https://www.bsd.ca/News/PublishingImages/Pages/April-4th-is-Music-Monday---Free-Public-Concert/music%20notes.jpg
Music, is this that simple?
http://www.lucassdrummer.com/sn-sklep/SN%20BTL.png
A lot of important processes stand behind the
sounds we hear as a final product. Bands are usually
constructed of 5 people: a vocalist, 2 guitarists, a bassist and a drummer. I
like comparing it to a 5-people relationship. 5 people connected emotionally,
having the same vision and the same goal, supporting each other, quarreling
with each other, convincing each other that one’s thought or idea is better than the other one and so on and
so forth… So many things to mention and it is only planting a musical seed
which has to outgrow from this state to something massive and powerful!
Once all the struggles and fights are put down, it is time
to materialize these ideas that are worked out in buckets of sweat and some bad
language mixed all together :) so a band goes to a record studio and starts
registering their music. No, no, it’s not that
simple! Take 1… WRONG! You’ve missed a note!
Again… Take 2… Have you ever heard about such a thing like a METRONOME?! Take
3… And it keeps on and on. Time which is required to fully record all the
tracks for an album varies from a band and it might be 1 week as well as 1
year.
Having all the recordings done, a music engineer is able
to start his work and mind you, this is one
of the most
important aspects of creating music. This person not only has to tinker
registered tracks but also has to fit all item so that a final effect is both
pleasant to listen to and (being outstanding nowadays is vital if a band wants
to be significant). There are loads of low quality or “nothing new to show”, or
“it was done once, or million times” songs. To give you a visualization of how
hard this job actually is, imagine 3 sets of 1000 elements puzzles mixed all
together and all of them are cut in the same way and present forests. The only
difference between these three sets is brightness of colors and you are the
only one who makes them stand out.
Seems to be ready to serve? Well, maybe it seems so but in
fact it’s just a prepared
dish. Everybody knows how important marketing is in numerous types of
businesses and it is no different in music industry. Music should be written
with a higher purpose. If it is so, then it should be shared among public
successfully to inspire them or simply to share an ideology of a band.
Anyway, no matter how difficult it might seem to be, as soon
as you have your CD in your own hands, physically, you will never forget that
feeling and you will have this kind of “lightness” in your body. The only thing
left to do is to supply promotors, radio
stations, the internet, friends, zoos,
kindergartens and the whole universe with your music and keeping your fingers
crossed that all the struggles, money, time, emotions and cups of coffee drunk
are not wasted :)
So any time you start to think about music, just take into
consideration this path which a musician has to go through in order to please
you with one’s sounds. :)
1. Have
you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
2. What
kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
3. Do you
know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside,
even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
Sources:
Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteYes, when I was in elementary school, I liked techno music ( do not know how this could listen ) . In total each of my peers listened to the strong electronic music. Unfortunately, my parents did not want to listen to it at home ;) At their happiness , I quickly grew tired of this kind of music . :)Although such electronic music is good training , I can not imagine practicing with jazz music , I would have slept on the treadmill :) . Techno acts like strong coffee .
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
Music that soothes my soul is definitely jazz . I love every subgenre of jazz. This music soothes and calms the soul. When I sit in a warm home, with a warm cup of coffee and turn on the jazz, anything I do not need more ; ) It feels like after a good spa.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
There are plenty of such examples , eg . A computer game . We, as the final users , we see only ready , colorful game on the computer screen. The buttons work well , they are also sound effects . The graphics are smooth and of good quality. For us, the game is simple. We do not realize that making such a game from the beginning , are the months of hard work by many people. The game is one big code with additives such how sound, graphics . To do games need to analysts , programmers, testers.
Just like websites , you enter a beautiful website with beautiful graphics effects . Now click with the right mouse button and select " View Page Source " and you will see a long html code that does not look quite right . And all of this code is responsible for the look of the page ... As in music .. notes are responsible for the final result :)
Yes, it's the moment when you say "this music is shit" and a moment after that you just start thinking what was the reason for you saying that :) Cool I like jazz too, I consider it a very profound music type. If it comes to comparing music to programming well, there is something in it but still it's not the same. Programming is based on broad knowledge and refers to lines of codes whereas in music you have absolute freedom of creation and it depends on you what kind of outcome you will achieve.
DeleteYou can follow your pipeline or use autotune....
