The Perceptions of a Professional Musician: Dealing with Mediocre Music
As a professional musician, the experience of hearing mediocre music can be quite challenging. It is not uncommon to encounter compositions and performances that fall short of the standards one sets for oneself. The reaction to such music can vary widely, depending on several factors, including personal expectations, mood, and the context in which the music is being consumed.
Dealing with Mediocre Compositions and Performances
When faced with a mediocre composition, a professional musician often takes a critical yet fair approach. If the piece has been reviewed positively, the musician may give it a second chance, but eventually, the music has to be turned off if it fails to meet the expectations set by previous experiences. Similarly, when it comes to less-than-stellar performances, the decision to stop listening is often based on whether the musician can find any redeeming qualities, such as tunefulness or compelling phrasing.
Severe Cases: In the case of outright incompetence, such as when performers attempt to play widely known chord progressions without understanding them, the reaction is immediate and decisive. If a piece is widely regarded as “nobody can do it better in the history of the universe”, any new version seeking to upstage its predecessor must do so quickly and decisively to be worthy of consideration.
The Influence of Personal Expectations
personal expectations play a significant role in how one reacts to mediocre music. It can lead to a mix of boredom and frustration. If a particular composition or performer has been consistently disappointing, it is easy to dismiss it outright. However, if one has encountered a piece in the past that was incredibly powerful, the current performance has an unfair burden to live up to these expectations.
Memory can be a powerful tool in musical evaluations. Once a musician has experienced an exceptional performance, it becomes increasingly difficult to be satisfied with anything less. This can result in disappointment when later encounters do not meet the high bar set by previous experiences. The desire to re-experience that perfect moment is nearly impossible, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction and frustration.
Dealing with Poor Compositions
When it comes to poor compositions, the reaction is often more severe. Mediocre music can feel like garlic to a vampire, draining one's creative and musical capabilities. Professional musicians often find it difficult to deal with sub-standard compositions, as they can negatively impact their own standards and capabilities. Any attention paid to mediocre music can result in a feeling of being less capable, less creative, and less knowledgable as a musician.
For those who teach young musicians, the ability to forgive a few mistakes or enjoy bland performances naturally comes more easily. Good musicians can often automatically correct or improve upon mediocre performances. However, poor compositions remain a constant challenge, as they can ruin even the most perfect performance. For instance, a recording of The Phantom of the Opera that is played to perfection is still not enjoyable by a professional musician, as the composition itself is subpar.
Conclusion
Professional musicians face a complex set of challenges when dealing with mediocre music. While it is understandable to feel a mix of boredom, frustration, and unfair burden when faced with subpar performances, the real challenge lies in dealing with poor compositions. These pieces can drain one's creative and musical capabilities, making it difficult to enjoy any performance. However, if one is paying for a performance, at least it is expected to be solid, increasing the likelihood that subsequent pieces will be enjoyable.