Forum Post: Stop sounding ignorant...learn from musicians.

In improvising there are three aspects to playing as I see it...

1) Knowledge of musical patterns, practiced and rehearsed so that they are ready to go when you want to play them. (practice)

2) Soul and passion...the fearlessness to play those things without playing with trepidation

3) Humility. The realization that no matter how good you are, there will always be those who are better and also realize that whatever you're saying, chances are someone else has said it before and probably better :)...this allows you to play and enjoy it "in and of itself" this will communicate the true art in your craft to others and they will hear the genuineness in your sound.

Translated to speaking:

1) Know the material you are talking about. If you haven't spent 3 years shedding on the tune "Giant steps" then step aside after a chorus and let the real cats speak. Know your place in the grand scheme. If you are not someone who has devoted a lot of time to studying economics or social injustice or philosophy, then say a small, well rehearsed piece that's hard to argue with but yet still communicates the passion of your intention...then step aside and let cats like Dr. West and Noam Chomsky riff on it...people who have spent and continue to spend a majority of their time refining their thoughts and speeches. It doesn't mean that what you have to say isn't important, but just keep it simple so you don't sound like a self righteous prick who really has nothing of substance to say.

2) You guys have this one down. But I'll say this much. Don't blow your load on the first chorus. If you're going to speak for 3 or 4 minutes, don't start off by yelling. Dynamics. Start slow, and let your words sink in. Leave space. Let the person you're talking with know you are actually waiting to see how they react and thereby including them in the conversation. People need to be massaged into agreeing with you, not shouted at. Shouting further entrenches people because instead of relaxing and opening up, they feel under attack and fight or flight kicks in and they entrench. What's your goal? To express anger? Or to affect real change? I see way too much of this. People aren't listening. Many times, the message to the "1 percenters" is "you guys are not listening to the 99 %!"...do you propose to change that by behaving in the exact same way and not listening to your dialogue partner? As the tao teh ching says,

"Only simple and quiet words will ripen of themselves. For a whirlwind does not last a whole morning, Nor does a sudden shower last a whole day... Deficiency of faith on your part Entails faithlessness on the part of others."

-Tao Te Ching 30 & 49 & 23-Lao Tzu

This brings me to the third point.

3) Humility. Do not be so self assured that your view point is correct that you act belligerently and arrogantly. I've been to jam sessions that sound like this. It ends up feeling hectic, unpleasant and LOUD. The end result is no one gets any better because we're not making music any more, we're fighting...it alienates any spectators and everybody looses. Remember, speech and music in a group requires mostly listening and only some speaking. Don't waste your breath when you have an opening...give the discourse what it needs to live and grow and allow it to bear the fruits of your collective genuine purpose, which is just.