Re: Can you teach musicality?
Originally Posted by
CarlM
The Music Lesson by Victor Wooten is entirely based on the idea of learning musicality instead of how to play a musical instrument. In it the teacher Michael says that he cannot teach the protagonist anything. He can show him some stuff.
I read that book and enjoyed it. However, two things to keep in mind are: first, it's an allegorical story -- you're about as likely to find Michael as you are to find Castaneda's Don Juan; second, the author was a professional musician when these encounters supposedly took place, and not some poor soul who was tone deaf or rhythmically challenged. Clearly, not everyone starts out from the same place and with the same abilities, whether they want to be nuclear physicists, mechanics, sprinters, or musicians. Someone who can't sing "Happy Birthday" at seven will never sing opera, though, with help, they may learn to sing "Happy Birthday."
To the OP, I'd ask your teacher what s/he means by "musicality."
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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