10/13/2017
My favourite Songs…my relationship to music
I like to get to know my students. When I meet them I always have many questions, but I quickly shift the conversation to music. I will ask about their favourite bands, songs, singers etc. and I always encourage them to show me new music. Often they will show me a new top 40 song or a classic Zeppelin but other times I am amazed by something that I never heard before. What amazes me even more is the wide variety of genres and bands that are considered the favourites. In the last couple weeks I have heard Kiss, Iron Maiden and My Chemical Romance, to One direction, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. Although I would rarely listen to any of these artists, I respect and encourage my students opinions because for whatever reason, they feel a connection to that music.
Now Occasionally, someone will ask me what I enjoy listening to. Most times I give a short answer of "I like classic rock..Rush, Allman brothers, Red hot chili peppers". But its actually much more complicated than that. Its incredibly hard for me to name one artist that stands out above the rest, I would probably struggle to name a top 20. Like many people I know, I feel a deep connection to "my" music. I have a lifetime of memories that can be triggered by any song at any moment. I love that. I also love that music can be associated with emotions. I like interpreting what the songwriter was feeling. I also like every genre of music, every one has something different to offer.
I have early memories of music and specific songs from the time that I could barely walk. I remember my mom driving me to kindergarten as we would listen to "knocking on heavens door" (the guns n roses version of course) and Dr Hook's greatest hits. In my dads car was always rock radio. I remember Colin James and Black Crowes around that same time. Little did I know what an effect those songs would have on me later. I still love all that stuff. Once I found MTV and MUCHmusic things totally changed. I would watch every single video. I vividly remember seeing "Today" by Smashing Pumpkins and the Early Radiohead singles. They also played Nirvana, and Interviews with Kurt Cobain. I became obsessed.
I learned early on that radio was ok, but what I wanted was deeper than what they played on the radio. I wanted the whole album, I wanted the artwork. I wanted to read every bit of the liner notes to see where the album was recorded, who produced, who they thanked. Everything. I am still that way.
The more I learn about music, the more I realize that there is a million things that I don't know. I am on a lifelong journey. I can spend hours learning to play a part, obsessing over one note, and trying to get "the feel". I love trying to understand recording techniques, mics, guitars, basses, drums, effects. its all cool to me. I love when a record has something unique in the production. Hearing reverbs, delays and different types of panning excites me. I mostly love when you can feel the energy of a band playing together on stage or in a room. I search for that feeling every day.
I love all music. I have spent more time with music than anything else. It is what I do. Listening, playing, teaching, collecting, writing, I love it all. I have met many of my friends because of music, and we all have different musical experiences. This is why the question about favourite bands can get complicated. But Im ready to talk about it whenever you're ready
Ty
