This was inspired by my piano-playing buddy over at yoderpianist. He was chronicling his musical journey and development, and mentioned interpretation.
In my own observation and personal experience (with vocal music), we who were raised conservative Mennonites have somewhat of a handicap when it comes to musical interpretation and feeling.
Verbalized or not (and probably not), we were taught to be very proper and dignified and humble in any public display. “Performing” was a prideful no-no, and whatever you do don’t show emotion! Just stand still and sing with a straight face.
Maybe that’s a little overstated. But I think we really struggle with musicality, with taking a song and making music from it! It doesn’t come naturally to most of us. We think that if we sing the notes reasonably in tune and get the words right, then we’ve done it about as good as we can.
The whole concept of interpretation and communication was quite the revelation to me in my musical development, and was a huge, huge struggle to grasp and implement. To this day it’s something that I really have to work at.
Music is so much more than correct notes and timings and proper pronunciations. You have to make it your own, it has to come from (sorry so trite) the heart. Gotta feel it! You must make it come alive.
But how? That’s the tough question. And the answer can’t be neatly summed up in a set of precise instructions or a paint-by-numbers formula, at least not by me.
For myself, the key has just been to be genuine, identify with the lyric on some level, feel it, communicate it, try to express the song’s sentiment through the music as if you didn’t have the lyrics. Make it real.
My voice teacher Roger was the first musical influence that made me start to realize there was a whole lot more to singing than just squarely vocalizing note after note. Then the catalyst that really made me change my ways was my buddy Coby and my first barbershop quartet, the Allnighters.
We were learning a ballad, “When I Fall in Love.” Our buddy Martin was coaching us (incidentally, Martin did all the artwork on Lookin’ Up and Purpose), and they would absolutely NOT let me keep singing like a robot. It was a love song, it had to be all gooey and full of feeling.
I remember being so frustrated. I’d sing certain lines over and over again and they wouldn’t be satisfied. I didn’t know how to sing them any different! But they kept trying to get the concept of communicating the feeling and emotion of the song through my head and eventually I began to get it. Those guys helped and encouraged me a ton, I owe them a lot.
I’ve hardly scratched the surface, this is such a vital part of music. Without emotion, music is dead. If I had only one word to use in explaining this whole concept (and how to implement it) to a singer/musician, it would be “genuine.”
Make it real.
20 Responses
July 27th, 2005 at 5:57 pm
amen sir. AMEN.
July 27th, 2005 at 5:59 pm
and I’m not anonymous. I’m Kaitlyn Gerber. xanga.com/Gerbs11
July 27th, 2005 at 6:09 pm
I appreciate that, Tom. I feel the same frustration at times, and I want to go all “Southern Baptist” on some of those great gospel songs, but don’t for fear of offending someone in the congregation. It’s just that some songs (“In That Great Gettin’ Up Mornin'”, for example) need some SPIRIT! As you well know. I listen to some great groups like Cathedrals or Gold City and you FEEL the song. Voice of Praise manages to pull it off vocally, but without much change in expression or any fitting motions.
July 27th, 2005 at 7:38 pm
Great Post Tom. Without emotion the soul withers up and gets lost in the prison of self examination, seeking to be appropriate and acceptable. Your brother, John
July 27th, 2005 at 9:56 pm
Tom, times is a changin, and hope springs eternal, and I cannot sing a song and not show emotion and I am a conservative Mennonite and a real Anabaptist (been baptized twice).
At Ebenezer I have been wondering why our little chorus could not get into the spiritual “Little Lamb” at first and I told them to loosen up and sway a little and to “feel” the music, not just sing it! (Now I am not the director, and the emotion I usually inspire while singing comes from the listners trying to figure out how to get to the door without drawing any attention!) Anyway, you have helped me understand why this lack of musicality exists in our singing. May God’s Spirit enliven us as we sing. Maybe I’ll just shout out in church Sunday if I am blessed by a song! Hallelujah!
I wish (and many others wish too) that I could afford and find a good singing coach like you did. I have a lot of people around me that can sing, and know music and music theory, but no one that can or wants to help me learn to use my meager ability. (Probably couldn’t stand overcoming the vast need for talent on my part.)The awful thing is, I want to sing. (Sorry Paul.) I guess there is always heaven, at least then my voice will be perfect! {:^)
All of you that can glorify God with your voice are blessed indeed. Anyone that can play an instrument to the glory of God is blessed. Do it with all the unction and emotional interpretation you can give to it. Me, I’ll keep on making a joyful noise unto the Lord. Amen, Hallelujah!
July 28th, 2005 at 5:29 pm
Like the post. Hate to rain on the parade, Tom, but I’m surprised and somewhat shocked that you know how to compose and publish a serious post. So much for being in the shallow waters…
Or maybe our good boy Tom is growing up.
Keep working on him, Jewel!
July 31st, 2005 at 11:59 pm
Hey Doc, don’t dish a great post simply because you do not have the abilility to comprehend it. (I better insert a big cheesy smile about now in case you are one of those people…..) :)
GREAT post Tom! Loved it, connected with it. I remember my little, tiny, brilliant, 75-year-old voice teacher waving her fist in the air (which was out of character for her other-wise more elegant than life nature) and saying with passion “Convince me!” I’m not sure if I ever did.
This is an aspect of music that I feel as though I am locked in a box and have a very difficult time breaking out of! It’s like we have been raised to supress the passion and fervor that wells up within us and in doing so we miss a lot and an audience misses even more! It is easy to recognize but difficult to change. (But maybe there is hope, a man asked me once if I’m Penecostal…..eh, not sure how the Penecostal Mennonite thing would work but……)
I love all your posts Tom be the shallow, deep, cotton candy or steak, UNLESS they have to do with equipment of any kind wherewith I simply yawn, and move on quickly.
Ag