Every field has its deep, philosophical questions. It can be worth the time, when we are engrossed in the details of our practice and our performances, to stop for a moment and ponder some of the more existential questions related to our art.
In a book titled Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening, author and scholar Christopher Small asks two such questions: "What is the meaning of music?" and "What is the function of music in human life?" Before offering a response, however, he recommends a shift in our thinking. In particular, he suggests we entertain the idea that "music is not a thing at all but an activity, something that people do."
Small explains how, in the Western music tradition, we often equate the word "music" with "works of music" (songs, symphonies, musicals, etc.). Under this understanding, what is most valued is the "created art object" (the song) instead of "the action of art" (singing, playing, listening). This has led to a belief that the goal of performing is to honor, uphold, or serve the music (the created art object) instead of the people "musicking" (singer, player, listener). Small turns this idea on its head, stating, "Performance does not exist in order to present musical works, but rather, musical works exist in order to give performers something to perform." Therefore, as he says, music's "primary meanings" are social.
With this mindset, the goal of performance shifts away from singing a piece "properly" or "correctly." Instead, we give primacy to how the act of singing a particular song may impact you (the performer) and the people you are singing for. In other words, rather than placing the focus so intensely on the music itself and how perfectly those notes and rhythms are being executed, we can prioritize the communal aspect of the performance. Small writes, "The act of musicking establishes...a set of relationships, and it is in those relationships that the meaning of the act lies. They are to be found...between the people who are taking part, in whatever capacity, in the performance." These relationships between all those who are "musicking" become actual (experienced in the moment) and aspirational, as they serve to represent—or serve as a metaphor for—every ideal relationship we hope to have in life: "relationships between person and person, between individual and society, between humanity and the natural world and even perhaps the supernatural world."
I really liked this blog and I think it can be applied to all kinds of performance, not just music. I sometimes find myself trying to create the “perfect” performance when I’m doing self-tapes, and then once I have one that I’m satisfied with, I don’t feel the need to perform that monologue or song anymore. But that kind of takes away the point of performance—we perform because we enjoy it, not just because we want a perfect finished product. This also reminded me of how Shakespeare plays are treated by a lot of people as works of literature, but they were written to be performed, not read. The purpose of the art is lost when you get too focused on the tangible results that are created instead of the process of creating them.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post. Maybe it is because we are so close to the holidays, but it made me think about carols and singing at holiday parties. It’s not about the songs or how well they are being sung, it’s about enjoying singing them with family and friends or in the car on the way to a family holiday party. The minute it becomes about singing as part of a community and for fun, the pressure is taken off. I feel the same way when performing scenes. The minute it becomes about getting to act with friends or just in general and not about giving the perfect performance, the energy shifts into something far more beneficial than wishing to be perfect.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this blog and loved that it was the last blog for the semester. In studio class yesterday we went over our showcase material and I was singing and had just a tiny fumble/crack in my voice but kept going and telling the story and David said he loved it and it made the story that much better because I was so invested. I think that right there is what this blog is speaking to. It was nice to have read the blog and then have had that experience in class to prove that it really isn’t about the perfect voice when singing.
ReplyDeleteI liked the mention of musicking as a social thing. Performing a piece perfectly is much less impactful than playing it personally. The personal approach allows the audience to participate in the experience and the emotions that you are imbuing the piece with. Musicking has that wonderful social aspect that music should have.
ReplyDeleteI loved this blog! For me, this concept of singing for the enjoyment of it has really changed singing for me, especially in this semester. In addition, when I think about the performances that have gone well for me in class are the ones where I just let go of the pressure and just enjoyed my time singing. I'm hoping to bring that energy into finals and into future performances!
ReplyDeleteI think this blog is great because I know that a lot of the time I forget the beauty and enjoyment of the process of creating and performing and a lot of the time I try and do the performance perfectly and get through it perfectly when I should remember that the reason I love performing is the process of it and each performance is different and never perfect which is awesome about theatre and music. I also love that creation really brings people together and music and theatre requires relationships.
