short history of music

emails with jonathan bring about something in my head that is never far from conciousness; music. read: why people are musicians. there are many reasons apparently. more or less, it covers the entire spectrum of why any human would do anything. allow me to explain

1. music is just something to do- these kids permeate high school ensembles all across the nation. they pick up an instrument maybe to impress someone, maybe because they were bored, maybe even to get away from other responsibilities, or because they needed an arts credit and didn't feel like taking basket weaving. these types of musicians are often the least motivated in the entire spectrum. they do it because there is nothing else to do. these types don't really care about sounding good and more often then not, they concern themselves with how they look with the instrument in their hands.

2. music is something they were forced to do- sometimes you will find a musician who is seemingly immaculate in technique with so much skill it sickens you. yet, they are lacking something that you cannot quite put your finger on. this missing ingredient is passion for their craft, and it keeps them from truely becoming great. but who could blame them. they are musicians probably because their parents thrust an instrument in their hands at an early age and they were not allowed to pursue what they truely loved. now they do music because they don't know how to do anything else. two subtypes- the good forced musician and the bad forced musician. some of these types will rebel and refuse to gain any skill and others will gain incredible skill through hard work in hopes that the forcing factor will eventually leave them alone.

3. music is used as an ego trip- these are my least favorite types of musicians. they do music because they think it sets them appart. they do not serve the craft of music, they serve themselves. often these musicians are incredibly driven, if not to sound decent then to beat every other musician in the world, becoming the best. these people lose sight of seeking beauty in what they do. music has become a device to set them on a pedastal.

4.music because one is in love with it- this is the true reason to be a musician. quite simply, it is the one thing that you love, and you love it more than anything else in the world. these musicians are driven, and they posses the passion that makes music come alive. you pay money to listen to these musicians.

even though others might not see this, i am a musician because i am in love with music. it is the one thing that i have even loved in my life. any other love i thought i felt pales in comparison to music. maybe one day i will find someone i love just as much as i love music. but no one will ever completely replace it. allthough, to be loved like my music, well, there is no stronger love imaginable.