Get Out of Your Music Box!
Your Music Box
This post is addressing primarily music lovers who are beginning or considering formal studies in music, but could easily apply to anyone who loves music. In all music disciplines, we are confronted with music that is new to us and often foreign to our musical tastes. My encouragement for you is to allow these new sounds and styles to penetrate your present musical experience to see if they might change you in ways you could not have anticipated. Musical tastes are very personal. And I’m not here to criticize or challenge anyone’s musical tastes. My encouragement to you is to venture outside of your music comfort zone, that is, your “music box.”
Too Much Music?
There’s a lot of music out there, and a lot of music still waiting for us to discover. Scholars of music history and ethnomusicology are constantly opening up new doors to music previously unheard of from the past and from all corners of the earth. (So far, none from outer space or the future that I know of!)
The more you learn about any given topic, in this case music, you discover that there is much more to learn than you can possibly take in during a lifetime. Benjamin Disraeli once said, “To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.” When I completed my graduate degrees, I was struck by how much I still did not know about all the facets of music, even though I had just earned the highest degree possible.
Obviously, you will learn things that you have no use for. But every new thing you do learn in music, you must examine and allow it become a part of you and change you, making you a better musician and person. If it turns out that this new piece of musical knowledge (whether it be a piece of music, composer, or style) does not have an impact on how you consider, perform, or compose music, so be it. But you won’t know that unless you accept it as a possibility when you first are presented with it.
Music and Knowledge
None of us knows very much. which also applies to music. Imagine a blank piece of paper. Now imagine for a moment that the blank piece of paper represents everything there is to know about music. Draw a square on that piece of paper and make it a size that you think represents the amount of all musical knowledge that you know. For me, the box would be about a sixteenth of an inch square, and that’s pretty generous. If you are just starting in a music education program, your box would probably be smaller than mine.
Musical Tastes
So let’s get back to musical tastes and opinions. Most of my first-year students have a limited scope of musical experience, but they love music and have very strong musical tastes. Many of them are eager to learn more and are open to whatever I might throw at them. Then there are some that continually question the relevance of what they are learning to their goals and aspirations.
The following is a hypothetical example, but it represents what I have seen many times in my music-teaching career:
Joel plays the guitar, and he has been emulating the style of some of his favorite guitarists, while also working on some of his own original music. He comes to music school because he wants to expand his understanding, but he has very definite goals and ideas in mind for his musical career. During the course of his first semester of music theory, he is presented with the concept of figured bass. In other words his “music box” (the one we represented on the piece of paper) has just been penetrated. He doesn’t see how figured bass fits into his box. He learns figured bass because he has to, but he approaches it as something that is completely irrelevant to his musical goals. He leaves it outside of his music box, as it were, and doesn’t allow this increased musical knowledge to expand it.
The point I’m trying to make is that the only way you can truly say a musical concept is irrelevant to you, is if you already know and have considered everything about music. But no one has done that, and no one will ever be able to in a lifetime. So once again, it comes back to a matter of attitude. Embrace musical knowledge that is unfamiliar to you and allow it to expand your box. Ponder it and try to apply it to your present musical understanding. From experience, I can tell you that I and many of my students have changed musically over the years in more ways than we thought possible. And personally, all of these changes have made me a better musician, teacher, and person.
So, get out of your music box! Have your opinions and tastes, but we music teachers have a responsibility to show you the wealth of great music there is in our world. And it is your responsibility to allow it to inform your music box and make it larger and more complete.
One final thought for you to chew on: we learn and study great music because it is great music, not necessarily to make it relevant to our musical goals and aspirations. Thanks for reading!
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Wow, i actually really enjoyed reading this because i can definitely relate in more ways than one. I remember deciding that i wanted to study music seriously when i was a junior in High School. I wanted to be the next pop star…little did i know that i would be overwhelmed with the Classical style of music the second i started college. I hated it, my voice was not used to that particular style of singing, and was so so incredibly untrained. But,as time went on i learned to appreciate Classical music, and eventually to love it… As this blog states each musical encounter really is a chance to grow as a musician, whether it be a singer, director, composer, or orchestrator… I believe that if you do not allow a type of music into your “music box” you will have missed an oppurtunity that potentially could have helped shape you into the best musician you could be.
This is a very cool way of looking at music and how to expand your music box. Without expansion one can never grow. I agree with expansion, but it is difficult when one comes with expectations.
