In addition to learning the mechanics of playing an instrument, here are some various points of awareness one develops, or not, as musical skill and playing experience evolves. This is not in an exact order, as people develop however they do, nor is it every possible awareness: it’s just a bit of an overview. A person could stop at any point, have strengths and weakness along the way or continue to the highest level.
- Learning the mechanics of the instrument. (Technique)
- Learning the most basic theory of the music involved, e.g., what the note names on the instrument are called, what a chord is.
- Establishing ear training, recognizing sounds, of what one is playing and hearing. (This can occur at any time.) This brings about duplication and understand.
- Stabilizing a balance between technique, theory and ear recognition.
- Creating music: strumming a chord, improvising, jamming, playing along with the instructor and other musicians.
- Playing songs and/or pieces, which can begin at any point.
- Discovering what is fun or not.
- A further balance and enhancement of technique, theory and ear recognition.
- Songwriting, if that is a direction.
- Basic composition, if that is a direction.
- Self discovery of style, creativeness or lack of, and interests.
- Development of personal taste and musical preferences.
- More writing and creation if those are a direction.
- Learning more songs and/or pieces.
- Playing with others.
- Getting used to playing with others and getting over any introversion and embarrassment. (Not everyone has these, though most do to a certain extant. Some people are just plain bold from the start! I could tell you some amazing stories from workshops I’ve run throughout the years about this topic!)
If one continues, various levels applying to solo playing or playing with groups are:
- Stabilizing personal comfort level while playing with other musicians and/or playing solo. (This would include singing if a singer.)
- Getting used to being looked at by an audience.
- Becoming comfortable enough with ones own playing and personal expression that extroversion occurs and the musician can listen to the other musicians and actually hear what they are playing. (This is the start of playing in a group for real.)
- Becomes more comfortable taking cues, e.g., the singer or bandleader starting and ending songs and signaling any tempo changes. (Developing this skill should start at the musicians lessons from the very start.)
- Becomes more comfortable with being part of a group and being looked at by the audience.
- Becomes more aware of the emotional effect on himself, the other musicians and the audience. Realizes that all of these things are occurring simultaneously. (Emotions should be addressed from the start. This is the reason we play: emotions, communication and interaction which amounts to fun!)
- Realizing that there is communication between the band/group members, each musician to the audience, between the entire group to the audience, as well as to each audience member. (Though bright stage lights in the musician’s eyes often prevent any visual communication with the audience by the musicians. You can still feel an audience though.)
- Participates more and more with the other musicians while playing, e.g., giving and taking subtle cues, playing off of each other as appropriate to the music, and things of this nature. Here is a true group.
- Notices and contributes to audience participation and the communication and emotion channels between all of the above mentioned components.
And that’s a great gig!
Marty B.
(818) 242-7551
