JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Can you think music too much?

My mind never leaves the music realm. I'm starting to wonder if this is healthy. It's like an inoperable brain tumor. Will someday I look back and realize I've wasted my entire life. I mean, come on, spending a lifetime entombed by 12 half tones. Enough already, there's got to be more. Is there a question in this rant? Don't know... It just hit me like a lightning bolt tonight.

John

Nope.......no.......and huh uh.

Great topic, John:

If the question is: Can one spend too much time immersed in music? The answer is a mild yes!

I don't believe I can stress the importance of music... but, as mere humans, we must take time away from music in order to live normal lives, be good citizens, learn the truth we never seem to get from the media... and take care of our families and friends.

I suppose the exception might be an extremely gifted artist, musician, performer who has all his/her needs provided and is satisfied with total immersion. I suspect that "lifestyle" will eventually result in some form of anguish or regret. Unless, of course, that individual is gifted on such a level as to have few, if any human needs other than good health, normal sleep, sufficient sustenance in the form of food, shelter and clothing. Regretfully, I cannot provide a paper trail of actual studies or cases to defend my thinking on this topic. My opinions are exactly that! Opinions of an individual who believes he has led a fairly, well-rounded life.

Thanks for causing us to pause and think.

Our actions in this life prepares us for the next life. God gives us all gifts and talents and a desire to hone that talent to the best of our ability. Talents come in many shapes and sizes and capabilities. Some have several talents while some have but one. Some talents are in the form of being so good at something that you make a good living daily performing that talent. Like Doctors, lawyers, teachers, carpenters, electricians, etc. While some have talents in sports, the arts, designer, music, painting, etc. But all talents require work to hone and polish that talent. The glamourized talents seem to draw people who want to excel at it, but if that is not their talents to start with, no matter how much they work at it, they will have limited success with it. The old saying of being a square peg in a round hole. Some talents are obvious early in life, we once in a while will see a kid that will pick up a musical instrument and start playing it with unbelievable skill, or will show sports ability at a very young age. Sometime people stumble upon a hidden talent late in life.

From whom much is given, much is required. We should not hide our talents but use them to bless others and bless God. Some people say "I have no talents" but if they looked carefully they will find a talent, it might not be a glamorous talent, but if there is something they do well and like doing it, that is their talent. It might be a good parent, a good housekeeper, a good cook, good at making pastry,having a green thumb, good seamstress, etc. All are important in life. Like the bible says, the nose,the ear ,the eye, are all important to the body, and some of the most important parts we keep hidden for modesty but can't do without. God has a plan for every life, we just have to find it and fulfill it to the best of the ability that He gave us.

John

If you are sincerely asking a question like that, then I suspect that the answer is yes.
If you feel drained, I'm pretty sure it's yes.

I think that it has been proven that your mind continues working on things even when you focus on something(s) else.
I personally believe that you come up with fresher and better ideas when you have put a main focus down and return to it after a break.

However, that's just gut. I don't really know.

Martin

If I was only thinking music all the time , That would mean I have no time

for anything else , that would be very bad for me

I find that musical ideas often flow when I am doing other things , like D I Y

around the house including gardening

yes as Martin states I Quote below

I personally believe that you come up with fresher and better ideas when you have put

a main focus down and return to it after a break. "End of quote"


It's the Subconscious working on what we are aspiring to be or do the number of

times I start walking away from my Studio in our garden orchard , then something breaks through

and I go back to record a couple of lines

Humm,
Me thinks you have the Mozart Sindrome John. Mozart wrote 41 Symphonys and had outlines for some up to 68. If I only had a tenth of that talent.

Well I hear music running in my head all the time. Sometimes its recogniseable, sometimes it's original, sometimes its part both. It can make falling asleep hard.

Yeah playing music can isolate you from the rest of the world. When I was in high school, i discovered playing in garage and rock bands. It was all I thought about, didnt give school a second look. Anybody I socialized with was part of a band at the time. I didnt have friends who did other things, friendLY yes, but not friends.

I even didn't follow sports during that time, when that was what I grew up on. Those 4 years was all guitar and bands. Later on Sports starting creeping back.

But it makes you different than MOST people. If you're really good at music, other musicians can relate to you, but other people may think of you as "special, different, gifted" and dont have much in common with you. Punk rock being a bit different since nobody will accuse you of being too talented to realte to lol.

Being a fan of somebody's music is different, being friends with somebody who is into music when you are not usually doesn't fly. Exceptions of course.

Any musician i've ever come across has said that all their friends are other musicians, its just how it goes.

Today, I have music friends(dwindling), sports friends(nothing matters when a big game is on),poker friends, but usually dont mix them up.

But id say in general it might be how your life runs. Your life runs on music, unless you do something different, like if you won the lottery, it would change all of your ideals, the way you run your life, and different walks of people would be involved. You may not think about music as much.

For me that might be the only thing that might change it. Winning the lottery, or Dating/Marrying a supermodel

Hahaha!!! Welcome to your life!

I just read in Scientific American, about some creative types have a very active creative part of the brain, mixed with unipolar Mania! I had two docs just about tell me I fit such a diagnosis, with some friends just saying there's NO Hope for me! hahaha.

A waste of time in this precious life could be for those who spend it hurting others, physically and or mentally. Or, those who spend much time in worry, (or about the past mistakes, or about the future, which is always a day away, at least!

YOU, wasting YOUR Time? ONLY if you hated all that you did, at all those times, and still hate it all. THAT would have had you waste your time. So, if enjoyed any of it, (for it all comes in stages), and especially if others enjoyed your work, or profited from it, which also made them happy, etc,,,,,then NO, you have not, nor will not be wasting your time in music! So, Carry On! You're part of the magical world of just 12 notes in any combo! You could have been committing crimes and hurting others. Consider yourself and your TIME ALL worthwhile!