I like that, “We learn and study great music because it is great music, not necessarily to make it relevant to our musical goals and aspirations” Sometimes I feel like I sink into this trap often. Great thoughts!
I will respond to a quote with a quote: “The virtuoso lives for music, not music for the virtuoso.” – Leopold Auer
It continually amazes me when I encounter a musician highly trained professional in their field that is completely unable to at least consider the possible merit of a particular style, genre, artist, etc.
If we are to be lifelong students of music (something I feel every musician should aspire to), then we need to hunger for our art, and for new avenues to create said art. I, like many young students, am guilty of the “when am I ever going to use this?” mindset. Perhaps the problem is that students never put themselves in situations where they are forced to use their learned skills to augment their own compositions.
Overall, very compelling thoughts. Some of us are never going to care to play in rock bands, or become orchestral musicians, or attempt to become the next Beethoven of our generation. Regardless, we should focus our energies on appreciating art because it is art, and become more complete artists in the process.
I think the beauty of music is its expansive range of variety and how complex it can be. Before I came to Vanguard, I did not really enjoy listening to classical music. After studying theory, I began to hear and recognize things I had never heard before. Upon expanding my musical box, something I once thought was unentertaining or boring, became a whole new pleasing experience to me. I like the quote in this article that says “To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.” I think its through that humility of accepting you don’t completely know something, regardless of your training or experience, that you are able to go deeper into knowledge. I do not think anything learned in music is “pointless”. What you learn musically, whether you like it or not, shapes you as a performer, composer and a musician. I also think this is true in many other facets of life.
I find this to be a very true thing in my own experience. I began studying music because I had to choose a major, and I loved music. I thought music was more felt than understood. I was quite unlearned. Since I have begun studying music 4 years ago, I have fallen in love with the foundations of music and notes and rhythm. I know little, but I have a passion to digest music and all it is. I never thought my passion for music would expand to loving classical music. I always thought it was boring and for old people. But now I see it as traveling to new places in the world, and discovering the landscape. I am so thankful I took music as far as I have, and pressed through to learn the things I didn’t care to learn at the time.
This article definitely has me thinking. The example of the piece oF paper really helps me to make my goals realistic. While it may seem that shows how little we know, it makes me excited to take on the challenge of learning as much as I can. Thanks Dr. Reno.
After reading your article, I stopped for a while and my thoughts took me to the moment when my parents “forced me” to eat food that, according to me, wasn’t the best. When I tasted it, it is true, I didn’t like it, but with time I began to appreciate it more and more. My point is, music is like that. Our taste is based on our comfort zone, but when we are in contact with something different we are going to be stretched and changed.
Music has done that in me and agreeing with the quote Benjamin Disraeli, I hope that all my music generation and I would be able remain conscious that we ignorant.
I think that “The point I’m trying to make is that the only way you can truly say a musical concept is irrelevant to you, is if you already know and have considered everything about music. But no one has done that, and no one will ever be able to in a lifetime.” is probably the most relevant to musicians and people that listen to music…so everyone. There’s always that one kid that’s going to say “rap sucks” not because he’s listened to it and doesnt like it (which still isnt a valid reason anyways) but because he ONLY like one genre of music and therefore his favorite music is the best. I think having an open mind when it comes to making anything in life valid, because everything you learn has an effect on the way you think. Just need to be open and willing to hear it.
Wow! This was pretty cool Dr. Reno. This was actually one of the reasons why I came and continued to study at Vanguard. I felt like there was so much more to know about music other than what I was hearing on the radio. Other schools focused on the contemporary styles of music, like rock or pop music (which I have somewhat of an understanding of I assume), but here I’m challenged by classical and orchestral styles of music. And honestly, I’ve never really taken the time to comprehend, or appreciate them until now. It’s very important for everyone to be willing to branch out and be exposed to new things. You’re really limiting yourself if you do otherwise. Great Article!
This article speaks a lot of truth. I came to Vanguard with the intention of growing musically, in every way. I play the guitar and sing and have led worship music for years but I found that God definitely drew me to Vanguard. I’m so thankful for classes like theory and history because there is so much music out there that I can’t play…but I can understand. My favorite kind of music prior to the 21st century is piano music. I may never be able to play some of my favorite pieces of music but thanks to theory and history I can understand them and appreciate them so much more. And even maybe pull a few things from the things that I’ve learned to put it into the music that I play. An open mind is definitely required to really get the most out of these subjects.
