Are Musicians Loners?

Subject: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Alan Day
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 06:05 PM

Do you spend hours practicing to perfect your playing and almost go into solitary confinement in a room on your own.
Are you living two lives perhaps happily married on the one hand, but a loner musician on the other.At one time doing a number of Folk Clubs I felt at one time to be two seperate people.With Work three.
Was it just my imagination or do other players feel the same way?
Al

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:02 PM

Mick once told me an old joke:

Q: What do you call a musician without a girlfriend?
A: Homeless!

Off thread I suppose but I thought it might raise a smile.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Greg B
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:07 PM

I was single when I was learning to play the melodeon, and it's
the only way I could have got any good at it. I'd sit with the
thing for hours every evening, TV on, just banging through tunes
and acquiring the muscle memory for the fingering.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:25 PM

Not just musicians every kind of artist, worth the name.

you know what James Joyce said - silence, exile and cunning.

When you're young it sounds great - exciting.

When you get old - you realise you've walked too far from the campfire.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Kaleea
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:27 PM

visi d'arte, visi d'amore!

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: erinmaidin
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:44 PM

There was a campfire???!!!!

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 08:24 PM

Wow, thats interesting. I consider myself a very social animal. I just happen to frequently sing songs when I'm having a good time. I wish I had the ability to sit alone. Practice? I might actually get good at something.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST,silverfish
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 10:09 PM

Dunno about musicians, but for songwriters it seems to be useful to both live socially in the world, but also be able to reflect and communicate your thoughts and experiences. Solitary concentration is great for working out your thoughts and feelings about the actions of others. Sociopathic or schizophrenic? You tell me.
Or maybe wise...

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 10:21 PM

so i wonder just how glamourous a good musician's life is, considering how much time s/he has to spend perfecting their music. it can't be as exciting as it's made out to be in the tabloids, on tv, or in the movies.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 11:05 PM

I'm sure that in order to hone skills, you need a fair amount of solitary time. But I think most of us play or sing in groups--so that's the opposite of being a loner. Choral groups, for instance, can be virtually a (sometimes very large) extended family--with the added bonus that you all have something in common, which gives you all pleasure--and the presence of the others enhances it--in fact is essential.

Sometimes a stronger bond than blood ties-at least stronger than ties with some members of the real family.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Beer
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 11:20 PM

Wow? That's a great question. You have my attention. I've been in my dog house for 5 hours working on a song and not thinking of my better half. Time to check in.
Beer

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Beer
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 11:26 PM

But to answer your question. I think we have to be. But only in the moments or time frames that we need this particular space. And it probably works differently to every individual artist.
beer

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: number 6
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 11:32 PM

One must balance the social side to the loner side.The social aspects and the loner contribute to one's creativity ... personally I cherish both.

sIx

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 12:56 AM

Depends on the instruments they play... piano can be a social instrument but bagpipes? No way!!

LTS

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:38 AM

Try playing flamenco in East Yorkshire, then you'll know what 'lonely' is!

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:39 AM

Interesting question. I wouldn't say I'm a loner, because the main reason I like playing/singing is the social side of it all - meeting other people, singing/playing with them, or to them, or listening to them. I would have thought a loner is someone who doesn't like social interaction very much.

But there are obviously times when you need to be more or less alone, to practice new material, or if you're a songwriter, to concentrate on writing without being interrupted.

My main problem is lack of time, rather than space. With a day job, a wife, family, etc., and a fairly busy social life, I don't seem to get as much time as I'd like to learn new songs properly, practice playing, etc.

Oops, have to dash now.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:44 AM

I know I was banished to the garden shed when I started playing the Northumbrian pipes. Come to think of it, since I play melodeon and banjo as well, perhaps loner isn't quite right. Legion of the Damned might be more the thing.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:56 AM

I was at an Irish session last week and was struck by the sheer concentration on the faces of the tune players as they played. In the breaks between tunes communication broke out and people smiled and chatted but as soon as a tune began to emerge from one source, concentration returned and "loners" turned within themselves to grasp the tune. At the end of the evening people were very friendly and became sociable again. Maybe "loners" whilst playing?

