Welcome to Music  

The first time I blew into a trumpet, in the 6th grade, what came out was the moo of a sick cow. Undeterred, however, I kept at it. With the help of some great teachers and daily practice, I was able, after a few months, to play sounds that were recognisable as melodies. By the time I entered 7th grade, when I started playing in the middle school jazz band, I already knew that I wanted to be a rich and famous jazz trumpet player. Nobody told me that the adjectives “jazz” and “rich” rarely belong together!

That same year I remember a conversation I had with my uncle, a lifelong jazz aficionado, who told me I should listen to Miles Davis. “Miles who?” I responded. The first time I heard a recording of Miles I wasn’t too impressed. But subsequent listens marked the beginning of my education in aesthetic perception. By the start of 8th grade Miles was my man. 

Forty years later he still is. I listen to Miles every week, if not every day, of my life. With each listen, I notice more of the subtle qualities that distinguish his voice and music. Even after a hundred listens, every encounter is like meeting for the first time. Music that stands the test of time, merits many listens. In exchange for the costly investment of your sustained attention, it will yield to you more and more of its treasure.

As with all the arts, educating our perception takes time; but it’s not just quantity, it’s quality of time that matters. You don’t need lots of information. I spent ten years in music school filling my head, but it didn’t really impact how my heart receives music. The important thing is to experience music personally, like an intimate face-to-face conversation with a friend. Reach out to it with an open heart as it reaches out to you, seeking emotional connection. Don’t worry about naming what you feel. Let go of distractions, be present, and the music will move you.

JKG, February 2019