaging music he plays.

…more soon!

By: Jean-François Charles

Jean-François Charles — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:56:09 +0000

Yes, “bass 2.0″, go for it!
I doubt that purely technical ability has ever been enough in the musical world. Take the whole history of jazz. The ones who really made history, were they the best technically? I rather think they were the most aware (to quote your word), the most open-minded, the most listening to the world. They were the ones who wanted to change the musical world, to reinvent the current soundtrack, every day. To give just one example, I would mention Miles Davis, of course.
And you are also an example. “Musician 2.0″ means not only instrumentalist, but also pedagogue, leader, and much more. That was already the case with Bach and Mozart, by the way…

By: Gareth Saunders

Gareth Saunders — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:59:19 +0000

I have a question for you. What is this “bass guitar” of which you speak?

If I understand you correctly it is one of those strange devices with wires that vibrate and give music? When you touch it does it give forth a sound?

If that is indeed the case then I’m afraid that I’m going to have to report you, and all of your kind, to the priests of the Temples of Syrinx.

Who, I suspect, will assume control.

Oh yes.