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 04:18 AM

I don't know about loner, but it can be v-e-r-y lonely sometimes when you're in front of a crowd and you can't remember the next line of the song :(

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 05:05 AM

Of course solitude is necessary to concentrate and practice. I am going to be daring though and suggest that perhaps the problems start when musicians try to reach a level of achievement, which is beyond the natural reach of their ability. For musicians whom I have known, who have tried to do that, they have ended up as both boring musicians and boring people. Making music should take you into the world - not out of it.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 12:07 AM

Ron Davies said, "I'm sure that in order to hone skills, you need a fair amount of solitary time." Maybe that's why you sing better than you play the viola.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Alan Day
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 03:54 AM

I think players will always try to reach standards above their ability ,it is what human nature is about.
I think another factor is whether your partner also plays an instrument you then get acceptance by both parties and work together as a partnership.The problem arises of course when ,not only does your partner hate the instrument you are playing ,but the music you are playing on it.We all need hobbies however,something to aim for,
something to get excited about,an improvement,a new chord a lovely tune.I have found however that short bursts of practicing say twenty to thirty minutes of difficult and complicated playing at a time ,is better than say a four hour non stop practice including those tunes you already know how to play.
Al

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 08:53 AM

Whatever you say, Guest. I'm sure you know.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 09:02 AM

Actually, Guest, you're probably right. I never practice the viola--probably should. But singing--and practicing piano-- is more rewarding-- since I don't usually get criticized when I do play the viola. You'll have to come by and tell me what I'm doing wrong.

And I'll be glad to do the same for you.

How about that, a symbiotic relationship.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Gurney
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 09:40 PM

What Scrump said. Yes.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: melodeonboy
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 06:55 AM

Are musicians loners?

You're never alone with a melodeon!

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 12:27 PM

Ron just gave a good reason for choosing an instrument nobody knows anything about. No need to practice.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 02:55 PM

Ron is better at what he does than you are at what you do, GUEST.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: M.Ted
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 09:37 PM

One thing against the loner idea is, from my experience, musicians in a band tend to hang out together even when not practicing--also, musicians, like actors, railroad workers, firemen, carnies and undertakers, tend to associate mostly with one another, as opposed to non-musicians--

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 10:32 PM

All the folks you mention speak a common language.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 10:38 PM

Unless you are a "solo-act" you can never be a "loner."

In today's world, (aside from virtuoso's like John Hartford, that can provide a thumping bass with his left foot, a steel-brush with his right foot, lyrics from his thorax, and guitar treble-bass chords from his digitalae) you MUST have at least another "thine" to thread wolf-worp and entwine.

Commiseration, the whole-being-greater-than-the-parts, homeogysious, Abby Road meets the Sergant.

No "musician" is ever a "loner" they walk in locked-step, (no matter how original they may believe themself to be) to the history and traditions of their equals. "John Cage" may of considered himself original (like Andy W.) however, their deconstruction is easily place in a Germanic root.

You may "think yourself a loner" but a whole cavalcade of ghosts have forged your wake.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 10:58 PM

Mr alanabit,

You said it all. Well Done!!! and Well Writ

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Sep 06 - 05:35 AM

well sure, the famous dead can be inspirational - but their conversation is limited.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 11 Sep 06 - 10:44 AM

Interesting thread. I write my own songs and perform solo. My wife and 5 children have never allowed much contemplative "quiet" time to write or practice at home. But I still manage to put lyrics and melodies together as well as learn a new chord or two. My day job sends me out of town quite regularly to places where weather and isolation sometimes provides the solace necessary in song writing. This is perhaps the reason I've written so many songs about being away from home. I also find myself composing new songs while driving along the empty miles of Alaska's road system. I don't consider myself a loner, like all of us, there are times when we are alone and it is these times which I try to utilize.

Mike

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: GUEST,Val
Date: 11 Sep 06 - 11:02 AM

Gargoyle wrote:
In today's world, ... you MUST have at least another "thine" to thread wolf-worp and entwine.

Maybe this ought to be a separate thread, but is the age of the solo performer truly gone for good (or ill)?

As for the main discussion, for most of my adulthood I've separated the Day Job from the Social Life from the Music. I'm not sure that's necessarily a Good Thing (tm), but it's the habit I've developed.

Subject: RE: Are Musicians Loners?
From: Alan Day
Date: 11 Sep 06 - 01:12 PM

I rather enjoyed your quote little drummer ,the dead's conversation is more than limited unless you know a good medium.
Val you seem to be living three separate lives some of which will become more or less active dependant on situations.A parrallel scene to mine.
Interesting, Alaska Mike all the Folk tunes I have ever written,listening to recordings for the International series,practising monologues etc all goes on in the car driving from A to B .
Al