underlying philosophy
background to this article
(winter 2024/25) – medical matters significantly limited my music work in 2024 – however, this has given me time to think about what I do
whilst there are many things in life that I struggle with, I have become good at a few and I’ve reflected upon my modest successes – unquestionably dedication and perseverance play an import part, but I also attribute these modest successes to what I call an underlying philosophy, born from instinct, learning from mistakes and gaining wisdom from others
many professional musicians probably have similar strategies and follow them intuitively – my reflection this year has allowed me to not only make these conscious, but also to document them – so this article is about the underlying philosophy I follow for my music – (I also have underlying philosophies for my photography work and even my poetry)
the reader must understand that this is my underlying philosophy and it may, or may not have universal application
what is an underlying philosophy & why have one
an underlying philosophy is a set of strategies that guide you, helping you to make the many decisions you are presented with in your work – these can help you to do the right thing when there is uncertainty or indecision
necessarily, there are exceptions and sound judgement is needed to know when to break the rules – if every decision is an exception however, then direction is lost
my underlying philosophy encompasses :-
- continuous improvement / professional development
- scope – knowing my limitations
- where to draw inspiration for composing & arranging music
- commitment to quality
- quality principles for writing technical articles
- quality principles for teaching
- ethics
continuous improvement / professional development
in simple terms, this means doing things better – by experimentation, learning from mistakes, following excellent practitioners and a passion for quality – this should apply to all aspects of my work, including admin, marketing, equipment, practice and performance to name but a few – I am very self-critical, which drives much of my continuous improvement
scope – knowing my limitations
it’s important to have clear and strict boundaries to ensure that I stay within my areas of expertise – else, I risk failing to deliver well
where to draw inspiration for composing & arranging music
I learn techniques through experimentation and following outstanding practitioners in the same field, but not with a view to emulating them artistically – I try to draw inspiration from influences beyond the world of music, like nature itself
commitment to quality
this translates into having the best (affordable) equipment, practicing hard for concerts and to have the right mindset when performing – as well focusing on quality for the more mundane aspects of the business, like careful bookkeeping, having a professional and up-to-date website etc
quality principles for writing technical articles
when writing articles and blog posts, I ask myself …
- is the article relevant – does it answer the question posed
- are all the statements absolutely correct – I fact check everything
- are the correct terms used – I avoid colloquialisms but use the correct terms and sometimes clarify them
- is it the article clear – I avoid unintentional ambiguity so that it could not be misunderstood by someone with an alternate viewpoint
- does the article cater for exceptions – I use intentional ambiguity so as not to alienate readers – words like: ‘typically’, ‘often’, ‘could’ and ‘might’ are used to soften statements
- is it impartial – I declare biases and make it clear what is fact and when I am expressing a preference or opinion
quality principles for teaching
this is a complex matter may deserve a separate article – but in brief …
my early music workshops had three quality principles:
- inclusive – all are welcome, regardless of level or style, including people with disabilities insofar as that is possible – these early workshops were truly multilevel and, counter-intuitively, worked best that way
- participative – people lean best by doing – so exercises were devised to address the key leaning points
- fun – humour helps with concentration and retention
over many years of teaching music, the following principles were also included :-
- I know my boundaries of ability and work within them
- I treat each student with equal respect – however, some students need more attention than others
- I am never critical of students
- I lead the class to serve the group – a little discipline is used but only to facilitate learning
- I do not push my music or products – nor do I impose my musical preferences or style
- there is no correct music – students are encouraged to develop their own style
- wherever possible, I recommend best-practice techniques
this link gives an overview of my voice workshops
ethics
- I try to be honest & fair
- I try to pay fellow musicians as well as possible
- I pay suppliers promptly and don’t noramally haggle
- insofar as is possible, I comply with all relevant legislation
- I try to be kind