An advice to young musical instrument players |
I wrote this to a young musician, who has a great technique but lacks the 'other' thing to make him a master. I thought it's not a bad one, so here I am sharing it with you.
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Thus, technique and timing are excellent. you shine when the fast parts come in. You play lightly, effortlessly, you make people believe that bouzouki is such an easy instrument to play. Which is what a master of the instrument would do.
The only problem appears in the slow parts. They are a bit flat - no dynamics, no excitement there. A bit of sadness, but only a shade.
And the slow parts in any musical genre are those that distinguish the real player from a "runner".
Thus, you have managed to get an excellent technique. Now it's time to express yourself. The whole point of learning the technique is that we have a rich pallet to say the STORY, to say what is within us.
We need to put our very SOUL in front of the audience there.
It is a frightening perspective. To let out the most intimate thoughts about yourself, women, God, people - in front of strangers - through music, of course.
This is of course a constant struggle, but a struggle worth fighting for.
So, a music playing is a connection between the brain and the heart (and your hands). You have established the connection of the brain with your hands, it's time to establish the connection of your heart with your hands.
Don't be scared.
Search for your unique voice, for that unique thing that you have as a human being, something that makes you different from all others.
When you start recognising that, put in your playing. That will be the fulfilment of the practise.
You see, Mr. N. is great. But to my ears, he was just a collection of all the tricks of the bouzouki, all the scales, techniques put in one place. I didn't hear that something that will make me go tomorrow - aah, that's Mr. N. He didn't put himself there.
So, to finish my 'thesis': you need to clear your values as a human being. Also, to understand who you are in this world, your fears (face them), your hopes, your joys and your sorrows.
And put that into your playing.
Then, the slower parts will be much more exciting than the fast parts in your playing.
And then you will know that you are talking through the bouzouki.
And the tools you have acquired so far (technique, speed, timing, clear sound, theory) will shine in their full glory.
Good luck!
