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Dear Guests, Welcome to my blog which I treat like a creative garden where I regularly plant and change this and that be it poetry, philosophy, an Oboe Brilliance lesson, an essay of some kind, or a journal about composing. Visit every Monday for oboe coaching which is also helpful for many melodic instrumentalists. Musically yours, Kathryn
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"How do you compose?" That is the most commonly asked question I hear.
This blog is a window into my creative process and philosophies as a composer and instrumentalist. At times it may contain music, photos, and poetry as well. May you enjoy, return, and benefit!   My Archives  September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009
Oboe Brilliance: intonation lesson #3
Sirens and the Sea timing and atmosphere of listening Oboe Brilliance: intonation lesson #2 Last day of summer Music and integrity Oboe Brilliance: intonation lesson #1 new blogging schedule Music loft August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 |
It's a rainy Friday. I look out the window of this log cabin out onto the lush sea of green leaves. I hear the gurgle of the water down the gutters, the rain falling on the leaves, a variety of birds outside, and wind sometimes. It is not gloomy, there is so much luminous light in the sky behind the horizon of this leaf canopy. The air glows, and the birds are making pleasing sounds. I hear a cardinal high pitched squeak, but don't see it.
I'm reflecting upon a statement I wrote on a business card and marketing materials several years ago: "I believe that the study of music is a journey, that when taken with guidance and integrity becomes more meaningful and adventurous with each step." Well, I couldn't agree more. Integrity is a word thrown around and perhaps means different things to different people. To me, integrity means to do or be in an integrated way. To take a journey with integrity, to me, means to go on that journey intellectually, emotionally, privately, socially, spiritually, passively, actively .... and more. It's not just emotional or social, it's full of physical activity, mental pursuit, spiritual awakening, open minded learning, active sharing, and more. The more ingredients to integrate, the more fulfilling the experience/journey. A musical braid can be woven of three strands: emotional/mental/physical. This is a good place to start, I believe when it comes to being a musician. The more technique a musician has, the more ability to express ones thoughts, feelings, and insights into sounds. The more heart a musician has, the more he/she has to share, give, feel and express. All ingredients are necessary. You cannot bake a cake, for instance, with only wet (emotional) or with only dry (intellectual)ingredients. You cannot bake a cake by only mixing those wet and dry ingredients either. As you know, you need an oven, a form to put the ingredients into in order to bake, and more to eat and to share. People aren't born with recipies, ovens, cake pans, etc. People are the only earthlings that require teachers in order to survive and thrive. We HAVE to draw upon the wisdom and guidance of our elders in order to live and survive. As musicians, we're born with voices, imagination, heart, mind, ability to connect or dismiss spirit, so we do have what we need to sing actually, but to take part in the greater dance of musical language in humanity along with instruments already imagined. As within culture, we require mentors and teachers with all there is to share from the accumulated pool of traditions, imagination, rituals, philosophies and sharing. To be born human, isn't enough, humans need teachers because instinct isn't enough. Musicians need some form of guidance, because talent alone isn't enough. I think that talent and heart alone is like a body of water. The more talent and heart a person has, the more water. A person can drown in an ocean, or go nowhere, or be crushed by the breakers never traveling anywhere. A teacher can teach you to swim, and build boats. A teacher can teach you to navigate by the stars (a really good one that is!), and about distant lands and about the life in the ocean - or pond or lake depending on the body of water.... Okay, that's it for blogging today. May your every step be a conscious adventure. Musically yours, Kathryn |
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