Have you become instrument-centric?

by Nancy on February 6, 2012

Schoenberg playing ping-pong. Source: unknown.

At different points in my life I’ve been instrument-centric. Two big instances come to mind: from the age of 13-17 and my first year of my masters program.

During these times of my life, hardly anything else mattered beyond the piano.

I had relationships, but the piano took precedence.

Hobbies or other interests? Hardly.

I admit, I really progressed technically during those times, my life lost its technicolor sheen.

It was like my world went into shades of gray – beautiful grays, but still gray.

I lost what music is about in the first place – a celebration of life and all contained within it.

I’ve learned since that to truly be a musician, you have to live life. Not exist within it.

That is what will feed your work.

As anyone who’s pondered the prospect of machines creating music could ascertain, it’s not being technically great that defines you as a musician. Sure, you can’t NOT have technique and the further you go in your career, the higher level of technical capacity you’ll need.

But music is so much more than anything a machine or person could *technically* create. It’s about passion, love, loss, silliness, beauty, narrative, and so much more.

From my own experience, when I move away from being instrument-centric, life and therefore, music, opens up to me.

And it doesn’t have to be a grand level.

Maybe it’s:

planting tomato plants in your back yard
taking a photography course and doing photo shoots with friends
going to concerts away from your primary musical genre
starting a travel blog
learning how to cook
reading novels
becoming a pit bull advocate
taking up yoga
checking out interior design books from the library
watching movies you always meant to watch when you weren’t so busy practicing
practicing Tantra
spending time with friends

These are just some of the things I’ve done to spice + color my life.

Other musicians have recognized the value in widening their perspectives.

Take Hélène Grimaud, the concert pianist. She has a passion for wolves, which she studies and raises. She even co-founded the Wolf Conservation Center.

It’s reported Dvořák was a railway enthusiast, Schoenberg played ping-pong, and Prokofiev loved chess.

To leave the instrument-centric realm, it’s as simple as doing stuff just for the pleasure of doing it.

4 Comments

Nathan Shirley said:

on February 6th, 2012 at 5:06 pm

I’ve really enjoyed your blog since stumbling upon it.

And you’re right, all too often musicians (especially classical) get caught up in ‘technique’ to the point where artistry suffers. The conservatory and modern teaching practices are often the culprits, but that’s another topic.

Technique’s only purpose is to serve MUSIC. Going along the lines of your post- all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Artists (and really all humans) need equal parts inspiration and perspiration, input and output, yin and yang.

[Reply]
Nancy Harder Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Nathan. You’re right on. Love that about the ying & yang.

[Reply]
Grace Miles said:

on February 7th, 2012 at 5:44 am

I agree! It’s just so easy to become sucked into a different world that you stop ‘living’ in this one. This is a very interesting post– thanks for sharing, Nancy!

[Reply]
Nancy Harder Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Thanks, Grace. It is easy to get sucked into one world but, you’re right, you do stop “living” in this one.

[Reply]