Arguably, most of us are on some kind of musical ‘journey’ lasting a lifetime. Of course, I am including even the passive consumer or listener in making that kind of statement. Perhaps some journeys require more time and effort resulting in greater knowledge and skill, but nonetheless, unless you have never been exposed to music, I feel you are on some kind of journey with it.
Hopefully it is a journey that moves forward; just as journeys most often do. They don’t stay in one place one’s whole life; even if it is just a matter of developing taste and preference.
But for some who arguably take it more seriously, the journey is more…intensive. Perhaps they commit a large measure of their lives to it; a huge investment of time, effort and money! Arguably they are the ones who wish to be musically ‘proactive’; perhaps make a living with it (in some way) or perhaps it is just a very important hobby.
Whatever, it’s all a journey. I suppose it is the serious ones who are keen to ensure that the journey does keep going forwards; never stops dead in the middle of the road. There is always something to learn that connects to music, if one wants to find it. Oh yes, this journey never ends though I suppose, the faster one runs, the more you will end up knowing or being able to ‘do’.
There is an old chinese proverb that says something to effect, that on a journey of a million miles…take small steps! Hmmm, I take the point sure enough. Somehow, you have to enjoy the ride, that’s very important; and realise that there will always be some new piece of knowledge to learn or skill to acquire. It is never ending and perhaps once one realises that, one begins to slow down…and take smaller steps.
Well, I suppose it depends on what you are planning to do with all this knowledge and skill. If you’re trying to make a living by musical means then perhaps your slant is different from the mere hobbyist. I can understand that – it can marr the journey somewhat when one has to consider making a living at it. But then, if you weren’t making a living at it then how much time and energy could you spend on it?
I once read something written in a humourous way about how the best musicians are those that end up in a situation where they have no choice but to be good; because they have burned their bridges; run out of options. The possibility of becoming a racing car driver or astronaut long since having passed them by!
It stands to reason that if you spend 24/7 engaged in something, that your level of skill and knowledge should be far higher than the hobbyist who spends less time and effort on it.
It’s horses for courses…but still it’s a journey at whatever level!
