Is there such a thing as contemplative music making? Sure–one might say. I once had someone tell me that when I play it sounds worshipful. I was not quite sure what they meant, but I did check my heart to see if I was worshipping in some way. You may know that I recently became a leader of climate change. Thanks to my training I’m now certified to make phone calls, post tweets and join call-to-action efforts as needed. It’s fun!–It gives me something else to talk about over a cup of coffee with friends, students and colleagues.
You’re invited–to the next FAQs and FMQs with CMajor. This time I will speak about some of the greener topics that are coming across my desk. I’m still trying to figure out how to tie music making, coffee culture and climate change together. It’s coming to me a day at a time. More importantly, I think, I’m thinking of ways to have my students decide how they will use their music making for the future. It’s an interesting question and one that I was not faced with. When I came along in my piano lessons it was all about competition, recitals and achievement. I don’t recall thinking about lending my music making to a charitable function or event. I was known as a community musician who could read music…well and well enough to compete.
Recently, I heard a young artist talking about his experience as a person of color playing piano at the competition level. I almost wept as he spoke about how lonely it felt to not have cultural appropriation to lean on in classical music. I knew exactly what he was saying and how it feels. I wanted to come through the radio and just shake him and tell him that it was going to be okay. Maybe he needs to know that he doesn’t have to try so hard to impress others with his excellent playing. And, I wondered had he even experienced contemplative music making.
I’ll see you on the next blog. Until then keep contemplating whether or not your music making can be labeled as contemplative. I’ll see you next time.
Peace, Love, Latte & the Environment –
.C
CMajor's Classroom 