Music=Life?

JazzCat · January-1st-2005, 10:53 PM

For how many of you is music the number one. I ask this because I used to feel as if, for this to be truly so, one would have to be involved in some form or another with music as a career- performer, teacher, etc. I have come to hope, as my college days are sooner and sooner approaching, and my desire to become a Music major becomes less and less, that this is not the case. Is there enough time and energy left to devote to the playing, listening, etc. of music when your not working with it full-time? I hope so.

P.S.- I'm sure not all of you music lover's on this board have a job in it. I'm basically looking for more positive re-enforcement than anything else.

sonic1 · January-1st-2005, 10:59 PM

Music is pretty damned important in my life. It means a lot. But it is not all. Why would music move me and influence my life if I had no life outside of music. Where does the influence and the inspiration come from?

I know some professional musicians (in classical, jazz and rock) and many of them are much less passionate about music than many of us here on the JC who have day jobs outside the field of music.

That said, music surrounds me every possible moment whether from my own playing or from my stereo. And I read more music books than any other topic.

Jared

Jazzooo · January-2nd-2005, 01:02 AM

It's hard to imagine music being more important to me than it is--the making of it, the enjoyment of it. But no, it is not life.

Then again, mere life is not music.

chadeous · January-2nd-2005, 05:49 AM

i can say a huge chunk of my life is music... i'm a 19 year old bassist majoing in jazz composition(or hopefully i will). other than crap getting in my way during the day, i'm constantly thinking of music, always wanted to listen, always wanting to play. if i could make a nice living just playing my bass i would do it because it's like getting paid to have a good time. hopefully when i graduate i'll be able to do that... it's my dream. this thing called jazz and music is my passion and my life.

VIBEr · January-2nd-2005, 07:27 AM

When you do music for a living, you lose it as a hobby. As a hobbyist, music is about you; as a professional, music is about the client. If your inclination to be a music major is on the wane, I recommend trusting your instinct.

Gary Sisco · January-2nd-2005, 08:23 AM

I don't necessarily agree with Viber, above, having been both a musician for a living and a "hobbyist" -- for about equal amounts of time, now -- but there is much to think about in his comment. Especially the trusting your instinct. I didn't lose it as a source of great, maybe the greatest, pleasure when I was playing but on the other hand, I never listened for pleasure to the kind of music I played for a living, either, which might have been a blessing. I only did that to check out the competition, occasionally. But that limitation didn't matter to the many others musics to listen to and still very much enjoy as a listener as much as I still do.

For myself, I know that I couldn't live without music. Sounds extreme, but I know it's true, for me. It's entertainment, sure, on one level, but it's so deeply a part of me, and so deeply human, on other levels, that I can't imagine life without it and wouldn't want to.

Songbirds sing, baby.

Steve Reynolds · January-2nd-2005, 08:33 AM

I existed (barely) for about 8 months without music - probably close to 2 years when it didn't mean very much at all.

muisc is nothing for me without my life - with my wife sick this week, there has been very little music this pat week - and it certainly hasn't helped me not having it to help my mood - but she is getting a little better so it will be nice to have it back in a few days.

it is part of my soul - and it is part of my being when I'm ok

peace and blessings

Richardo Caerleoni · January-2nd-2005, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazzCat

For how many of you is music the number one. I ask this because I used to feel as if, for this to be truly so, one would have to be involved in some form or another with music as a career- performer, teacher, etc. I have come to hope, as my college days are sooner and sooner approaching, and my desire to become a Music major becomes less and less, that this is not the case. Is there enough time and energy left to devote to the playing, listening, etc. of music when your not working with it full-time? I hope so.

P.S.- I'm sure not all of you music lover's on this board don't have a job in it. I'm basically looking for more positive re-enforcement than anything else.

Have a Job! Yes some of us do/and still dream of being the next Coltrane! AS IF...all I know is that at the bad points in my life....music has got me thro....from Lester to Bird to Trane.. I go back to them.

Stick with it....RC. I am still waiting for a response from MR Brookmeyer in praise of "Moonlight in Vermont"...Paris 1953?

Dr Dave · January-2nd-2005, 12:40 PM

I'm the last person to look to for career advice. I guess my question would be: What do you envision for yourself? Do you want to play jazz? Do you want to do studio work? Do you want to compose? Do you want to go on the road with a showband and do the "corporate entertainment" thing? (I know some folks who make a good living at it, although not many of them do it for very long.) Do you want to teach? All of these? Some?

I did it (and still do it once in a while) to meet chicks. Which worked, by the way. Well, it worked for a while.

JazzCat · January-2nd-2005, 05:04 PM

Edit: Have a job! Thanks R.C.