[TPIN] Re: Chet Baker, an artist holding the trumpet

[David Arndt]

This is an interesting conversation.  I'm NO Chet Baker... but I find that I
improvise better when I play with my eyes closed.  Literally.

In a way it makes sense.  Since the most important thing is *listening* - if
you're distracted by *looking* at changes and notes on paper, it can only
distract your brain from listening.

No question that it is VERY important to be able to *read* also (sight
reading)... But from a purely musical point of view, I do believe something
"better" happens when you are working without the printed page as a "crutch"
(as someone put it on this thread).

Didn't Louis Armstrong say that he only read music well enough not to "hurt
his playing"?  

;-)

-da

-----Original Message-----
From: tpin-bounces at tpin.okcu.edu [mailto:tpin-bounces at tpin.okcu.edu] On
Behalf Of Glenn Bengry

I've heard it said that only about 5%of the musical nature of a piece can be
notated.  I think that's pretty close.  Therefore if one concentrates too
much on the 5% on the page, its more difficult to get to the other 95% that
makes the music come to life and move people.  Perhaps that is why rehearsal
usually helps produce better musical results.