Why Learning Music History is as Important as the Music Itself

roseanndimalanta_trio

5 Jun 202002:54

Summary

TLDRIn this insightful video, Roseanne emphasizes the importance of understanding the social and historical context of music when aspiring to emulate the styles of legendary artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. She encourages musicians to delve into the lineage of their influences, recognizing that originality is often rooted in the rich tapestry of predecessors. By exploring the background of songs and the times in which they were created, artists can develop a deeper respect for the music, enhancing their own expression and humanity in their craft.

Takeaways

🎼 Embrace Musical Modes: The speaker encourages learning to play modal music like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, emphasizing the importance of understanding musical modes.
🤔 Inner Dilemma: Roseanne experiences an inner conflict between teaching modal music and considering the social context of the music.
📚 Music History Matters: The importance of studying music history, including European and African-American music history, is highlighted to understand the context of the music.
🌟 Originality in Context: The script suggests that even when creating original music, one is influenced by a lineage of artists and music history.
👣 Historical Influence: Understanding the historical and social conditions that allowed musicians to express themselves can deepen one's appreciation for their work.
🎶 Music as Expression: Music is presented as a form of human expression, reflecting the humanity and viewpoints of the artists.
💔 Music and Emotion: Songs like 'Strange Fruit' by Billie Holiday convey deep emotions such as despair and the struggle for dignity.
🎵 Beyond the Music: The speaker advises to look beyond the notes and chords to understand the background of songs and artists for a richer perspective.
🌈 Music's Role in Society: Music, including love songs, carries political and social connotations that reflect the artists' experiences and beliefs.
🔍 Dig Deeper: The script encourages 'historical rummaging' to discover the conditions that shaped the music and the artists' expressions.
💡 Greater Sense of Purpose: By understanding the background of music and artists, one gains a deeper respect and a greater sense of purpose in their own musical creations.

Q & A

What dilemma did Roseanne face when a student wanted to learn modal music like Miles Davis and John Coltrane?
-Roseanne faced an inner dilemma between teaching the student to play modal music by getting away from the tonal center and advising the student to understand the social context and history of the artists and music they were inspired by.
What does Roseanne suggest is important for a musician to understand about the music they play?
-Roseanne suggests that it is important for musicians to understand the social context, the times, and the history of the music and artists they are inspired by to gain a deeper respect and perspective.
Why does Roseanne believe that understanding the history of music is important for a musician's creativity?
-Roseanne believes that understanding the history of music can augment a musician's creativity by providing a deeper understanding of the conditions and influences that shaped the music and the artists.
What does Roseanne mean by 'even when you think you're being original, you are in a long lineage of people who've come before you'?
-Roseanne means that even when a musician believes they are creating something entirely new, they are actually building upon the work and influence of countless artists and creators who came before them.
What is the significance of the phrase 'Marvin Gaye say it loud I'm black and I'm proud' in the context of the script?
-The phrase signifies the importance of recognizing the political and social messages in music, and how these messages can reflect the artist's experiences and the times they lived in.
How does Roseanne connect the idea of expressing love in music to the broader concept of human expression?
-Roseanne connects the idea of expressing love in music to human expression by stating that the viewpoint to the music we make is a reflection of our humanity, making it one of the most beautiful gifts of human expression.
What does Roseanne suggest is the role of music in reflecting an artist's viewpoint on life?
-Roseanne suggests that music serves as a medium for artists to express their viewpoints on life, whether it's political, social, or about love and hope.
Why does Roseanne encourage musicians to 'do a little historical rummaging and digging'?
-Roseanne encourages this to help musicians find out the conditions that allowed musicians and artists to express themselves, thereby gaining a greater sense of purpose and understanding of their own humanity when making music.
What does Roseanne imply about the relationship between a musician's personal beliefs and the music they create?
-Roseanne implies that a musician's personal beliefs are intrinsic to the music they create, as these beliefs shape the depth, substance, and viewpoint of their musical expression.
How does the script suggest that understanding the background of songs or artists can impact a musician's own music-making?
-The script suggests that understanding the background can give musicians a deeper respect, a new perspective, and a greater sense of purpose in their own music-making.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 The Dilemma of Musical Influence