ReplyDeletehttp://southpark.cc.com/clips/zbxf06/i-am-lorde
:D
“Music should be written with a higher purpose. If it is so, then it should be shared among public successfully to inspire them or simply to share an ideology of a band.” You don't say...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDZX4ooRsWs
Or my favourite WatchMojo.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfng5c1u17A
We, as students of New Media (I mean me and author), had an opportunity to work with sound – create our own songs from pre-recorded loops, create radio audition, create dubbing for movie/cartoon or even create whole soundtrack for video piece. Working with reverb, echo, equalizers, limiters, sound proofing – we had to face all of those, so I was quite familiar with the process author described; nevertheless I really enjoyed the style and way of explaining the pipeline of music creation.
And to answer your questions:
1. I used to to hate techno and electronic music when I was much younger because of it's repetition and “simpleness”(I thought you get ready pieces and you mix it up a little bit and.... it's done.). I also didn't enjoy listening to Heavy Metal, because I didn't know why they are shouting so much... Many years later I fell in love in Dutch House(part of Electro House genre) and I listen to it, while I'm working. I pick Afrojack, Chuckie or Harwell and it stimulates me to be more efficient. And as for Heavy Metal... Well... I still do not like it very much, but I know Rammstein's discography by heart!
2. Besides Dutch House I really enjoy any kind of music you can dance to. As a former dancer, I very often catch myself dancing on bus stops, inside trams etc. When someone asks me what kind of music do I listen, I answer that I do not listen to genres, I simply listen any kind of music I enjoy (even “Anaconda” from first link, if I have proper mood).
3. Sylwia wrote about computer games, which I was willing to write about, so I will pick human body movement. You never think about it, but walking, for example, is a very complicated process. Just to show you, I would ask you to stand up, put a hand (or hands) on your back, slightly above your pelvic area and take a few steps. Which every step you take, mussels placed there do a lot of work, so walking is not only about the legs. If you had a longer break from running/exercising and you went on longer run before proper warm up before and cooling down after, it's possible that you will muscle soreness in legs, but pain in your back – that's the reason for that. Human body movement is a very interesting topic and for animators it's essential to understand how body works and which part moves when.
http://www.andrewnourse.com/images/walkcycle-25%20frmes.jpg
I agree with you at some points, thanks for the links anyway. There are numerous examples of pointless music or music for fame but it's soulless music I'd say :)
Delete1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteYes, of course. When I was younger I often criticized the Metal music. I couldn't understand what is pleasing in that music. It sound like simple roaring. I remember that there was a problem to accept people wearing studded black clothing. They were sometimes persecuted at school. Listening to that music gives me a headache. When I grew up I learned to accept other people's preferences.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
The music I listen to is mainly dependant on my current mood. When I am sad I like to listen to reassuring reggae songs. When my soul is happy I prefer songs with a high dose of energy. I like some of the polish hip-hop artists, because I like to listen to truthful lyrics describing genuine reality.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
I noticed that until we don't take part in the productive process of almost everything we won't fully comprehend how complicated creating a particular product is.
@Sylwia as well as @Jakub gave very good examples. I think that the book creating process is another one. We don't appreciate the writer's effort and time spent on prepations. Writing an interesting book usually takes a tremendous amount of time. Many aspiring writers have problems finding a publishing house willing to take a risk publishing an unknown author. I know this career venue is no guarantee of an easy life. We can only attempt to appreciate the complexity of things we usually take for granted.
When we were younger we used to be more easy going at commenting and judging things, so true. If it comes to listening to music appropriately to your current mood it might be delusional that listening to sad music whenever you feel sad is a good because it resonates to you, in fact it might be a better idea trying to listen to good music in that kind of situation what might be uplifting :) I think that every path to mastery leads through many ups and downs it's just so important to look at the horizon where the goal is and not to watch every step we do.
Delete1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteYes, of course. A kind of music that I criticized and that I am still criticizing and that I think I will be always criticizing is our polish “disco polo” music. Trashy text (written in 15 minutes I guess) – they have no message, the melody is cheesy, all the songs are similar, “artists” voices are poor. This music hurts my ears and reminds me of the rural weddings. We often hear the opinion that “disco polo” is a cheerful music, perfect to have fun, ideal to dance. I totally disagree with that. In my opinion, music being made to dance is rock n roll. For me disco polo is just stupid music.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
I love rock music. I think that this kind of music shows true Singer emotions. Rock songs have also smart text, wich I often had opportunity to incorporate into my life. Sometimes when I read the texts of such songs, I often feel like I'm reading my own biography and it's just cool. Besides, I like the sound of the guitar.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
I think all the actions and reactions that are associated with the human functioning. @Jakub said about human body movement – and this is very good example, but also activities like human senses functioning is a good point of this topic. We never think about how it happens that we can see, hear, smell. It seems to us that it just happens and that it is simple thing, but in fact our senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, sense of balance - they receive stimuli from the environment and transmit them to the cortex, and we it feels like a special sensation and respond accordingly – and it is a complicated process for our nervous system.
