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[foxor]

I know people think I'm nuts when I get going about the similarities between karate and music, but I swear they're there. More than that, I realize that they are there because they are everywhere: it's hard to remove a person from their art. They are their art. Which is cool because the Samurai were really onto something when they studied

Comments

[jayd_aradia]

One of my teachers once told me that Jazz should never be played from sheet music. Jazz should never be written down. Jazz should just flow from the heart and soul.
For me? I need to written down, lol!
I think it's sometimes a good thing if your professor is so blunt about it. If there are faults then you know to perfect them. If he didn't tell you what was wrong with it, then you would continue playing it wrong.
I remember being told for years that I would not tongue properly on the flute. I would always just roll my eyes and be like "Ya, whatever, I'm totally tonguing."
Apparently I wasn't..
The day I learned I told anyone who would listen that I could tongue! They all looked at me like I was psycho. hehe...
Good luck tomorrow!

[foxor]

It's true, I think. Jazz is too subtle for notation sometimes. I mean, I know a lot of music is, but Jazz sounds AWFUL when it's taken literally. Mind you, I sometimes take it literally *blushes* so I guess I sometimes sound awful. But most of the time I think I sound good! (this is my attempt at positive thinking, hehe)
It is good that he is blunt, and I definitely need it, and I need someone like him to force me into the next level in my playing, but it's really hard sometimes to take that, too. I don't think he realizes how insecure I am about all of it lately, and I guess that's a good thing.

[gnavitas]

Oh my god, she lives!!!
Hon, need I remind you that you can play Rachmaninov 's Prelude in C# minor? Didn't think so.
The pressure issue can be the biggest bugger, though. I hope the knowledge that there are a great many people who know you better than an impartial jury and a teacher who thinks he has to break you down to get you anywhere - and they've all *heard* you when you were at your best - when it's as if you could sit down and play a concert in Carnegie Hall without batter an eyelash.
I just... I dunno. I hope knowing that helps. And knowing that it's those people's opinions that really matter in the end.
*luffs*
-Gnav.

[foxor]

It does help, and especially coming from you. At the very least I can remember that this is probably the last time in my life that someone will put a number to my performance as a pianist. Beyond this, people can think whatever the hell they want, and that's about all they can do. In the meantime I guess I just have to remember that these people don't know squat about jazz, and if I am enthusiastic about it all, how will they know if I made mistakes or not? It is hard to be enthusiastic when nervous, mind you :)