Would YOU be a musician if nobody ever heard you ?

[behindthenotes]

Hi Guys

We have posted our weekly discussion on our Forum this week but would like to hear your thoughts.

Would YOU be a musician if nobody ever heard you ?

Although the clip is a fairly old one this was a question put to Miles in an interview he did with 60 minutes. We thought it would be good to see what you guys thought - Would you go on this journey of a musician if you knew you would never be heard ?

No surprises on his response but you can check out the clip here if you haven't already seen it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DduWg...eature=related

See you online

[mrchattr]

Hi Guys

We have posted our weekly discussion on our Forum this week but would like to hear your thoughts.

Would YOU be a musician if nobody ever heard you ?

Although the clip is a fairly old one this was a question put to Miles in an interview he did with 60 minutes. We thought it would be good to see what you guys thought - Would you go on this journey of a musician if you knew you would never be heard ?

No surprises on his response but you can check out the clip here if you haven't already seen it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DduWg...eature=related

See you online

I am a musician. It's who, and what, I am. Well before I started playing out, and certainly before I started doing it regularly, it defined me.

So yes. The thrill of the live show is undeniable...but not why I play.

[Vipercussionist]

I would play in my cellar, all by myself, but there's nothing like playing for people, it's a nice thrill.

If I wasn't IN a band, I would be trying to GET into a band.

Just as a thought:
I'm lucky, I've found a band where the intensity in on stage playing and not behind the scenes fighting. In my experience, that's a rare thing. Think of how many bands break up because he "marriage" doesn't work out!

Bands longevity seem to be a bit less about the music, and more about the compatibility of the personalities of the players.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I would love to play with, and for others, and have in the past, but for now I am quite content to play by and for myself, and the neighbors, what bit they can hear.

[BenYS]

I would still play but I would not practice the way I'm doing right now.

The best thing about music is probably to be able to share your passion with others.

[caddywumpus]

There's music inside of me, dying to get out. Whether that be in front of others or in the privacy of my practice space, it just needs to express itself.

Granted, I love to perform, and I love to practice, but there's something self-fulfilling about playing. I'm not talking about my playing being "self-ingratiating" or "self-indulging" like I hear some jazz cats about, but everything just seems right with the universe when I have a pair of sticks, a set of mallets, or a guitar in my hands.

[fixxxer]

I would absolutely play if no one ever heard me. Although it's fun to share your music with others, I get plenty of satisfaction when I'm alone and really nail a song or recognize my skills as they become sharper.

[aydee]

Thats a really interesting question and I'm going to have to think about the answer.


I do want however to make sure I understand the question first though..

Do you mean "Would you ( choose to /continue to ) be a musician"...OR is the question " Would you ( consider yourself ) to be a musician?

i.e. is the question intended to ask about ones chosen path / calling or is about ones innate sense of self?

[intooder]

Do you mean "Would you ( choose to /continue to ) be a musician"...OR is the question " Would you ( consider yourself ) to be a musician?
I would guess the first one. I imagine the second one would be a yes for almost anyone who can tell what sounds good.

By the way, the link doesn't work for me.

My answer is yes for the satisfaction of my side that wants to create and listen to new music. No, for the side that cares about performance and affecting others with what I do.

[drumhead61]

Hi Guys

We have posted our weekly discussion on our Forum this week but would like to hear your thoughts.

Would YOU be a musician if nobody ever heard you ?

Although the clip is a fairly old one this was a question put to Miles in an interview he did with 60 minutes. We thought it would be good to see what you guys thought - Would you go on this journey of a musician if you knew you would never be heard ?

No surprises on his response but you can check out the clip here if you haven't already seen it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DduWg...eature=related

See you online

Unfortunately my computer at work does not have SOUND :( so I cannot hear this clip you included, however I can answer even with out hearing/seeing it. I would definately play even if I was never heard...I have gone all these years with it all inside anyway so having noone else to hear is fine by me so long as I have the outlet to drum away! I have an audience in the music itself.

[behindthenotes]

Thats a really interesting question and I'm going to have to think about the answer.


I do want however to make sure I understand the question first though..

Do you mean "Would you ( choose to /continue to ) be a musician"...OR is the question " Would you ( consider yourself ) to be a musician?

i.e. is the question intended to ask about ones chosen path / calling or is about ones innate sense of self?

