The Downfall of the Automatic Musician

"You have to jump that chord! It is not a build up! It is a courageous jump!"

It was the first time someone yelled at me about a piece of music. I must have been in tenth grade, I was at a French symposium, at which all of the ongoing competitions and activities revolved around French heritage and culture. Ironically, I got this tip thanks to the most monumental German composer- J.S. Bach.

Camille Saint-Saenz's Le Cygne, was the piece I chose to showcase for the recital competition at the symposium- yet this was the last thought in my mind- although I loved the piece. I recall being obsessed with the Bach Cello suites during this time in my life as a young teenager. My dad had bought my favorite cellist- Yo-Yo Ma's Bach Suites DVD's. His "Bach Suites" project involved all sorts of arts including dance, chinese culture, meditation, even the construction of a "Music garden" at the city of Toronto. Ma's rendition of the Bach Suites was exquisite as any other project he does. I had been devouring those DVD's with an ardent obsession. All of this I mention to say that, my chosen piece was the least of my worries at this symposium, I was much more entertained practicing a Bourrée from the 3rd Cello suite transcribed for violin.

There was a girl practicing next to me, she was older and much more mature in her playing - she was listening to the opening of this Bourrée as I practiced it and she all of a sudden yelled at me "jump it!" I was struck and even a little offended for a second. Then I realized, I should listen to this advice, this is coming from a really good violinist. After thinking about it, I realized that I had been playing this piece with an automatic mindset. I had nailed all of the mechanical aspects of it, all of that groundwork was laid down. However, I had failed to think about the piece itself, what the tone and mood behind it might have been.

I have ever since been obsessed with meaningful and quality rich interpretation of music. I began my study of interpretation, abstract thought, and understanding of music. I slowly but surely trained myself to think beyond a chord, beyond a note, beyond a harmony and forced myself to understand the placement of a note, its place in this musical map and I went from there. I forced myself to understand pieces and to translate meaning through intention.

If there is something I would like to share with fellow musicians, is this sole and simple notion. The notion that music was written with great purpose and thus is to be interpreted with great intention, intention that is thoughtful, logical and respectful to the piece's style, history and its composer.