Category Archives: Music

The Boundary Between Music and Noise

In 1983 Thomas Clifton wrote about the subjective experience of music and said the boundary between music and noise changes over time as the conventions of musical interpretation evolve within a culture, to be different in different cultures at any given moment, and to vary from person to person according to their experience and proclivities. It is further consistent with the subjective reality that even what would commonly be considered music is experienced as nonmusic if the mind is concentrating on other matters and thus not perceiving the sound’s essence as music.

That may be one of the most beautiful distinguishing blueprints of music/noise that I’ve ever read.

At LTMPblog we seek to find experience, meaning, and fulfillment within the framework of music as a metaphor with our lives, families, and businesses. Essentially, our goal is to define, find, and create whatever the music to your follower’s, friend’s, and customer’s ear is…and you can do this by noticing what their hands exchange, observing where their feet take them, and reading their expressions and experiences within one’s cultural framework and mindset as they partake in your so-called music.

Whatever or whomever you’re leading, just know that music leaves clues.

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What You’re Supposed To Do vs. What You’re Supposed To Do

We’re supposed to stand and stay in line,

keep our heads down,

stay in the box,

speak when spoken to,

color within the lines,

do it like they did it,

pass some exams,

and get a degree that gets us a job that gets us healthcare and, eventually, gets us retirement.

The problem here is that the grading system that has awarded one’s athleticism to all of this we’re supposed to do is crumbling. The MOMA is full of art that is outside of the lines and the box (and it’s being cheered for). College isn’t finding or getting us THE job it said it would. Free healthcare isn’t providing fulfillment in our jobs. And we’ve thought retirement equaled happiness, but Luby’s five days a week has proven this not to be true.

Shift gears….

…then there is what you’re supposed to do.

That thing inside of you that you can’t shake.

The things that keep you restless on the pillow, but also passionately pulls you from your slumber.

That work that feels like freedom.

That consistent whisper of ‘yes’.

The reason you’re here.

Your music.

Could there be anything worse than looking back at your 30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 plus years of doing what you’re supposed to do and seeing yourself stand in line for the retirement you never really wanted in the first place?

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Re___________

So you failed?? With a slight change re-do it. That’s called betterment.

You broke it? Repair it. That’s mending.

You found it broken? Repair it. That’s remedying.

Rewrite.

Replay.

Re-think yesterday and then re-start today.

Reboot.

Recall what it was like to be in their shoes.

We remember those that did and failed, and did and failed, and failed, and failed, and did and re________’d things.

It’s not a question of will you need to re________ something, but how often will you have to and are you willing to re________ it?

The one and done’s are nowhere to be found and your dream is just on the other side the re_______ing of something.

Alas, failure is the romance of success.

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Is There a Crowd?

The most simple way to test your music is to look out and gauge the crowd. Or ask the question, “Is there a crowd?”

Noise is selfish. It writes its tunes in the key of “what’s in it for me.”

A true musician gets his fix on the response of his followers…i.e. what’s in it for them?

Did it move them? Did it take them somewhere? Did they experience something?

How are your ticket sales?

That’s a serious question with a serious answer.

Don’t blame your booking agent with your answer. He didn’t write your music.

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Separation

Separate yourself.

Don’t be locked into what your industry and the world has labeled you.

You’re more than a mom. You’re more than an artist. You’re more than a Realtor. You’re more than a coach. You’re more than a teacher. You’re more than a chef. You’re more than what your label infers.

If you were going make music for a living (a good living) would you simply take the music that has already been written and perform that?

No. You would pour yourself into YOUR music. It would keep you awake at night thinking about how to create, write, and bring to market the new. That’s what you would dream of performing. You would feel like that is why you are here…to bring about something new.

Separate yourself, because like it or not the world will know you by your music and block you by your noise.

Commodities = Noise. As you separate from the noise of commoditization there you will find an opportunity to make music and a crowd eager to hear what you’ve got say and play.

Let’s beat the dead horse. Success requires separation.

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