This blog is missing an entry for September. Options for the September edition materialized throughout the month, but it occurred while I was “AFK” and unable to collect the cogent thoughts. Currently sitting on this desktop computer are five essays focusing on what a graduate program might refer to as: Contemporary Issues With Guitar Instruction. Based on the number of “grad programs” I have viewed, that would be a course title. I am quite willing and ready to teach that.
This entry is not necessarily about current issues with private music lessons. Though, today’s topic might indirectly pertain to instruction. It presented itself during a lesson with a student who has been on the schedule for a few years. His involvement with multiple sports caused me to consider the widespread popularity of sports, the nature of a sporting event, and its appeal to the greater public (as it compares to music).
Needless to say, the basic foundation of team sports has always been well suited to the tribal mentality. The professional level hometown teams whose member are rarely from that hometown, but they are the representatives due to the franchise and stadium location. College level teams who represent not just the current students and interested faculty and staff, but numerous alumni who follow their school and recall the salad days of adulthood.
“We’re gonna get this win.”
“We didn’t do well this weekend.”
“How are you’re guys doing?”
All common quotes between friends and family while discussing “their teams” of choice.
From my point of view, as someone who is not a sports fan, the sporting event offers the obvious competition and chance for superiority, but also it provides the sensory entertainment that includes activity that has not existed and will not exist after the game ends. As a positive, the fans might see a monumental play that they can discussion for the rest of their life. In a negative light, the fans might witness a player being horribly injured in a way that nobody will forget for the rest of their life. It’s the potential for witnessing a life altering experience.
Yet with music, the majority of listeners in the same culture (I can only speak my own: the U.S., since this is my residence and experience) prefer familiar music. Or if new music is released, it often needs to maintain a familiarity while being new. Improvisational music is far less popular in the mass culture of North America. It’s considerably limited in popular culture.
Both forms of entertainment can offer the same overall heading of entertainment: I am watching, listening to, maybe even smelling or touching (hopefully not tasting) an unfolding event that did not exist in it’s forms and structure before I sat down in a stadium ,concert hall, living room with TV or music listening device. This event will not occur again in its exacting sequence. Participants could be 100% the same, but the differences in their lives from one day to the next, one week to the next will alter the next game or concert.
In sports, this presents itself as a preferred facet of the season. I music it is mostly unwelcome, except to a smaller group of music fans.
Alex Kelley 