More on Contemplative Music Theory

In a previous post, I discussed Contemplative Music Theory in the context of beginner’s mind, and asked what that might offer to improve our thinking about music, and music theory. That essay barely scratched the surface of what contemplation brings to the endeavor, so I’ll add a bit more now. One primary benefit of allowing… Continue reading More on Contemplative Music Theory

Contemplative Music Theory

This blog is called Contemplating Music for very specific reasons, the primary one being that it urges the adoption of an approach to knowing that differs from the paradigm of learning and knowing that pervades our culture. It’s hard to pin down in just a few words what that paradigm is, but I’ll make an… Continue reading Contemplative Music Theory

Lessons from music for life

A lot is written about how music reflects life. Our musical terminology is filled with metaphors that prove the point, and I put a lot of thought into the topic myself. But there’s another direction ideas and influence can flow: music offers lessons for life as well. I’m not saying no one has broached the… Continue reading Lessons from music for life

Drawing musical energy

In my teaching, I have a habit of getting people to draw their account of a piece. Since I call virtually everything into question, a natural thought arises: what’s that drawing all about?  Drawing asks for an embodiment of a visual sort, which helps a person put the thoughts they may have about a piece… Continue reading Drawing musical energy

Grateful for Being Noticed

This spring I was awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support my workshop, Just Listening. It matters deeply to be noticed, recognized for what one does. I’ve been working on a new venture for several years now, always returning to the idea that I am bringing an experience of value to others.… Continue reading Grateful for Being Noticed

Following the Need

The Just Listening workshop began as an attempt to promote the analytical practice I call the Sound-Energy Aggregate. At a time of great distress about my own future, having had most of my teaching cut one fall, I reached out to a career coach to get help in developing a way to promote the SEA.… Continue reading Following the Need

Music and Community

One of the most important books to have influenced my thinking about music and music-making is Christopher Small’s book, Music, Society, Education. Among the many things it helped clarify for me, one thing that probably drew me into his thinking was that he used Grateful Dead concerts to demonstrate the growth of community in shared… Continue reading Music and Community

The question of energy

The question of energy in music is vexing: easy to say, hard to define. One way of looking at energy is to bring forward traditional concepts from physics and everyday life. In physics, there are a number of categories of energy, some of which directly relate to music, some of which create interesting parallels to… Continue reading The question of energy

“How’s it going?”

How’s it going?  It’s a simple question that needs a more complicated answer than “fine”.  The more I live in this world, the more I realize that my life is full of opposites, and that both “fine” and “not so well” are credible answers to that familiar question on a given day.  And I’m coming… Continue reading “How’s it going?”