Sorry for the confusion there - it's the first one - would you choose to be a musician if no-one ever heard you

[bojangleman]

well, my neighbors hear me all the time....oh..
wait...
nevermind that..

heck ya i would...i love it, and thats not going to change....being famous and well known would be awesome...but i would be doing it cause i love it, not for the money and exposure....

Alex

[jay norem]

would you choose to be a musician if no-one ever heard you

To be quite honest, I really don't know. I was a little kid living a difficult childhood and the idea of gaining acceptance from my peers by doing something I was good at had a lot of appeal. It was my time to shine as they say. Once I got a taste of performing I loved it. Still do.
BUT. There are down times in everyone's career, times when I was pretty much going it alone in relative obscurity, not working much at all, and I kept at it by knowing that the down times come and go.
Probably if I knew that I'd never be heard by anyone, ever, then knowing myself like I do I imagine I would have found some other way to get some attention. All performers enjoy that, you know, and I can't see myself making music in a vacuum, not forever. I love to play for people too much for that. It's just something I've been doing since I was a kid. The audience is a very big part of the whole experience for me, even if it's just a few tables in a jazz club or the producer at a recording session. And sometimes those are the most satisfying audiences to play for.

[Philippe]

Hi Guys

We have posted our weekly discussion on our Forum this week but would like to hear your thoughts.

Would YOU be a musician if nobody ever heard you ?

very simple answer: yes, I would.

[m1ck]

Yes.

It might be arguable that nobody is ever more of a musician than when they are alone.

Like some have said above - if it's in you, it has to come out. Regardless of whether there's an audience or not.

[Class A Drummer]

Absolutley. Besides boring school band concerts, i didnt play live until after like... 5 years or drumming maybe?

[drumhead61]

Yes.

It might be arguable that nobody is ever more of a musician than when they are alone.

Like some have said above - if it's in you, it has to come out. Regardless of whether there's an audience or not.

Agreed and as I stated below, "I have an audience in the music itself." Any time I have been behind a kit it is me and the sound

[tamadrummer132]

well isupposed i would, but i have to admit nothing is quite the same as playing live....and wheny ou play live and then stop (my current position) you REALLY crave it. so it wuoldnt be as fun, but id still play...which is kinda what i do now

[byronand]

At this stage I really don't feel a need to "perform" for anyone or receive applause or validation from an audience. I just like the music.

But when I was young it meant a lot to me to be heard and admired as a musician.

So, it's hard to say... perhaps I wouldn't have been drawn to playing drums originally -- and stuck with it -- without the external appreciation; but now it's superfluous. I guess I'm glad people liked my playing back then, and it was important back then... now, it's not.

[7DaysToTheWolves]

I'd honestly still play no matter what, ironically, I'm hardly ever heard at all (in high school you'd think everyone has heard you when you were in the talent show), but music is my passion and drums just drive me through it.

[aydee]

Sorry for the confusion there - it's the first one - would you choose to be a musician if no-one ever heard you

Thanks for the clarity. Well, I chose not to be one ( a professional ) and IMO paid a personal price for it, even though many thought I made a prudent choice at the time.

There is a thread called "Regret ( a confession )" somewhere here about my decision not to be one & its consequences.

The second half of the question " If no one heard you" also has more than 1 interpretation. One, is that in order to be a working pro, you have to be recording or performing ( true ). Also are you really making music if you are playing in splendid isolation for yourself alone ?

I've often debated the second point with many musicians, and many surprisingly do feel that if there is no one to communicate//interact/present/offer their music to, it might not be 'music' that they play.

For myself, I agree with the guy who said he feels all is well in the universe if there's a pair of sticks/guitar/ nearby. I too, find my myself being who I am through the music I make more than anything else I do.

I think the answer to your question lies with the teeming millions out there who are the very embodiment of "struggling musicians", doing what they do 24x7,whether anyone's listening or not. Its what they do, period.

[Drummer Karl]

I think that it can not be answered that easily and that there`re many different opinions about this.

Actually it`s part of a person`s socialisation. I think that things like getting feedback - whether directly or indirectly - appeal like a motor which contributes essentially to this person`s socialisation/natural progress. It seems to be a need that all things (including making music) have to happen in some kind of a social environment.

