I know someone who went to Russia back in the 90s to discover what young and upcoming musicians were playing there. I know someone else who decided to travel to Rio De Janeiro for Carnival to get acquainted with the Samba. I know a third person who was browsing the CD racks of Tower Records (back in the days) exclusively in the foreign section to get the musical treasures of faraway lands.
I came to the U.S.A. because of music, to study the drums. It was my only purpose. I didn’t know at the time that I would be embarking on a journey that would make me discover and understand far more than just how to bang the drums.
Music can start as a hobby, something we do because we’re interested in, but also because it is a pastime. We never know when something magical will happen. Music stretches many parts of our imagination, seeps into the very fabric of our lives, and can become the engine of our days. For instance, suddenly, we’re able to hear the piano part in a certain song and realize that the guy playing is a virtuoso with a great sensitivity. We use the internet to see when that guy will be playing in town because we want to see him perform. All of that comes from a deeper, more meaningful understanding of music.
My whole life now has been shaped by my career as a musician and music teacher. For example, since we are in the throws of winter, I listen to Evelyn Glennie’s album: Winter Wonderland. Her art fits exactly the atmosphere of my Chicago winters: sweet and harsh. I’ve also begun to make a playlist of my favorite artists to work out with. I’ve also promised myself that next time I go on vacation, I’ll go see a local band.
This is a vast world we live in, even if the internet has made it somewhat smaller. Music is almost as vast. Everywhere mankind has been making music. It doesn’t matter whether it’s sophisticated or not, whether it’s for the common man or the educated muso. What matters is the joy we get from it. We need something that helps enhance life and makes it more enjoyable. Sometimes I think that music was created just for that: to soothe the pain, to bring some warmth, to help us cope. Maybe that’s the purpose of it all: to know and feel that you exist.
Leave a Reply