Quote From: Ellis Paul’s Discussion Board
Artist and Audience Create the Event?
“Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world’s greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see.” — Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.
Thanks to Michael Thoma for sending this quote.
I add that music performances are about entrainment rather than entertainment. Whether you are the audience or the performer, it’s the energy between the two that make the event happen. A lot of new performers hesitate, or would-be performers never get up on stage, because they think they have to be perfect. Yes, having some technical expertise to make it sound kind of good is important, so the audience enjoys the sound, but far more important is the intention of whoever is on stage. For that reason I say, stand up and be counted as a musician, regardless of your ability.
When I show new guitar players a few chords to get them going, I always tell them the first rule in music is to have fun. The second rule is to make is sound good if you can, just so the cat doesn’t climb the walls. And the third rule is never let a grouchy music teacher, or someone that criticizes you because they don’t get the entrainment principle, ruin rule number one. More on entrainment in music or sound? For more, read this , or this.
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