ReplyDeleteI joined theatre for the people, and this blog really gave a new perspective on who and what actually see me performing and why I am performing. Singing can just be singing and doesn't have to be something to impress another person. To be perfect and just performing for pushing a story is so much more intriguing than a perfect performance. I really enjoyed this post because the concept of a social 'musicking' representation for the hope of a perfect relationship, and with singing there is so much pressure with for singing and to let go of the pressure there will be more enjoyment through performing.
ReplyDeleteThis made me think of the common references to classical composers, playwrights, ect. ¨rolling in their graves¨ in response to new or different takes on their works. I think it can be important to recognize the heart of a piece of art, but that shouldn't deter new artists from creative takes on classics. This can allow for new life to be brought to art, which is really the only way to keep them alive
ReplyDeleteI found this blog very reassuring. Lately Ive had a very tough time with remembering that i am in a actor TRAINING program. This blog gives a nice reminder that our art should not always be viewed as a product. Our art can be and sometimes should be strictly for ourselves. We do this because we love to act or sing or perform... and lately ive struggled with remembering that. I need to do a better time of reveling in the process that this program provides, after all, that is why we're here.
ReplyDeleteA tradition in my family is to get together on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, my family and I sing Christmas carols all together. I love getting together to sing with them because it’s a great way to connect with each other. My family also incorporates solo and trio performances. My aunts and uncles play their instruments and my nana often requests me to sing a solo. Every year, I get nervous because I think of it as a performance when it doesn’t have to be. I think it’s interesting how I’m more willing to sing with other people than I am to sing by myself.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this blog, and the idea of putting the emphasis on the social element of music and all art. I feel that art, in general, is made for society to enjoy and for people to connect with. If we take that part out of it, we loose a lot of the meaning that is available. We all are here because we like to share stories and art with other people, so we need to remember that social aspect and not let it be about seeking perfection in our art. I needed this reminder as I've been focusing a lot on getting rhythms and notes and everything perfect for juries, which is important, but now that I have it down well, it's a good idea to let it go a little to bring the social and storytelling elements back in.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this blog! It reminded me a lot of what we talked about last semester in my philosophy of art class. We discussed whether the value in art comes from the artist, the artistic work, or the act of creating. It often boiled down to a combination of all, as art serves many purposes, bringing people together being one of them. Particularly with vocal performance, I like the idea that rather than focusing on technical perfection, some of the greatest parts of singing come from the relationships and connections that we create by doing so. There truly is something spectacular about performing and feeling that energy exchange between performers and between performer and audience. That is the most rewarding part for me, not the perfect execution of a number.
ReplyDeleteI really loved this blog post. Since being trained in a more formal setting within studio sessions, I’ve observed that in my mind, the story of the piece is being left behind. I’ve realized that when getting to a performance space I am able to communicate the story effectively; primarily through the motivation to display the story to the group. This is something I am going to look to translate more into rehearsal spaces in order to be able to build muscle memory for not only the integrity of the piece (on the paper), but also the story it is telling.
ReplyDeleteAlexa Shaheen
When I first read the title I was like "Oh its flu season and this blog is going to be about how to sing properly when someone is "sick" From the word mu"sick"ing" I couldn't be more wrong. It felt like a peaceful nice summary to this semester. Since we're in a training program it can feel like we're stuck in this bubble of performing everything well and perfectly, when most of the time we're just having a good time as family and friends, especially around singing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post I think closes out the semester really well! When I first started these lessons, I was actually extremely nervous because I was unsure of how well I was able to perform, and if I would mesh well together with anyone in my class. I can now say that I have made some of the closest friends I have ever made despite knowing them for such a short amount of time. And...like the post says, it is all because we have the love to "music" together, that is what brought us together in the first place and that is what is going to keep us together. Speaking to other parts of this blog post, I think I am finally getting to be in a more comfortable place where I can observe the story of a song and personally connect it to my life, compared to previously grasping for straws and singing with no intent and no emotion. I am looking forward to studying more next semester.
ReplyDeleteSomething I've recently learned about myself this semester is that I can often push off the story of a song because it can cause me to feel strongly which is a hard thing for me to do in front of others. Enjoying the piece and experiencing the song is so important, letting myself enjoy the music for what it is and letting that take my work further is equally part of the process. This can also lead to being more truthful (in my case) if the artist doesn't believe in the words they're singing why should anyone else believe them?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to next Semester Brian!
