Play it With Feeling

We've all heard spectacular musical performances, and I'm certain we've all heard our fair share of musical mediocrity as well. What makes the difference between a stellar performance and a less than satisfactory one? Talent? Lighting & equipment? Technical accuracy? Personally, I've never had anyone tell me that a performance was enjoyable because it was "so technically correct." And yet, many musicians strive endlessly for technical perfection, attempting to duplicate exactly what is written in black and white. When they can't play a piece just like it is written, they get frustrated and perhaps give up. But there is more to music than ink and paper, and there is more to successful performance than exact replication of someone else's musical ideas.

Music is a form of communication, like language. We can say the words "I love you," but the meaning behind them can change depending on our tone. "I love you" can be said romantically, sarcastically, flippantly, or mockingly. In writing, if taken out of context, it may impossible to discern the real meaning behind these words. It is the same with notes on a printed page. They express only limited meaning until a musician uses them to make a musical statement. EXPRESSION breathes life into that musical statement. I've plugged notes from great pieces into my computer and listened to the results. They are technically perfect, but robotic. Even with high quality instrument sounds, a computer lacks human expression and it is very difficult to "humanize" a programmed performance and make it sound real.

When a musician conveys genuine emotion, the performance moves beyond wooden replication into the world of living music. Talent and taste are essential ingredients, but no amount of talent or taste can make up for a lack of expression. If you don't believe me, try listening to a few songs by original artists and comparing them to the "karaoke demo" versions of the same songs. The karaoke demo singers typically hit the right notes, but there is rarely anything exciting about these low budget vocal imitations, and expression is often decidedly lacking.

Some of the greatest musicians in the world--from rock to jazz to classical music--play from memory, just as the best motivational speakers in the world don't use notes. These professionals know their material so well that they don't need to follow a written script, and they are free to focus on their audience, their delivery, their message, their EXPRESSION. Other professionals know their material very well, but still rely on written music or notes for occasional reference. Either approach may work, depending on the situation. Whatever approach you decide to take with your music, play your piece as well as you can and play it with feeling. Your listeners will thank you.