Intention matters—what I intend every time I approach my instrument matters. What am I serving, really? If it is “self-expression,” if my intention is to have my emotions expressed through my instrument, what is being served? More and more I see that my emotions are no more interesting or valuable to the outside world than my thoughts. Both are necessary parts of my ‘lower self,’ as the phrase goes, but they are of limited value—even to myself, much less the rest of the world.
So what is worth intending when I sit down to play music? How about expressing the beauty that is already inherent in a given piece of music? How about being a servant of the song, instead of visa versa?
This requires several things, I’ve found. It requires never leaving the pulse as a prime focus. Counting while playing may very well turn out to be essential here, as Peter Erskine says he does in his book, “Time Awareness.” It requires a commitment to be aware of the underlying chord structure of the tune at all times, and to uncover ever-new ways of realizing that structure. It requires being a transmitter of the beauty of the particular song being played, not having the song serve my needs.
The little way I’ve traveled down this path in recent weeks has shown me that, in fact, I can’t help “expressing myself” as I play. The music is coming through me and so what I play, of necessity, will reflect who I am, including my emotional realities. But playing music in order to “express myself” is miles away from intending to serve the music as best I can. And I believe, as it says in the Good Book, that one cannot simultaneously serve two masters.
To me, this is a New Year’s resolution worth sticking to, and I hope it proves to be of some value to you as well. Have a swinging New Year! - Chuck Sher
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