Being in the moment

[Savio]

Isn’t it strange that when playing in say a big concert where everything goes well, we feel we create something with the other musicians, we communicate with the audience. That’s the moment where age, colour, politics, differences is kind of gone. We only feel togetherness, and it’s a wonderful experience. It can only happens in a live performance and we all feel that magic music can create. Isn’t it a idea to invite all politicians to go to concert and experience this magic? Maybe they see the value of music and art, and how it can connect people and have richer life for all that will benefit everything in our society. Even economic. Just some thoughts when playing a great concert today and thinking in the moment we play, we are all united. Everything else is whipped out.

Just some thoughts.

Leif

[BGuttman]

I like your thoughts, Leif, but many politicians seem to have no sense of music. A lot of them seem to understand very different "vibes" than what you or I respond to. Some of them are so ego-centric that unless the experience is all about them, they tune it out.

[robcat2075]

There are enough completely bonkers musicians out there that I'm doubtful more music is the answer to our problems.

[SimmonsTrombone]

I’m convinced career politicians are near sociopaths, so I agree with Bruce.

[harrisonreed]

Politicians probably won't benefit at all from any such experience. Human beings are meant to be free to rome around and do whatever they want in really small groups, and we did this for about 330,000 years. Then the idea of politics was invented, probably by a sociopath. We haven't been the same since.

How on earth do you trick someone into giving you all their time and almost all of what they produce using that time? Only a politician can do this.

[afugate]

I've thought a lot about this subject since my election to the Oklahoma State Legislature in November 2018.

The basic paradigm in politics is unhealthy. Today's politics is referred to as "the art of compromise." But compromise generally means we each give up something to accommodate the other. Rarely is anyone satisfied by the result because all sides hope to win for themselves.

Just as with art, compromise in politics leads to Picasso-esque results.

Musicians know a better way: collaboration. When musicians come together to perform, we collaborate. We all share in a common vision that allows people to contribute to make the end product the best we can make it for our audience.

--Andy in OKC

[Kbiggs]

Being in the moment is an act of awareness and meditation.

Living with others is an act of survival and politics—which are, all too often, the same thing.

[Posaunus]

Musicians know a better way [than "compromise."]: collaboration. When musicians come together to perform, we collaborate. We all share in a common vision that allows people to contribute to make the end product the best we can make it for our audience.

So true, Andy. Thanks!

[blast]

There are enough completely bonkers musicians out there that I'm doubtful more music is the answer to our problems.

Did you really post that ??? Wow.

[GabrielRice]

There are enough completely bonkers musicians out there that I'm doubtful more music is the answer to our problems.

Did you really post that ??? Wow.

Second. Wow.

[Doug Elliott]

Fugate for President

[Kingfan]

Fugate for President

Amen to that!

[robcat2075]

There are enough completely bonkers musicians out there that I'm doubtful more music is the answer to our problems.

Did you really post that ??? Wow.

We have even discussed a number of these people... by name... on this forum. Highly placed musical performers whose musical involvement has not remedied their toxic problems, perhaps even empowered them to be worse.

And now no one remembers that?

[Burgerbob]

Did you really post that ??? Wow.

We have even discussed a number of these people... by name... on this forum. Highly placed musical performers whose musical involvement has not remedied their toxic problems, perhaps even empowered them to be worse.

And now no one remembers that?

What does that have to do with the musical product people would listen to, as outlined in the OP? What a strange, strange post, Rob. Think about this a little before posting.

[Kingfan]

My idea of being "in the moment" is the times when I and the band are clicking and we are playing at or above our peak ability. The outside world seems to recede and all there is is me, my horn, the band, and the music we are producing acting as a single entity.

[baileyman]

Sounds like "solidarity".

[imsevimse]

Isn’t it strange that when playing in say a big concert where everything goes well, we feel we create something with the other musicians, we communicate with the audience. That’s the moment where age, colour, politics, differences is kind of gone. We only feel togetherness, and it’s a wonderful experience. It can only happens in a live performance and we all feel that magic music can create. Isn’t it a idea to invite all politicians to go to concert and experience this magic? Maybe they see the value of music and art, and how it can connect people and have richer life for all that will benefit everything in our society. Even economic. Just some thoughts when playing a great concert today and thinking in the moment we play, we are all united. Everything else is whipped out.

Just some thoughts.

Leif

The powers of music is for all people but we must realise we are much to different to be able to say what music is to another human. You pick up what you can. If you are blessed with a soul that easily can be touched by music it's one of your talents, others might not feel anything. Politicians are also different. Some might be gifted and pick up the same things you do and some might not.

Politicians need statistics. Thats one thing they understand. If we can prove music is good then music is important. Unfortunately politicians measure what's good only by money.

/Tom

[Kingfan]

Eight presidents were musicians. Jefferson sang and played violin. John Quincy Adams was a flute player, albeit a mediocre one at best. John Tyler was accomplished enough consider being a concert violinist but his father pushed him towards law. Warren G. Harding “played every instrument but the slide trombone and the E-flat cornet” and even played the tuba at the 1920 Democratic convention to celebrate his nomination. Harry Truman was on track to be a concert pianist but decided he wasn't talented enough. Nixon couldn't read music but besides piano, he also played saxophone, clarinet, violin, and accordion, all by ear. Bill Clinton sang in the school choir and practiced the saxophone as many as four hours a day in high school. He played in a band on weekends while in college. Obama had a good singing voice. He sang "Amazing Grace" at a state funeral and his Spotify playlist included Coltrane, Nina Simone, the Rolling Stones, and Beyonce.