The Other John

Wow! A lot of interesting replies. I do have other things that I do. I go for walks with my friends at the Mall, make coffee at Got Beans every morning for the old folks (in which I'm one), regular breakfast get-togethers with my two sons and their mates, grocery shopping, cooking, and some after dinner TV watching. However, my mind never leaves music or the music business. A one track mind for sure. First thing when I get up in the morning is checking my ASCAP portal for turned-in cue sheets. Then I plan my music endeavors for the day. Most of the day is used for composing and recording. 365 days a year. I'm just starting to wonder how important music is in the big picture of things.

Glad to see all the replies.

Best, John

Oh in the big picture.... let me see, maybe beethoven, bach, mozart, in classical, Coltrane, Duke and Gillispie in Jazz, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash in country, Elvis and the Beatles in Rock, will be remembered in time....and that's a big MAYBE, 500 years from now who the hell knows.

As far as YOU, its important to you no matter what because you're living in it. If thats the question id say it's a big part of your life until something bigger than that replaces it....like Heaven!

One thing I'm sure of, I won't be changing my normal routine any time soon. Why? Because I enjoy composing so much. Just hoping I keep finding new challenges (keeping in mind my limitations).


John

Your notion of your limitations just might be self imposed and believed. That would put up four walls around your creativity and exploration in all aspects of you doing your music.

Maybe drop that term altogether and hear what comes of not assuming or thinking of any limitations. The more you do, the more you can do! You are proof of that!

Well Taylor Swift has limitations, not the best musician, not the best singer, but she managed to do "damage"

Sex pistols took whatever morsel of talent they had and created an entire new genre, and captivated audiences.

it aint about being the greatest, music shows today make music a competition, its not.

But i think you're talented. You borrow a page from classical composers in that you paint pictures with your tunes. Thats probably why you get placements on TV and Movies

I think it's good to be honest with one's weaknesses and limitations. It's a matter of knowing the inner self. Yes, I often "paint pictures" with my music. I usually have a title and scenario in mind before I sit at the piano.

Best, John

Limitations of the 12 note scale. I guess if stuck in the 12 tone rut you could go towards eastern music. The music freaks me out but it does offer more that way.

There's also Atonal music

There is no one formula for all, as we all have different personalities, living environments, family pull, etc. I do believe that over-indulgence of anything can lead to compulsiveness or even addictions. Drawing the line is different with all, as we are all wired differently. Some folks drink coffee in the morning because they enjoy a cup or two, others because they "need" it. Music wouldn't be a physical addiction, but could become psychological I suppose--and I wouldn't consider that a bad addiction. I do think the "things" we most enjoy "need" a day or two recess, as then you feel excited or anxious to be back to your desired music tasks and refreshed-- perhaps even more creative as well. Its that way for me anyway, but I haven't much choice as I still work full time and travel, so music for me isn't a regular routine--with you it's your vocation, passion, and routine. Try planning a day a week to be removed from music and experiment with something new to occupy some "away" time. Woodworking! Buy some woodworking equipment and build your own line of piano stools with custom exotic wood inlays-maybe not, your hands are too valuable, too much risk in the wood shop for those fingers and hands. Maybe like Colin -- Photography? The hiking should be a great pass time where you live. For me, getting away to play golf is challenging, and gets my mind off everything--but I've played golf all my life--many find it to be very frustrating if learning as an adult. Tennis however is a great aerobic sport that doesn't require too much time for fulfillment. Going to Grandkid's activities should be rewarding if you have them.

Just keep writing John!

steady-eddie

Coffee Eddie? Yeah, I need it! Ha, ha.

John

If I lived only for myself, full immersion in music would be fine. No sacrifice involved, just constant musical pleasure.

Living with and loving other people reminds me of the sacrifice it demands of them. So I have learned to resist the desire to go full Van Gogh, and to allow love to flow to them more than to music.

John, sorry to say, but you're just simply a professional person like everyone else

Sure, we all have doubts, but. you. have proven yourself many times. over.

Music has no winners line. It's more of a case of running a good race and finding contentment.

Obsession is paramount to excellence. Never be mediocre.

cheers, niteshift

About limitations... Sometimes one needs a reality check. Yang Yang and Tchaikovsky put me in my place. This is what greatness is about: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...1362DBBF50CD896ABDD&&FORM=VRDGAR


Yes, I know my limitations…

Best, John

NO! John, you positively cannot. continue to bring great music and joy to the world.

The world really needs guys like you.

For those who say no, "because you'd have no time for anything else", yes, that's true, but the question is an emotional one, eh? and so, the response must be emotional, as well, I say, so NO! (you'll find a way to get the other stuff in your life done)

and yeah, when I hear Rach 3 with a great pianist (especially Rach himself ), I want to throw down my instrument.

Just think of what you could have been doing instead!

Uh...what...what would that have been? And would it have put as much pleasure in your life as what you DID do?

There was a saying back in the 1960's, "Dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope."
Well, I'm not advocating dope. Just say no. Stay in school.
But music will get you through times better than dope or money, and you get to keep it, whereas the rest tends to go up in smoke. If you've been a musician you're quite aware of the burning of your money.
So don't look back brother! Your instrument is in front of you. The sun is rising, in front of you. It will set tonight, in front of you. Face the sun. The shadows fall behind you. The only reason for looking into the shadows is to find the Songs you'll write and play, in front of you.
Besides, you just try to quit. Music will come and get you out of bed at 3 a.m. and insist on being played.