I liked how you gave the example of figured bass. I remember specifically being in theory one and saying to myself, “What is going on????” but now that I’m done with the major theory classes, even though im not an instrumentalist, i still use all of the things I’ve learned in my approach to singing. Its easier for me to understand the connection of things and I think its great to know these details if you want to be a true musician and not just someone that plays music.
I wish I would have read this article my freshman year. This is something that every student, music or otherwise, should grasp. It’s all about the attitude. You can choose to be miserable and not get anything out of what you are learning, or you can give it a chance. I believe that having personal tastes and preferences are really important, but I have enjoyed music I never thought I would ever listen to. 20th century music is like that. I heard it once and was like “O Lord… What just happened?” but when I gave it a chance and saw how and why these pieces came together the way they did, it gave me a brand new appreciation for it. The same can be said for other subjects and areas of life as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this article, as it gives a great perspective on studying music, or any subject for that matter. We (musicians), in order to grasp onto a definition and understanding of the vast world of music, must first open ourselves up to all of it. The example that you use about the paper and the guitarist, illustrates this idea perfectly. To be considered a musician we must first be open to the entire “world” of music, then and only then, can we make a decision regarding the validity of a portion of it.
This article has many important things to say. I see ways that I can personally grow as well as see ways that I have already succeeded in regarding expanding my musical vocabulary. I periodically seek out new music because I just get bored easily of what I already know. I do know that it would be wise for me to expand even further in my search because many time I seek out new artists in a specific genre I’m already familiar with instead of expanding my world and looking for new genres to experience. I do frequently wonder why I am learning specific topics and I look forward to seeing how they might change me in the long run.
I love the quote that says “To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.”
I think that any freshman desiring to study music should read this article. I remember when I came to VU, I thought my voice teacher was crazy because she wanted me to sing all of this classical Jargen. After I realized that in fact, this would make me a better singer and musician, (studying great music, because its great music) my music box got bigger, and I became a better vocalist because I chose to embrace it.
Thanks for sharing Dr. Reno!
From 12-tone modern music to the classical sonata form, I think all music and more importantly every movie, book, and experience can serve to further our music understanding. When dealing with figured bass I remember thinking how pointless it was and how pointless it is to most musicians. However, the practice with writing out figured bass not only improved my skills in music theory but helped in playing the guitar and figuring intervals as well. We cannot merely accept everything dictated to us as an absolute truth, but everything I believe can be taken with a grain of sand where something small can always be learned.
As a composer whenever I am writing a song I first must learn a million ways of how I should not write the song before I finally get the right melody. 90% of the material I write I never even use, but that music has served to show me the right ways to compose and is not merely a waste of time. If we can change our attitudes from looking at things as negative and instead finding a little bit of truth within them, we can learn so much more. For example, although modern pop songs may be simplistic to a music major I think the melodies developed by the artists are the driving force of the song and the reason why millions will pay $15 for a cd of the same three chords over and over. But this melodic style and richness reveals a technique that improves my own composing, allowing me to understand the general feel and flow of pleasing melodies and improve on them. Everything I have learned has value to my musical career.
Part of the reason I love VU so much is because the professors encourage you to study the unfamiliar, and study something (in this case music) that you would have never thought to try. Last year, for instance, for the fall semester I focused entirely on French classical flute concertos; in the Spring, I performed a piece that included extended techniques such as singing into the instrument and even a little bit of flute beat boxing… Studying a variety of music with drastic stylistic differences has made me a much better musician.
“Embrace musical knowledge that is unfamiliar to you and allow it to expand your box.”
I agree! As musicians we need to step out of the realm of what we are familiar with. When we stick to only what we enjoy, we have no room for growth. As we step into the unknown, we expand our capacity for growth. In music, as in life, what’s the point if we are stagnant?
I wish I had received this excerpt of wisdom when I first started pursuing an education in music as a freshman. I can totally relate to the scenario presented due to the fact that I used to be that kid. Though I cannot remember the phrase word-for-word, I have been told time and time again that the moment you stop learning, you start dying. And since I don’t think any of us youngster are nearing the end of our lifespan any time soon, there is no reason for us to settle in our “music box.” And I believe the more we can take in that will broaden our horizons, the more that we will profit from it in the future.