@Magda thanks for this presentation. There were presented wonderful examples of things / activities that we normally do not appreciate or we do not see work being done in theirs execution.
1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteYes. For example I sometimes criticize disco polo, because I don't like and understand it. I've never thought about that kind of music needs much effort to exist. I'm an ignorant with that matter.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
I listen various kinds of music, but my favourite is electronic music from ambient, to indie.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
I think everything in life is complicated. Everything is a group of atoms or small pieces.
Before answering your questions, I want to satisfy my curiosity by answer to my question :)
ReplyDeleteDo you play a musical instrument or you are just a listener?
Turning to the answers:
1. Of course, I criticize the music when I do not like it. I have no problem with expressing an opinion on someone else's creativity especially if it is very poor. I think that the creators of this music should find themselves another passion.
2. Electronic music dominates, although I listen to different kinds of music.
Perhaps most importantly for me, the performace of music track.
3. Breathing. I have nothing to add.
1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteNo I haven’t. I always try to listen to and then make judgements. I don’t like people who say “I don’t like this band / kind of music” before they spend at least 5 minutes listening to it. I understand that there are many genres and everyone has their favourite ones but you should also give a chance to others.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
I don’t have any special kind of music that nurtures my soul but there is one band which I like the most. It’s called “A Perfect Circle” and when I listen to it on my good earphones I really can feel this… “something” :)
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
I think of programming. Some of my friends told me “You don’t do anything special. You just copy someone’s else ideas, algorithms that are already invented.” but it isn’t so easy and obvious. You have to learn specific language, think of a program's architecture and using right design patterns. Sometimes it takes longer to think of a program that actually write it.
1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteYes, I' ve never listened metal music i prefer somethig more positive.
I used to critic our polish disco polo music, but now I don't mind :)
Some of this are trashy of course, but you don't have take it so serious.
American pop music is also trashy, but very popular :D
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
I like music form 80's, electronic stuff, a little soul and pop music too.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
For me similar to creating music is making an art! For example a scuplture.
An idea should be thought, we have to ask ourselves why we choose this
subject. The way of expression sould be very personal, but we still remember
of our recipients. Also creating process should be very difficult and toilsome.
Sometimes an artist could not reach intended effect.
I guess being an artist is very unstable proffesion.
Hello, thank you @Magdalena for the great article about music.
ReplyDeleteI would like to refer to the questions:
1) Of course I criticize music but only after listening it more that 5 minutes. For instance I do not prefer classical music.
2) I have many kinds of music that I like but to make it clear - I do not have my favorite. I prefer pop music, r&b and hip hop.
3) @Kamil provided great example - breathing.
Yes, creating music is quite an involving task when people apply themselves to it. But so can be pretty much everything else.
ReplyDeleteTake a job of creating a road sign for example. You could say it's a simple thing but bringing it into existence involves quite a lot people from very different areas of expertise. There are people that need to deliver materials for a sign and someone needs to take care of the design. Also delivering a suitable paint is very important in itself because it needs to reflect the light as well as possible.
Each one of these tasks can also be separated into another smaller, but equally involving jobs. Everything is connected.
1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteI don't care about that too much. There must be reason for all this artists to create a different genres of music. There must be people, somewhere in the world, who likes that, and if so then go on, you have a audience and customers, so create it! When I don't like some kind of music, or just a single songs I just do not listen them.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
It depends on my mood, but also I'm not a big music fan, so mostly I am just listening to that what is served to me on the radio. Even so, half of the tracks are flying somewhere next to me :)
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
It may be for example making a movies, flying a planes or just a car driving. Many things seems to be easy, but one mistake and you will have problem with selling it (movie) or one wrong move you will be in big troubles (car crash).
Hey! First of all thank you for an immensely interesting article capturing music from an unusual perspective (for me it was quite an eye opener to be fair). Secondly you’ve posed some questions that I just can’t leave unanswered.
