This is not an ad. Well, yes – obviously it’s an ad, but Microsoft have not paid me to place this here. I bring you this just to spark a discussion about the endgame of music performance and production in the digital age.
Because although this is absolutely excruciating (I struggled to make it right through the video) – and it might just be the FrontPage of music making (and you have no idea how much I detest FrontPage) – there’s certainly something to be said about the idea of Garageband or Logic in every home. Isn’t there?
This is not a discussion about Apple versus Microsoft (unless that’s what you’d like it to be). It’s a discussion about the place of music professionalism in the face of technologically-enabled amateurism. If it’s cheap and easy for everyone to make music, then what?
De-professionalisation?
I know people who worry about this stuff. They believe that digital tools that take the dexterity, skill and hard-won virtuosity out of music is a catastrophic loss to human culture, and a significant threat to the livelihood of ‘real’ musicians.
But the idea of a resurgence in parlour music really appeals to me. The idea that kids will find it a normal part of play and not necessarily a career decision to play music seems like a good thing to me – and it’s something that’s been – if not lost, then certainly pushed right to the background.
Personally, I believe that music should be normalised, and not held up as some magical ‘either you have it or you don’t’ talent that excludes kids right from the moment singing with their friends starts to make them a bit self-conscious.
I love what Play It Strange do in New Zealand, for instance. Founder Mike Chunn, formerly of Split Enz believes that, like sports at school, kids should have plenty of equipment supplied and a place to play.
I don’t believe that shifting the ratio from professional music to amateur music ‘devalues’ music in any way – and I don’t think it’s a bad thing if music consumers start being producers of music too. Even – and perhaps especially – if it’s “bad” music.
Music creates meaning
Because I think that most of what stands a musician apart is having something to communicate. Musical technique is worthy and laudable – and great joy can be had simply by being in its presence – but music that speaks to you and has meaning… that’s a different level altogether.
And while it’s a different kind of meaning, there’s a really intense, personal and completely valid meaning that can be derived from music that you made yourself.
Just as the proliferation of word processors and those pieces of software that helps you construct narrative and keep character threads on track don’t particularly threaten novelists – nor should the rise of the bedroom producer (or the kitchen songstress) worry music industry professionals.
And if this Microsoft singalong nonsense could just be the gateway drug that gets kids into the hard stuff – then bring it on. Cringe-worthy it may be… but more music in the world is a good thing in and of itself, if you ask me.
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89 Comments
Good points – when I first saw the ad I also couldn’t get past how painfully naff it was, and how cheesy the resulting songs were. But you’re right – push those things out of your mind (which I didn’t do until your prompting!) and you can see how kids who enjoy Guitar Hero et al would find this to be a useful stepping stone between “rhythm games” and a real instrument.
And if nothing else, creativity, experimentation and doodling (visually, musically, whatever) are great for kids. No-one has a problem with a five-year-old screwing around in MS Paint because “it’s not Photoshop”, so why should playing with this be a problem?
So all that said, why couldn’t Microsoft have created an ad that got those points across – the communal fun, the educational/child development aspect – rather than the above cringefest?!
I played around on Garageband, Hitmix, et al when I was a kid, and of course the music you come up with is doomed to be naff, but you get to hone skills as an arranger without even a single note of music theory under your belt.
I was under no illusions of getting to number 1, but I agree that toys and games like this can be great for inspiring children to play ‘proper’ instruments, or become DJs, or sing, or just be that little bit more creative. I’m all for it – and if your music’s any good you shouldn’t feel at all threatened by the production of these “songs”.
On the subject of the ad – Ugh. I’m going to have to watch Science of Sleep or something just to clean the cheese out…
I can see this being a great tool for kids, in the same way that Singstar is. Absolutely agree about “normalising” music.
My only apprehension is that perhaps these tools reinforce the idea that music is something which comes in pre-formatted blocks to be slotted together. There’s enough of that in the professional arena.
great post. I think as a creator of music you have a greater appreciation for good music. It’s not easy to create good music and people that never try to create their own music might not realize that. So the more music creators we have in the world, (even if they are using these ‘fisher price’ tools like Songsmith) should increase everyone’s appreciation of truly great musicians.