When I came to Vanguard and began formal music training I had already had four years of piano lessons yet freshman year in theory 1, I was completely astounded that such a method of examining music even existed. I was only a singer songwriter and understood that classical training was basically what this was going to be, and that it would cause me to grow as a musician, but never did I imagine that it would be something that would be so intrigued by it. Classical training has revealed to me so many different facets of music that i would have never even imagined. it has definitely caused me to reevaluate my intended career path.
Very need angle on the subject of musical knowledge. Parts of me have realized that a bachelors degree in music is barely scraping the surface! But as musicians we have the privilege to grow and expand in our knowledge for a lifetime! This is something athletes might miss out on.. because there gets an age that you start going backwards, your body becomes decrepit. But with music, as long as we continue to learn (which i believe the minute you stop learning you die) we will become better musicians. This article puts things into perspective for me. I will NEVER know everything there is to know about music. But slowly, over time I will beable to expand my knowledge and especially for me becoming a teacher, I HAVE to keep learning. Let’s continue to grow as we dive into this class!
It amazes me that every single day we continuously study and learn new concepts from the one subject that we all know and love to the point where we think we are this close in becoming musical geniuses, when really, we almost know nothing about music. The multifarious plethora of music expands to a point beyond our minds can grasp. As far as I could remember, my “music box” is always open and willing to learn and take in any kind of music no matter how complex or difficult (and even ridiculous) the subject or song can be.
There was never a time I wasn’t willing to hear a new song or to learn a musical concept, but as diverse as my musical tastes are (and the significant amount of musical knowledge I’ve gained these past few years), I still feel as if I need to learn so much more – that I shouldn’t just grab my degree and head straight onto a career path right away. If I had the money, I wouldn’t mind in becoming one of those “professional students” who stay in college for a long time studying everything and anything about music.
I wish I had read this article when it came to deciding what my major should be. This post proves the inexplicable, prodigious works of music is universal and that this pulchritudinous universe should be the “wealth” of our “music box.”
This article is great! The title itself encourages us to step out of our comfort zone and broaden our view on music.I think we are capable of being “changed musically” if we just get out of our music box. We can get attached to a style of music but it is also good to appreciate other styles that we might consider “boring” Who knows, after studying it for a while we might just enjoy it. I know that’s true for me.
Thanks, Dr. Reno!
This is a great article,
There is a lot here to consider and process…
I believe that living within time means that we are in a constant state of change, and our musical tastes are no exception. Exploring new styles opens us up a world of opportunity to discover what music is out there. These discoveries may change us, but even if they do not, we can still learn from them. Through this process of exploration and discovery we will determine what we do and do not enjoy, but more importantly discover the reasons why those specific tastes exist. For example, one may enjoy certain music because it has a baroque feel, without the tendency of strung-out melodies. If one had never opened themselves up to baroque music, its traits and characteristics could not be utilized or even be used in analysis (such as compare/contrast).
If the music does not suit your fancy, finding the depth and value behind it can bring a profound sense of appreciation for the style, composer or work itself. This can then in turn, add to the level of expression you bring to the stage as a musician.
I also enjoyed the quote by Disraeli, “To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.”
I hope we all continue moving forward to grow in creativity, expression, interpretation, and the enjoyment we find in this marvelous thing called music.
I thought this was a good article to read as a student of music because it reminded me that while I don’t know even a small portion of all there is to know musically, I can strive to learn all I can about it in order to expand my “music box”. I especially liked what the article said in regards to allowing new knowledge of music into your music box so that it expands, rather than shutting it out or calling it “irrelevant”, and therefore keeping your music box just as small as if you had never heard the information to begin with. Overall, I think it was a good reminder to be constantly openminded about the knowledge in music that we’re being given as students.
When I was in junior high, I used to describe my musical tastes as, liking everything except opera. Although I had never been to an opera and in fact had never really heard opera, I was convinced I did not like it. When I was 16 however, I was taken to see Verdi’s La Traviata. I was jaw-dropped the whole time. The entire last act I sat at the edge of my seat in tears. So much for my music box. That experience really opened my eyes to my own limited understanding of music and showed me even more about myself as a person. It is so important not to approach anything in life with arrogance or presuppositions. It only harms oneself.
ok cool