-Tate F
Hi Brian! I like the message of this blog a lot. As someone who always strives perfection in my performances, hearing that songs are tools for us to express ourselves is encouraging. This past semester, I’ve been battling a lot of self-doubt, but I’ve been feeling more confident lately. I learned through studio and dem lab this semester with I Love Betsy and For Forever, that it doesn’t matter if your voice cracks, but to keep on going and no one will remember. I’m still working on that but it’s been better than it was before this semester.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of viewing the purpose of music to be inherently social. Growing up, I feel like most of the ways I consumed and interacting with music had a social element, whether it was Saturday morning chores with my mom's music blasting, singing hymns in church, or going to musicals and leaving singing the words with my family. When the time came where I started having interactions with music that required me to be performing (and thus, judged, in my mind) by others around me, the purpose of music in the first place seemed to shift. I think there is joy to be found in bonding with others over music and cherishing it as a social event rather than as a proof of one's "talent" or "worth."
ReplyDeleteI like this idea of approaching music as an activity to do instead of a thing that needs to be accomplished. By looking at it from the perspective of doing it for fun. When I sing in class I think about getting the rights right and do I have a good tempo. But when I listen to music in my car and sing along I am doing it for the fun of it. And that's why people do music in the first place, for the fun of it not the perfection of it.
ReplyDeleteThis was such an interesting and engaging flip in mindset when it comes to creating music! I couldn't help but think about how this applies to being in an orchestra and being a musician in a way outside of sinigng. So much of what I loved about orchestra in middle and high school had to do with the social network it provided. My favorite piece of classical music (Beethoven's "Egmont Overture") is at my top spot because of the story you can literally hear, and the wordless dialogue between instrument sections. I think this is a great reminder that the point of everything we do as actors and musicians should be to connect with others on a human level, and not to be simply "correct".
ReplyDeleteThis is certainly a fascination revision of the typical mindset that music exists to be done correctly, and I think it is certainly correct that music exists for people and not so much as its own entity to perfect. I do wonder if this is applicable to the relationship that exists less between people and more between an individual and the music itself or an individual and themself. Maybe I am missing some deeper connection that needs to be explored within myself, but I find I've always sung for the mere joy it brings me, and it seldom has to do with any relationship with another being - the simple act of singing along to something brings me great happiness. That being said, I feel the relationship in question here could be with the music itself, and I feel that that my singing of it at the top of my lungs while no one is around is a better example and exploration of my relationship with myself than anything. That being said, I feel this ideology is interesting, and I think it could go even further to examine relationships not only between humans or other beings, but between an individual and other aspects of music.
ReplyDeleteThis semester has been a joy, and I look forward to working with you in the spring!
Brian this is such a cute blog!! I really love this idea and think it’s such a great way to finish off this semester. I’m absolutely guilty of this and we’ve talked a lot about my struggles with this subject. I do think I’ve gotten better on the storytelling though. It’s definitely been something I think much more about this semester and it has really been the first time I’m not thinking about the technique or how people perceive me. I’m really finally starting to understand the sense of community that music allows us to have and it’s the real reason I wanted to do this in the first place. Sometimes it’s hard to keep sight of that but it’s nice to be reminded. I can’t wait to see where we go next semester!! You’re the best!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me want to go read Christopher Small’s book. I think in the past (and not so long ago past) my relationship with my voice and with music was largely centered on technique. I equated my value as a singer to where I thought my technical abilities ranked. Technique allows me to sing and create music sustainably and healthily, but it isn’t the impact. I loved how Small describes music’s “primary meanings” as being social. Remembering that music is about the people involved (listening or singing), brings soul back to the craft. This semester I’ve noticed a positive shift in my relationship towards singing. It’s becoming more and more about musicking, and I’m excited to see where we go next semester. Thank you, Brian!
ReplyDeleteThis blog is the perfect end of semester blog! It really helps me to approach singing and music as an activity so it seems less stressful and more enjoyable! Often if I find myself viewing it as a task or something that I'm being graded or judged on I get a lot more nervous about performing but viewing it as an activity helps a lot! Thank you for all of your help this semester!
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