Finding a purpose....

June 16, 2006 at 2:34 AM

I want to record. This is the single greatest thing a musician can do to improve. It offers honesty, sometimes brutally. However, it can also be used positively, to help shape and mold musical ideas.

Glenn Gould used recording perfectly, like the finest sculptor, piecing everything together in such a seamless way down to the most subtle nuance. What a model of pianistic perfection!

Recording also gives the opportunity to capture that brief moment in time, like a painting, or a photograph. Without recording, music is lost as soon as it's played. A recording can capture and leave something forever.

Recording allows the musician a chance to leave his legacy, his imprint. So can teaching, no doubt, but it's different. And in my opinion, the finest teacher is the one who never stops learning, never stops playing, never stops dreaming, never stops living, never stops growing. Otherwise, what is there to give? That's just me though. I'm sure there are many (I know of one in particular) who don't play and are incredible teachers. And someday, I may not be able to play, so..... But since I can play, I must play, I must learn. For me, teaching and playing are connected.

But what to record? That is the question. It is my (long-term) goal to record all 24 Paganini Caprices and the Unaccompanied Bach. People always laugh when I mention it. It's like climbing Everest, I suppose.....but it can be done, and I intend to do it. Even if it takes me the rest of my life...

I have played most of the caprices and the Bach already. But to record them? What a task. And there are other recordings I want to do as well....

So I start this blog to help hold me accountable to my goal.

I think I will start with the Chaccone. I know the piece well. I have the equipment. I have a space. All I need to do is experiment with the mic placement and learn how to edit. I know someone that can help with that. In fact, I know two people that can help with that. So let it be done!

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on June 16, 2006 at 5:14 AM

In the days of 35mm film, photographers would sometimes use a negative holder that had had the opening enlarged with a file and would print the negative with part of the black border visible, perhaps along with a few sprocket holes and part of the word "Kodak", to say this is what I saw, this is what happened, this is what was there, no cropping. It's a shame there's no equivalent thing for a recording. On the other hand, Gould-like editing can be part of the art. If you practice and play with editing in mind though, remember it can be at odds with your ability to play live.

Self-production is a realistic way to make some money, or soon will be. Me, I'm going to write some platinum selling ringtones!

Recordings are the legacy you leave as a musician, whether you're a star or some curious kid's late uncle. It's important to do a lot of it. A musician with no reason to record probably has no reason to live:)

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on June 16, 2006 at 5:33 AM

I like the way you use psychology on yourself. Setting goals for yourself and telling other people about them can really help you grow. I do the same thing. I'm unlike you, though, in another respect. I don't have the courage to record myself.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on June 16, 2006 at 5:51 AM

I followed the links to the videos you posted, and I got visuals, but not the audio. I wonder whether anyone else has the same problem.

Oh, yes, I almost forgot something important: Welcome to v.com.

From William Wolcott
Posted on June 16, 2006 at 2:15 PM

Paulie-
Sorry you couldn't get audio. I don't think anyone else is having a problem, or at least I hope not. Maybe it's part of your Quicktime software? I'm no computer expert.

And Jim,

Wise comments, but what exactly do you mean by 'at odds' with my ability to play live? I don't plan on taking editing to the level of Glenn Gould. He was a genius beyond measure. But I do intend to do some editing. I mean, it IS the violin we're talking about, after all! lol

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on June 17, 2006 at 12:13 AM

By at odds with being able to play live, I just meant it's easy to start playing sloppily if you know you can fix it in the recording. It's a lot more work to learn to play something straight through with no mistakes than it is to play it with mistakes and then punch in notes or combine takes. If you get used to playing the second way, you can't play well live anymore:)

From William Wolcott
Posted on June 17, 2006 at 2:41 AM

That's an excellent point, Jim, and one I've which I have never thought. I'll be careful not to do that. Although to compete with violinists (talking about standard of playing only, not career-my personal competition) that play 100+ concerts a year is difficult. I will do the best I can, hoping I make a recording I'm satisfied with while preserving the integrity of a live performance. We'll see.....

Thanks for giving me some excellent insight.

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Finding a purpose....

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