I thought it was quite a funny video and I generally agree with the idea that having more people creating music is a positive. However, there was one moment in that video that transcended mere goofiness and approached pure satire. I am referring to the scene where the “musician,” sits down with his laptop and says, “well my band mates have said that my songs are a little stale, maybe this is just what I need.” He then fiddles with some faders on the screen that control the level of “happy,” and “jazzy” of his song, doing all this with a big Stanley Kubrickesque grin on his face.
The part about the child or the entrepreneur making goofy songs for education or business matters is one thing that I entirely support, but I certainly hope that the scene involving the “musician” remains a hilarious fantasy.
Quote: “..Personally, I believe that music should be normalised, and not held up as some magical ‘either you have it or you don’t’ talent that excludes kids right from the moment singing with their friends starts to make them a bit self-conscious…”
I guess that’s the big difference with the music (?) that you hear today verses what you heard 20 years ago and back. Record companies signed these half-wit bands that sound like a bunch of 5th graders, so that the 5th graders would go out and buy the records. “..O I can play that…”
We should start a Musical Rainbow Coilition! That way everyone can be a rock star!!
Real skill and talent is what the public deserves — from seasoned artists who have dedicated themselves to excellence. This article is a perfect example of the LACK of musical integrity in our culture.
There are those of us who have spent years honing our craft, who are veteran music professionals, who resent this type of mind-set. It’s like saying: “Gee, let’s make a car that 5-year-olds can drive, and eliminate the time and effort it takes to make a safe and responsible driver…” It’s a train-wreck waiting to happen.
But then again, that’s exactly the point. The music business has already opened the door to “5-year-olds” who can barely play an instrument with little skill, and made rock legends from them. Why not just finish the damage done and make it to where EVERYBODY can make a record? That way everybody can be a musician. HOGWASH!
This is taking the “equality for all” mindset in our culture just a bit too far. “Ooo, little Johnny’s feelings are hurt because he can’t play music. He’s self-conscious…” Pansie! Then what little Johnny needs to do is go get a real guitar, and practice his ass off — like the rest of us. The fact remains, Junior: “either you have it, or you don’t”!
This is amateur nonsense to the HILT!
Great subject. It’s the same with any art form. The tools should always be available to everyone to play/create, it will never take away from “real” art – whatever that actually means. Anyone can go to an art supply store and by paper and paint, this has never devalued paintings in any way. This same concern came up with the affordability of PhotoShop and FrontPage – anyone can create a web page now. The good stuff will always stand out.
I have no problem, as a musician, with kids growing up having tools that allow the to appreciate music and assimilate it into their lives at a very basic level. I think digital tools and even video games do push kids in the direction of actually learning an instrument as they get older and that’s great.
I also really appreciate the tools available to those of us who are performers because it makes it so much easier and less expensive to produce music for ourselves. That is a very good thing for anyone who makes music.
The only problem with this democratization of musical performance (and, frankly, lots of technical skills that used to be the domain of the expert) is that it de-emphasis on the need for real talent. I’ve been a photographer for longer than I’ve been a musician and as much as I love and embrace digital technology, there is no doubt that the massive influx of photographs taken by amateurs using point-and-shoot digital cameras has made the professional photographer’s job less valuable – I’ve seen that first hand.
The same happens with music. Why hire an engineer or producer when you have Pro Tools on your laptop? Why pay a drummer to come in and make your tracks sound better when you can use a sample? The DIY movement is fantastic in many ways, just because you CAN make a record at your house doesn’t mean it will be any good. Chance are high it won’t.
The end result is a marketplace absolutely FLOODED with music making it harder to sift through and find the good stuff and making it far more likely that an artist with marginal talent, but a knack for the viral nature of the internet and a little skill with technology to take the place of an artist with actual talent who doesn’t have a lot of technological skill.
Frankly, I’d prefer my musicians to be great at music. I don’t care if they know how to social network or understand AD/DA conversion. But, in today’s world, if you don’t understand technology and the internet, it really doesn’t matter how good you are, just how well you know how to manipulate the system and that’s unfortunate.
I thought the ad was purposely stupid just to create this type of viral buzz. It worked. Great post.
