Beyond the Notes and Rhythms

How many of you read a book one type of word at a time (i.e. - nouns only, verbs only, adjectives only, etc.)? Right now I would imagine everyone reading this is laughing out loud at how silly that sounds. You would have to read a book multiple times to just read all the words, and even then you probably wouldn't understand what the book is about because you aren't stringing the words together.

This is how a lot of us learn music, especially if we are keyboard players or front ensemble members. We learn the notes because we get hung up on those. Then, we MIGHT learn all the rhythms correctly if we don't get distracted by a wrong note or two. Or maybe you will learn the rhythms first and then the notes. Once we get the notes and rhythms right (or mostly right), we have to get things up to tempo.

For a lot of us, this is where we stop learning music. However, this isn't even the entry level of the music. "What do you mean Ryan? I have the right notes, right rhythms, and the right tempo... what else is there?"

Don't forget the stuff around the notes!

Dynamics!!! This is a detail that I see most "young" keyboard players blow through, or barely attempt. I have watched a number of Instagram videos of individuals, and ensembles, that play through some really impressive music. However, they post the sheet music in their video as well. The first thing I notice is "WOW! This person, or this ensemble, has some pretty impressive chops! I wonder why they aren't playing any of the dynamics on the page?"

I really do mean it when I say I am truly impressed at the technical proficiency of "younger" (22 and below) percussionists. I wasn't even sniffy some of the things they are playing until LATE into my college career. In the same breathe, I can't help but be somewhat disappointed that we have put an importance on "chops" over "musicianship."

I also think that percussionist are getting trained more through the marching arts, which is great. You have more hours with an instructor in the marching arts, and you devote more time into a project than you do elsewhere to really experience what quality, and clarity can be. However, I believe we spend so much time training our hands that we never train beyond playing notes and rhythms. Sometimes we train ourselves to play heights without changing volumes and call that playing dynamics.

So the next time you are practicing, or playing, I would encourage you to take a video of yourself and watch it three times. The first time close your eyes and just listen to the video. Don't get distracted by what you look like, your posture, how awesome your chops are, etc. Do you hear what is on the page. When is says to crescendo from piano to forte. do you hear 4 different volume levels in the crescendo? Or at least 4 levels difference in your starting dynamic to your ending dynamic.

This is how people taken in your music. Even we watch bands, we listen with our ears. But it is easy to get distracted with your eyes, especially in the marching arts. So the second time, turn the sound all the way down. Do you see what you think you are doing? Can you see the right rhythms being playing in your hands? Are you changing heights? How is your posture?

The third time, watch with the volume up. Are you seeing what you are hearing and vice versa? Doing this will help your playing so much! Not only that, but teaching with your ears more engaged will help your ensembles sound much more impressive as well.

Chops are GREAT!!!! You can never have enough chops, but my challenge to you is to move yourself and/or your ensemble beyond just the right notes and rhythm.