ReplyDelete1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
Though slightly ashamed I do need to admit, that I have indeed had such moments. Believing you’re not “stone casters” ;) I’ll just say that we all sometimes get off the bed on the wrong foot, or we get rubbed up the wrong way and end up our day simply frustrated. It has often led me to criticizing nearly everything (especially even good pieces of rap music) just for the very sake of feeling the relief, which comes along the way.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
I try to stay open-minded and listen to an as big variety of genres as possible exposing myself to different sensations they provide me with, but I do reach for a good piece of electro music most often I guess.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
Having thought that one through I’ve reached a conclusion that we tend to underestimate nearly everything we are used to. In my humble opinion being in touch with something on a daily basis makes us forget how much effort was put even in creation of seemingly simplest household objects. Do we ever wonder through how many stages of production does the paint go through before it ends up on our wall and how advanced the process is? Do we reflect on how many people are involved in producing our smartphones of various components and delivering them to our shop/door sometimes even from countries located thousands of miles away? I guess we don’t since we take more and more things for granted not thinking on how do they find their way to our lives.
1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteI think I have caught myself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing. When I was younger and till now I think the same, I don’t understand how people can listen techno music on a daily basis. I understand that when people are having fun in the club or at the party this kind of music is the best, I do the same, I am having fun with the accompaniment of techno/pop/club music. But when I work I like to listen to music that makes my brain clear. It is rock, different kinds of metal and symphonic rock. I think my kind of thinking will never change, first of all, music is a someone’s taste, everyone has different and we shouldn’t discuss it. The second argument is when you are listening to music, that means that you like it and it makes you happier, there are so many music types on the world, that everyone has to make your own choice and simple listen to this.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
As I wrote above, I like to listen to rock and metal music. My journey with this kinds of music started when I get from my parents Xbox with ‘RockBand’ game. It has guitar, and a drum so, as a kid, I had a lot of fun playing this game. From this time my taste of music clarified and till know I feel the best with rock an metal.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
When I saw this question my first thought was abstract art. From the outside it seems to be easy, to paint this pictures, and everybody can do this, but behind it we see long-term workshop and practice of an artist, which forward to as a lot of emotions. Painting this kind of images required form and artist extensive knowledge, even if at first glance, this image seems to be painted “in five minutes”, but sometimes it takes, several years of searching inspirations. After all, it is much more difficult that ‘pretty paining’.
1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteWell… I could say that there are some types of music that I don't like too much, for example Black Metal. When I was younger I criticized that kind of music, because it was too heavy, and the lyrics were too hard to understand. But now I am far from it. Every type of music is for people, even the above-mentioned Disco Polo.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
It changed a lot during my life. I think, that I was searching for the right one. When I was at high school I used to listen techno and electric sounds - like most of my friends. It was very popular in my background at the time. I also tried hip hop music. After that I’ve started to listen rock, and it stayed with me for this day.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
@Kamil, @Daniel mentioned breathing - and it is a good example. I can also add eating, speaking, growing and so on and so forth…
1. Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteHmm... Sometimes, for example when i see what this person do besides sing and what doing bad for me on concert, for example when polish singer Nergal tore up bibles, it's for me was shocked and i don't like his more than earlier. Sometimes for first time don't like person, because i don't like type music whitch sing, but it is very rarely.
2. What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
It's very difficult question, because i listen music not type. I like for sure Rock, Pop, sometimes rap, folkrole music with a lot sounds of violin and sometimes disco polo.
I love music and for example when i drive and listen old hits of Bon Jovi, I don't know when get to target.
3. Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
This aspect is for sure all of artistic place, for example painting, when on first time you dont know what on specific picture it comes. But if you will be see more you see second bottom
Have you ever caught yourself on criticizing music for the sake of criticizing?
ReplyDeleteI criticized in a situation where, in my opinion lyrics was pointless, as often happens for example hip-hop or disco. However, it is my personal opinion, because everyone can this have one, right? :)
What kind of music nurtures your soul the most?
It depends on my mood. Due to the fact that I like all kinds of music, sometimes i like to listen to old rock and sometimes even some pieces of the latest charts. It all depends what I want at that moment.
Do you know any other aspects of life that are equally complicated from the inside, even though it seems to be easy? What are those?
very simple example - sports. All kinds, for the first look you say - Well it's easy. Even going to gym. Everyone who tried going to gym for a few months know that it is not so easy to get effects.