Roseanne introduces the concept of learning modal music, referencing the desire of a student to emulate the styles of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. She experiences an internal conflict between teaching the technical aspects of modal playing and emphasizing the importance of understanding the social and historical context in which these artists created their music. Roseanne suggests that to truly grasp the essence of an artist's work, one must delve into the lineage of influence and the conditions that allowed for such expression, thereby enriching one's own musical creation with a deeper sense of humanity and purpose.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Modal

Modal refers to a type of musical scale that is used as the basis for a composition or improvisation. In the context of the video, it is associated with the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, who were known for their use of modal scales in jazz. The script suggests that understanding the modal approach involves moving away from traditional tonal centers and exploring different modes.

💡Tonal Center

The tonal center, also known as the keynote or tonic, is the central note or pitch of a musical scale or key. The script mentions getting away from the tonal center as a way to explore modal music, indicating a shift from traditional harmony to a more open, less structured sound.

💡Miles Davis

Miles Davis was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer who is considered one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz. The video script uses him as an example of an artist who played modal music and suggests that aspiring musicians should study his work to understand the modal approach.

💡John Coltrane

John Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer, known for his influential work in the development of free jazz. The script mentions him alongside Miles Davis as an example of an artist who played modal music, emphasizing the importance of studying his music for understanding modal scales.

💡European Music History

European music history refers to the chronological study of music originating from Europe. The script mentions this as part of the speaker's background, suggesting that a comprehensive understanding of music should include not only technical skills but also historical and cultural contexts.

💡African-American Music History

African-American music history is the study of music created by African Americans, which has significantly influenced many genres, including jazz, blues, and hip-hop. The script implies that understanding the social context of this music history is crucial for appreciating the music of artists like Marvin Gaye and Billie Holiday.

💡Social Context

Social context refers to the cultural, historical, and societal circumstances in which something occurs. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the social context of music, suggesting that the conditions and times in which artists lived influenced their music and the messages they conveyed.

💡Lineage

Lineage in the context of the video refers to the historical lineage or tradition of music and its creators. The script suggests that even when creating original music, artists are part of a long line of influences from those who came before them.

💡Historical Rummaging

Historical rummaging is a term used in the script to describe the act of researching and exploring the history behind music and artists. It is presented as a way to gain a deeper understanding and respect for the music being created today.

💡Humanity

Humanity in the video is presented as the essence of human expression, particularly through art and music. The script suggests that by understanding the background of songs and artists, one gains a greater sense of purpose and a deeper appreciation of their own humanity.

💡Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his influential music in the Motown era. The script cites his song 'I'm black and I'm proud' as an example of music that reflects the social context and the artist's viewpoint.

💡James Brown

James Brown was an American singer, songwriter, and musician often referred to as the 'Godfather of Soul'. The video script mentions him as an example of an artist whose music carries a strong social message and reflects the times in which he lived.

💡Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was an American jazz and swing music singer known for her expressive vocal style. The script refers to her song 'Strange Fruit' as an example of music that conveys deep emotional content and the social struggles of the time.

Highlights

Roseanne faces an inner dilemma when a student wants to learn modal jazz like Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

A music teacher advises getting away from the tonal center and playing over certain modes.

Roseanne's music history background urges her to emphasize the social context and times of the artists.

Studying history can augment a musician's creative process by understanding the lineage of influence.

Originality in music is part of a long lineage of people who have influenced us.

Encourages exploring the history of artists and genres to gain a deeper understanding and respect.

Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Billie Holiday are mentioned as examples of artists with a strong social and political message.

Understanding the depth, substance, and struggles of artists can enrich one's own music-making.

Even love songs carry a viewpoint and reflect the artist's humanity.

Studying the background of songs and artists provides a new perspective and sense of purpose.

Music-making is an expression of our humanity and a beautiful gift of art.

Beyond the technical aspects, the times and conditions that allowed musicians to express themselves are crucial.

A deeper respect for music and artists is gained by understanding their historical and social context.

The importance of finding dignity in an undignified situation through music is highlighted.

Music is a reflection of the artist's attempt to find hope and express their inner struggles.

A call to action for musicians to dig deeper into the history and social context of the music they create or appreciate.