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The
band director needed a trombone player and called me aside to talk since I had
the longest arms among the group of fifth grade boys who were hoping to play the
trumpet. The persuasive director talked me into the benefits of playing the trombone
and since I was still mildly obedient at that age, I reluctantly agreed. The
trombone is a demanding instrument. The slide has an unquenchable thirst for large
areas of unobstructed air space to move back and forth among the seven positions
that create the notes. The long, tapered carrying case with a pear shaped end
to accommodate the bell section is asymmetrical and does not fit conveniently
anywhere in a world designed for rectangles only. There is a picture of a trombone
in my dictionary under the word awkward. What
I remember most about the demanding trombone is its non-negotiable requirement
for the player to find the seven positions of the slide by the sole use of the
operator's ear. There are no keys or set positions to click upon. It's up to the experienced
ear of the musician to find the right spot on the slide to be in tune. I
practiced enough with the trombone to rise to a level of average. I learned that
we average musicians who play an instrument, should practice frequently and must
rely heavily on sheet music. We were unlike the select few who could sight-read
printed notes of music and get the melody to come out of the instrument perfectly
the first time through. In the stratosphere, above all, are the musicians who
can play by ear. Wow!
Play it by ear! These people possess
rich talent to carry a tune in their heads and then reproduce the notes flawlessly
on the instrument of choice. I can't even begin to imagine
how that neuro-transmitting chemical reaction works,
but I know that I wasn't born with that wiring. Consequently, sheet music, which
is just a map or plan, helps all musicians without the gift of having a brain
that operates like a player piano to create music on demand. That
is why I cringe every time I hear the rationalization used by people who choose
to ignore preparation and planning for their business and personal lives and say,
"let's play it by ear". I'm not talking about
being flexible and spontaneous. Those are good things. I
am making a point that your business and personal lives deserve more than a play
it by ear attitude. Unless you are gifted enough to visualize,
focus, implement and adapt your strategies without a script or plan, then wouldn't
putting some notes on paper, your personal sheet music, be a better way? Once
you get your personal sheet music written and get comfortable with your concert
numbers, then you will have the foundation to improvise. Going with the flow,
and reading your audience's reactions becomes fun when you have the basic performance
covered with your written plan. Unless
you can play it by ear, Don't. You
won't find the directions on how to get to Carnegie Hall
on MapQuest. ________________________________________
I
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