I`m not sure if we would play drums if nobody ever hears us, at least I think we wouldn`t do it in such a distinctive way. We have never experienced this situation: Playing for ourselves without fleshly feedback. Even if nobody conciously hears us a person feels the need to share results. That might be another important aspect.

So, if this precondition/opportunity isn`t given I`m not sure whether I even would be motivated to keep it up.

Karl

[bobdadruma]

Recently a gig was cancelled for one of the bands that I play with. One of the band members noticed that I wasn't disappointed. I told him that gigs are fun but they are not my main reason for playing. I get more in the way or personal satisfaction than I do from playing before others. Playing pleases me and enriches my personal life. I would still play if no one could hear. No doubts about it.

[rhythmjunkie]

A tree falls down in the woods and nobody's around to hear it, does it make a sound? Yes, actually it does, because what we know through science is that, regardless of the presence of an entity with cognitive perception, the impact of the tree with the ground is going to generate sound waves. If you play an instrument and are well developed at your craft, you're a musician, even if nobody in the world ever heard you play, however sorry that is. Get on stage and make it happen!

[Fur drummer]

Yes I would. I think playing the drums is fun and something I really like and it doesn't matter if someone hears me or not. To me it is self fulfilling.

[joshlovestodrum]

So, if this precondition/opportunity isn`t given I`m not sure whether I even would be motivated to keep it up.

Karl


So initially i'm thinking that i would most certainly play because it pleases me even if nobody ever heard me...then the end bit of karl's post made me think though....I play because of my own personal experiences of having heard others play. I was moved by the music as it were. Its a neat thing to think about because my brain cant really even make sense of its own thought...its just confused....so if i'd play just for my own fun then maybe someone that i might inspire to play doesnt hear me play and therefore doesnt learn to play because I only play for myself? huh? I believe that our craft is one which people NEED to hear or we wont be inspiring any new generations of loud kids. Even if i personally only inspire one person to give the drums a chance then i'll be a happy panda.

save the loud kids of tomorrow!, :)
JG

[tomgrosset]

Very interesting question. I guarantee half these people would be reconsidering their thoughts if it actually did happen though. To be honest, I would not be a musician if I could not be heard. I could try, but I would probably fail. The reason being is because I find a musician needs to have that ability to inspire, share ideas, entertain and perform for people. As a musician, I play for people and that's what I intend on doing for the rest of my life.

[dcrigger]

For me there are two layers to this - the performing for an audience part and the being able to play with other musicians (which wouldn't be possible if nobody was going to hear you).

And then there's the fact that at this point, I already am and have been for a long time. So if nobody was going to hear from this point forward, then certainly I would keep being a musician, One thankful that we live in an age, where one can write, record and perform complete works by and for oneself.

But speaking for that 10 year old in me from when I started - probably not. And not over the audience issue - that's never been the point. But to not get to play with other musicians. To be heard by and interact and grow from that interaction - well now that has always been a great deal of point...the motivating factor for pushing and striving to get better. Because getting better and having skills is how you get to play with better and better players. Which I like I said for me, is a great deal of the point.

dc

[Aumni]

If no one ever heard me I'd be a hobbyist, not a musician.

[stasz]

Very interesting question. I guarantee half these people would be reconsidering their thoughts if it actually did happen though. To be honest, I would not be a musician if I could not be heard. I could try, but I would probably fail. The reason being is because I find a musician needs to have that ability to inspire, share ideas, entertain and perform for people. As a musician, I play for people and that's what I intend on doing for the rest of my life.

Very very good point. We all love playing drums even in solitude but a lot of my inspiration admittedly comes from real life and people and being able to share ideas, not to mention play with other musicians. Being a musician for the sole purpose of playing for yourself-- for the enjoyment of being able to play the instrument without any feedback from humans-- would be tough, and most certainly different from being able to play for people. The good thing is drums are pretty loud, so I'm pretty sure people are still going to be hearing us for a long while... lol.

Also, to the original question... I think that even though it would be very different, I would still play. I would still be able to hear the drums, right? I think that is motivation enough.

[Billy Brown]

The kinetic exercise alone, the use of my body, makes playing enjoyable. In that way, it is fulfilling like taking a short walk after dinner is fulfilling. Of course, making music, for others or not, is an added source of accomplishment.