Talking to a Musician About His Music

Talking to a Musician About His Music - A Couple of Basic Rules of Thumb

 

  My apologies, but there’s no video in this post.  This is more of a “How To” kind of a post.  I’ll be brief.

  People have generally been very kind to me after they have listened to my music, in fact, I’d say that usually they are kinder than I deserve.

  And so for that reason, I want to be very careful how I say this because I very much don’t want to come across as being unappreciative.  Really, I was hesitant to write this at all knowing it could be taken the wrong way.  But I suppose there’s no harm in giving a couple of helpful “How-To” tips.

 

  What to Say, What Not to Say

  Think, for example, of when you were in school and you had to do a book report.  What did you do?  Did you just hand the teacher a piece of paper on which you wrote, “I liked it” or “I think Charles Dickens was a good writer”?  No, of course not.

  Well, talking to a musician is kind of like that.  Suppose a singer songwriter came to someone’s house.  He’s preparing to submit his latest composition to a record company or to audition it for an upcoming show.  And so he plays it for the people there.  Then he asks them to share their impressions about his new work.  What sorts of things do you suppose they will say to him?

  Ordinarily, the people will feel like the proper thing to do would be to be kind, to say something nice to him.  99 times out of 100 what they will say is, “You are a good musician.”

  Now think about it:  Have they really told him anything?  In the scenario I’ve just given you, do you think the musician was fishing for a compliment?  Do you think a little flattery was what he was seeking?

  Suppose the scenario was one of a recording artist who asks you to review his latest album of several songs.  He’ll be anxious to know your reaction regarding a number of things, including if you liked any of the songs.  If so, which ones?  Did you have a favorite?  What was it about that song that you liked?  Was it the melody?  Was it the lyrics?  Was it something else?  Don’t just tell him, “You’re a good musician” and leave it at that.  What have you really told him?

  This is not hard to understand.  The musician’s music is the fruit of his labors.  He has put his very personality into his songs.  His songs are practically like his children.

  I can put that another way:  What if you were at an art exhibit and you got a chance to speak to the painter or the sculptor.  And suppose all you said to him or her was, “You’re a good painter,” or “You’re a good sculptor.”  He’d look at you like you’re from Mars.  He’d want to pull his hair out.  He’d say, “Don’t you have anything to say about my artwork?!

  Actually, in general, it’s best not to tell a musician that he’s a good musician because in the first place, he might know his musicianship skills aren’t his strongest point as an artist, and so your words would sound to him like empty flattery.  But more importantly, if you just tell him he’s a good musician, then actually you’ve told him nothing at all.  Did he need to be told he was a good musician?  He knows where his skill level is.  Maybe he’s not a rank beginner but if he’s not a world-renowned virtuoso, he knows it.  And if he is a world-renowned virtuoso, he knows that too!  And incidentally that might be the only case where you would compliment the musician for his skill, for that’s what he’s world-renowned for, for being among the best of the best as a virtuoso, not for his songs.

  Maybe I still haven’t made my point clear.  Let me give you an example of exactly what I’m talking about.

  The singer songwriter Melanie appeared on a TV program in the Netherlands in 1970.  She was going to perform her song "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)."

  Before she performed it, she was being interviewed.  The interviewer said, “Tell us about yourself.  How old are you?”

  Melanie answered, “I’m 23.  But I’d like to tell you about the song.”

  You see, to the musician, what’s of interest is nothing to do with himself or herself.  The musician doesn’t care to be told that he’s a good musician.  In fact, he’d rather not hear that at all.  He didn’t go to all the work of creating his composition to be told he’s a good musician.  He has made something.  His interest is that your interest will be this thing he has made.  And he is very interested in hearing what you have to say about that – not about him.

  You can see a video of Melanie’s appearance on that TV program appearance here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ52lk9wjZI

 

  The Musician’s Skill …

  Offering a critique to a musician is like doing a book report.  There are different aspects that can be critiqued.  Skill is one aspect.  Critiquing a musician’s skill – to the musician – is most helpful in terms of things like timing and expression.  Those things are about presentation.

 

  The Musical Composition …

  In the first scenario I gave, the musician was a singer songwriter.  Most likely what he played was an original composition.  You might have liked it or you might not have.  That kind of opinion is not nearly as helpful to the musician as things like how you were or were not affected or impressed by the musical construction of the piece or by the lyrics.

  Even if the musician played a cover song what helps him more is not if you like the song but what did you think of his interpretation of it, notably, his rendition, for example, as compared to the original version?  It helps the musician to know if you were moved by it … or bored by it!

  So then, to summarize:  If a musician invites you to share your impressions of his work, he’s not fishing for a compliment.  Critiquing properly and correctly is merely another way of saying “constructive criticism.”  The things he is really anxious to hear about from you are things that will help him in terms of aspects such as song construction, expression, interpretation and presentation.  And in the case of a recording artist it also includes aspects having to do with recording quality, arrangement and production.

  When you talk to a musician about his music, and especially if the musician has requested your input, it’s best to direct your conversation to things that are tangible and somewhat qualifiable from the musician’s point of view.  It’s those sorts of things, not flattery, that are meaningful and useful and helpful to a musician.