;)
Awhile back I mentioned some of my experiences taking Lyric Writing: Tools and Strategies through Berklee College of Music's online program. Even in retrospect, that class was by far the best music-related class I've ever taken. The balance of learning, collaboration and fun was perfect and I discovered that even after a couple of decades ignoring the lyrical part of my songs, I still can express myself effectively in lyrics. Because this experience was nothing but positive, I decided to keep going with Berklee, this time taking a class about music production.
I'm about a month into Music Production Analysis and am once again enjoying the experience. Unlike the lyric writing class, we don't typically have homework every day; it's more like every 2-3 days but in bigger chunks. There's a lot of listening and analysis, trying to really get a grip on the key elements of a musical composition and performance. It's been fun because I regularly need test subjects, and that means my wife and daughter get to listen too and provide their own thoughts and impressions.
I think, though, the real benefit for me, at least so far, is that the course is driving me to listen to a wide variety of music. The focus is on musical productions that had real impact. We've listened to Doris Day, Billie Holliday, the Beatles, Randy Travis and Bob Marley, plus many more, spanning a wide variety of styles and eras. In essence, what I appreciate about the class is that it formalizes a thought process that has lurked in my mind for years.
;)
I've know for quite awhile that my perspective on music was different from many of my peers. That difference is perhaps most pronounced relative to my non-musician friends, but even stands out a bit relative some of the musicians around me. Somewhere along the way, I realized that I love music and that the less I intellectualize my choices in music, the happier I am. Yes, metal and other forms of loud rock are clearly in my wheelhouse, the core foundation of my musical experience. But, I love a song. I love when music can deliver a message or just an emotion and I try hard to simply open myself up to -any- musical piece. What we are learning from Music Production Analysis is that, to be a really effective producer, you have to be capable of opening up in just that way.
Now, more than ever, I will do everything I can to shut off the naysayer in my own head. I will let my heart and my body respond naturally to what I hear and feel in music. Only once I've allowed myself to respond naturally to a piece of music will I let my intellect join the party and start structuring my response. It's not about rules or doctrines, it's just about the music and the response that results from it. The more I embrace that, the better I will get as a musician, recording engineer and producer. In the process, I will also enjoy more music and enjoy music more.