Humour
Heisenberg Principle in Performance
13/06/07 12:12
Why is it
that there seems to be an aspect of the Heisenberg
Principle when you try to perform? Let me explain
with an example, I'm practising at my guitar playing
on my own with a backing track track and it's all
coming on so nicely. Then I visit my tutor and
whether he asks me or I suggest I show him how I'm
getting on. What ever the case the result is nearly
always the same - the performance is far worse than
my private practices. Why?
I suppose that it is with more and more practice that things move more to an autonomous or intuitive level. More credit from me to all performers - whether stage, screen or music or whatever. I have found that I haven't had this with other aspects of public performance (in the loosest sense). When I have spoken in public I invariably use a set of brief bullet points to create a framework of what I need to say. Therefore I repeated the performance then the result would be different. Music is not as freeform as that - not for me - and I guess not for most. From the classic music that is completely transcribed that every performance should be a repeat of others to jazz improvisation which is still based in a tighter framework of time and melody. But why - why do I (and I guess others) fluff things up when watched - or as is the basis for a number of video clips - when showing off to someone else. Maybe we're more focussed on seeing how the others respond, maybe it is just a mental thing of knowing that someone is watching you.
There is, of course, only one answer - more practice and more performances. I think that the ability to fluff things up will diminish if I do more performances.
I suppose that it is with more and more practice that things move more to an autonomous or intuitive level. More credit from me to all performers - whether stage, screen or music or whatever. I have found that I haven't had this with other aspects of public performance (in the loosest sense). When I have spoken in public I invariably use a set of brief bullet points to create a framework of what I need to say. Therefore I repeated the performance then the result would be different. Music is not as freeform as that - not for me - and I guess not for most. From the classic music that is completely transcribed that every performance should be a repeat of others to jazz improvisation which is still based in a tighter framework of time and melody. But why - why do I (and I guess others) fluff things up when watched - or as is the basis for a number of video clips - when showing off to someone else. Maybe we're more focussed on seeing how the others respond, maybe it is just a mental thing of knowing that someone is watching you.
There is, of course, only one answer - more practice and more performances. I think that the ability to fluff things up will diminish if I do more performances.
|
Microsoft's iPod?
22/10/06 18:56
The
Microsoft
Zune seems to be collecting a mythology all of its
own before it really starts to be available. Already
there are reports that in French speaking Canada that
"zune" seems to be an unsavory slang word
(see) and now "zune" is
similar in sound to the Hebrew for something as
even unsavory (see). Please
note that the referenced pages may contain words
or phrases unsuitable for children to view.
We'll no doubt see what happens, but it is surprising considering Microsoft's worldwide presence that it didn't see this one coming.
We'll no doubt see what happens, but it is surprising considering Microsoft's worldwide presence that it didn't see this one coming.