make a remainder of the year resolution

[kensuguro]

disclaimer: I'm not talking about anyone on Z.

Electro and club scene minimal music is a strange thing. At times it feels as if harmonic structure is non existent, but yet the timbre changes create a tension curve all its own, and so that makes good music. (although some will get upset that all that repetition is rubbish and the entire world should make complex jazz music with nothing less than 10 note chords, and worship Bethoven) But such electronica seems to me, the exception, and not the norm.

Most often than not, whatever minimalist electronica is, is a byproduct of ignorance, and not the "slimmed" down minimalism where all that is left are the essential parts. It is very easy to spot a failed attempt at harmonic build up, resulting in a broken up feel, and the signature sense of void of minimal arrangements.. I wouldn't dare call my self an expert in harmony, but I am educated to a certain degree, and it's not hard to tell the difference between "minimal by choice" versus "minimal because that's all the composer could do".

Of course, I say this because I'm not a minimal arranger, and so I'm usually labeled as "the dude who uses too much stuff". Well, I like using too much stuff, full harmony, and rich textures so it's a preference thing. I also think minimal arrangements is a preference thing. I just think it ought to be by "choice".

It's a dangerous cycle. Ignorance may create minimal "sounding" results, but because of ignorance, the composer cannot tell the difference between good minimal arrangements (created through filtering out unnecessary parts), and their own. And this creates even a stronger block towards becoming educated, or expanding horizons, reducing the chances of learning good minimal arrangement to almost none.

I do see the dilemma though, as folk psychology dictates.. "once you eat the apple, there's no going back". Knowledge does allow people to do new things, but it also does seemingly take away "inspiration", or the mushy mystical stuff people value so much. And I think it's true that after learning something new, inspiration does go down a bit. The stuff you were trying to figure out, is laid out in front of you, so your urge to pursue dies down a bit. The adventure is gone, just the solution lies there. Many people fear this so much...

But at that point, the person has just "learned" the material, and hasn't fully learned to integrate it into their composition process. Once the new knowledge becomes unconsciously integrated, that's when the composer can use it to realize even more inspirations, thoughts and feelings. The new knowledge may even help reduce the excess that was there before if minimal arrangements is what the composer is going for. That's the learning process, and I don't see why some see it as some sort of threat.

I've heard many say, they want to keep it "real". There's nothing real about living in ignorance and not knowing what's really out there. Don't know the basics of harmony? Why not learn them all, and choose the one you like. Your life's on the fast lane? The don't waste time figuring stuff out by trial and error.

Nobody's really exempt from this. Not me, not you. We're always using every trick in the book to tell our self, "heck, I don't need to learn that.. Why should I?" I'd say, make it a "remainder of the year" resolution to pinpoint one thing you don't know very well, that deep in your heart, you would like to figure out (but won't admit it to your friends), and figure out the first thing you need to do to learn it. Maybe it's getting a book, or maybe it's e-mailing a friend who can help. Set it up, commit yourself, indulge in you deepest insecurity. Only 1 more month in '08, see how far you can go.

For me, it's timing. I can keep time for songs I've practiced, and although my timing's become surprisingly better since I started practicing jazz, I can't say I'm intrinsically an "on time player". I definitely don't have enough "time" drive to drive a song steadily from start to end. And that totally sucks if playing solo.. fortunately I don't ever play solo. hehe. The old time remedy's simple. Clap to the metronome, and do it 5-10 minutes a day. Simple as that. So simple I've never done it. So I'm going to do it. I think... but man, will I look like an idiot clapping to a metronome... ughh, there I go again.

[garyb]

there are those who are damaged who cannot experience and learn. there are posers who are not musicians even among the learned. still a human must live and learn. you want me to continue to fulfill one of my functions?

ok. cool.

but you said that you weren't speaking about any of us here at z....

ok. cool.

g'wan ken!

you must be talking about you.

yes, ken! do it!


one thing though, what year are you refering to? as near as i can tell, eveyday is new year and every day is birth day...oh my bad, this is "planning", isn't it.

[kensuguro]

lol, I guess I'm addressing no one and everyone at the same time. All things are happening at the same time no?

one thing though, what year are you refering to? as near as i can tell, eveyday is new year and every day is birth day...oh my bad, this is "planning", isn't it.

You have such a natural understanding of chinese / japanese philosophy it's freakishly practical. haha. oh wait.. make that indian philosophy. But ya, ultimately what you say should be the goal. Why make a resolution for this year? Why not today? Why not every day? And once it's become ingrained in everyday thought, it no longer is "planned", but becomes a part of your life. (lol for your sarcastic reminder) Are you sure you weren't a monk in the previous life? hehe.

[garyb]

[JoeKa]

Ken, you made it easy for me to contribute to this thread: I completely and thoroughly agree with your starting post.
Even down to the timing issue.