Supporting Your Piano Pathway
Reflection by Andrew Eales
Have you ever observed a conversation in which two, though using familiar words, might as well have been speaking a completely different language?
The way in which we package and communicate our ideas is always based on our underlying world view, or as it is sometimes called, “paradigm”.
I am quite struck by this explanation:
”You probably would not consider living in a house made of mud or grass to be a measure of great success. Yet, in some part of China and the cultures of the South Seas, such a dwelling is indeed highly esteemed. Similarly, one person may see a certain plant as a weed, while others honour it as an important medicine or nutritious food. These contrasts represent different ways of seeing, different ways of being, different paradigms.”
Roger Jahnke, OMD (The Healing Promise of Qi, 2001)
It is too easy to believe that our perspective is the right, or even the only way of seeing things. Jahnke reminds us that it is not. The logic, experiences, interpretation, and senses that inform our paradigm are ours alone, and even when values and mores are collectively held, they are still far from having unique authority.
As I reflect on discussions between piano players and teachers online and at gatherings, I am often struck by the difficulty some have in bridging the gap between their paradigm and others. To an extent, we can identify tribes within our larger community, separated by the language, educational pathways and different playing styles favoured.
Many Tribes
Classical players may have begun lessons as a child, taking part in school concerts, festivals, competitions, and perhaps collecting certificates from graded exams. Presented with questions from those who are pursuing an entirely different pathway, they may well try to steer others towards the same approach they are familiar with, and struggle to understand or accept alternatives.
Jazz players often start later, their approach rooted in playing by ear, learning by listening, jamming, and joining in. A complex matrix of music theory lies at the heart of jazz traditions, and those well-versed may sometimes seem to speak not just with an unusual dialect, but a completely different language.
Players who are engaged in a contemporary popular approach can seem like yet another breed. Absorbed in the latest instruments and technology, they are comfortably at home in the 21st century. Able to recall an astonishing songbook of past hits, blend into any musical setting (often taking little credit in the process), they can possess a range of skills and flexibility that others lack.
These are of course extreme generalisations. But they signpost the important point that we all have much to learn from one another.
Discovering the Universe
Wilful ignorance is never a virtue; differences and diversity are to be embraced and celebrated. At the heart of all learning is a willingness to expand our knowledge, to improve, and to experience more of what the universe around us has to offer.
Let’s be on the lookout for opportunities to discover the incredible wonders that are but a single conversation away. Being humble and truly open to learning from those whose paradigm is different to our own can be utterly life-changing.
And while social media can quickly become an echo-chamber from which those with an alternative perspective are quietly excluded, those who are committed to reflective, good writing try to do more than merely reward the gallery.
Pianodao offers over 700 articles and reviews, all FREE to access.
If you appreciate this content, please support and follow the site:
