I love music. I surround myself with music. I spend my working hours planning, arranging, writing, directing, performing, and educating about music. I spend my free time… doing pretty much the same thing, just in the theatre realm, not the church world. Music is a second language, and music theory comes as natural as grammar does in English. Like any foreign language, there comes a point where you can “think” in that language because at times it’s easier than trying to word something in your own native tongue.
So why don’t I listen to more of it?
A number of times, I have been struck by just how little music I know, despite the fact that I know so much about music. My cognitive repertoire sucks. And it’s not in any particular genre, but across the board. I don’t know enough classical rep to throw down with the music snob types, don’t keep up with pop (often times because my inner music theory grammar police equates it to reading on a third grade level,) barely know enough classic rock to find something I’m familiar enough with at a karaoke dive, and end up smiling and nodding with most of my jazz comrades. Musical theatre stuff I can pass muster, but pretty much everything else, it’s rather pathetic
So, my early New Year’s resolution is to start a listening blog. Starting January 1, I intend on tackling one major work (or album) a day and writing at least a couple paragraphs on it. I’m still unsure how focused or broad to make this project; too focused and I think I’ll lose interest… I mean, spending a year with 365 symphonies, while I’m sure quite possible, would get old by March at the latest. (See also spending a year exclusively with the collected works of Frank Zappa.) On the other hand, if I cover too large an area, I fear I won’t get the depth in anything to make this project worthwhile.
Here’s my original schedule – I figure each month has at least four weeks in it. That means one big category for each day of the week, with four subgenres in each. If I can schedule that out I can cover most of my ground.
Mon. Orchestral – Concerto, Symphony, 20th Century, "Other"
Tues. Top 40s pre-1989 – Solo Artists, The Beatles, Motown, Rock Bands
Wed. Chamber – Piano Solo, String 4tet, Other Solo, Wind Ens.
Thurs. Jazz (A) – Vocalist, Big Band, Saxaphone, Pianists
Fri. Top 40s 1990-now – Solo Artists, Rap/R&B, Indie S/SW Rock Bands
Sat. Choral/Vocal – Early Music, Major Choral, Solo Vocal, Opera
Sun. Jazz (B) – Vocal Group, Guitarist, Trumpet, Other Solo
That leaves 29 “5ths” in a year (fifth Friday of the month, etc.) I’ll use these to listen to things that don’t fit in the above subcategories – movie soundtracks, Broadway shows, Oratorios, jazz trombone (or other instruments not listed above,) electronic music (either “techno” or “legit,” whatever that means these days,) world music, whatever. Basically, this will include the stuff I would like to get to, but doesn’t fit neatly in the boxes above. Likewise, in the event that I run out of material in a given subcategory, I may play around with the scheduling, I guess. After all, it's my blog, I reserve the right to modify it, I guess.
I'm aware there will be roadblocks in this plan. Money tops the list. Buying an album a day is expensive. As convenient as iTunes is, spending (I'd average) $10 a day on a new album runs this project up to $3,650 for the year. I plan on circumventing this as much as possible - getting to know the local college libraries, youtube-ing most of the mainstream stuff, borrowing from people who know this stuff far better than I do, etc. Granted, while cheaper than buying it all, it takes more time. Right now, I'm hoping neccesity will be the mother of invention, and I'll be able to keep this up. Donations are also accepted :-)
Also, if there's an album or work you're passionate about and think I need to know. Please let me know. Assume I know nothing. After all, the whole reason behind this is... I know too close to nothing. If I'm already familiar with it, I may skip it, but there is so much great music out there I'm not sure where to start.
This project will go active January 1, 2011. This gives me time to plan at least the first month or two and purchase anything that I may have to. (I don't think the Beatles library is available on iTunes, for example.) If you have any suggestions either for listening literature or a different, better way to organize this project, let me know. Likewise, if you have suggestions on low-budget acquisition of music, let me know.
I'm looking forward to this musical journey. Come along for the ride,
Peace,
Shawn