I hear what you’re saying, Jeff – but I do want to point out that along with an amazing proliferation of music (most of it not good), online technology has also brought with us some amazing filtering devices too – and you can spot the most internet savvy by how much information they’re screening out rather than how much they’re “overwhelmed” by.
If 90% of everything is indeed crap – then I’d rather have a massive 10% out there and have to learn some filtering tricks, than have a manageable 90% and enforce some sort of “you must be THIS talented to play this instrument” regime.
And besides – a violin is a piece of technology – by definition. Distinguishing between musical instruments and technology misunderstands both, in my book.
I’m as impressed by virtuosity as the next failed guitarist. But I’m always far more interested in the ideas than the execution (I know that’s probably not the norm). But as much as I love hearing accomplished musicians practice their craft, I can’t get past the idea that an instrument is, at its core, a piece of machinery for making sound – and sound that has communicative meaning.
You know, I agree with your logic completely. It’s not that I think that the tools are the devil. Quite the opposite. I don’t shoot with film because I love the advantages of digital photography. I LOVE the advent of digital recording technology because of what it allows me to do that I used to have to pay for.
What concerns me is that the methods of delivery of music, while incredibly convenient, require a certain level of knowledge in something that has NOTHING to do with music. Up until only recently, music was about honing your craft as a musician, songwriter, performer, etc. You didn’t need to be an engineer or graphic designer or social media expert to find success.
It’s that part of technology that concerns me because those who can manipulate the system stand a far greater chance of succeeding regardless of their talent or lack thereof.
I’m certainly not ignorant of the fact that “who you know” was part of the equation when it came to finding success in the past. It didn’t hurt if you worked for a studio or a print shop. But, it wasn’t a prerequisite. It was just a bonus. Today, knowledge of and skill with technology seem to give you a MASSIVE advantage over those without it – far more than what we have seen previously, and that is concerning to me, but not enough to make me toss out my copy of Digital Performer. :)
“The only problem with this democratization of musical performance (and, frankly, lots of technical skills that used to be the domain of the expert) is that it de-emphasis on the need for real talent. I’ve been a photographer for longer than I’ve been a musician and as much as I love and embrace digital technology, there is no doubt that the massive influx of photographs taken by amateurs using point-and-shoot digital cameras has made the professional photographer’s job less valuable – I’ve seen that first hand.”
1. Did it ever occur to anyone that the actual ‘talent’ gap between a pro and joe public isnt really as big as you’d like to believe it is?
2. This imaginarily ‘large’ talent gap is created by money not talent.
3. Price, when a wedding photographer is STILL charging analogue/dark room prices even tho he’s using a digital camera and photoshop is simply taking the piss.
People at the ‘top of the professional tree’ are used to charging rediculous prices for outdated methods that arent actually being used anymore. No wonder theres so many amatuers taking up the torch and undercutting the ‘pro’s’.
I feel ‘pro’s’ in most industries have an overinflated sense of their actual ‘talent/skill’ level, there is more talent in this world than the people at the top would like to admit, technology is levelling the playing field, either adjust, or get trampled on. no different than when the car was invented, or the train, or any other lifestyle chaning invention since time immiorial.
On the ‘musical instruments are technology’ front, you might find this interesting too: Little Boots with the Tenori-On.
Leon,
I don’t think the gap is gigantic and there certainly has been some overpricing over the years. I also think that there are some “pros” in music making some terribly crappy music. Many of the pop stars out there (Britney, et al) have incredibly gifted people playing for them, engineering for them, writing for them and they still make puerile garbage for the most part.
On the other hand, there seems to be a real anti-talent movement that thinks anyone with any skill is an erudite jerk off making bad music with a lot of notes.
Thinking about it, this is an argument that’s been raging for a long time, hasn’t it?
Jeff,
Its money, ‘pop’ music is about money, little talent, massive exposure, big payout with no longevity. short term payout. literally 15 minutes of fame.
Its the eternal argument, people with no talent who suffer from jealousy will fight for the underdog, and fight the talented.
They’ve had programs like this for some time, although they obviously improve substantially with each new program. I don’t think it’s something to worry much about, I can’t see this ever matching the creative process of real musicians.
And regardless of whether this or songwriters are used, pop music at this point is synthesized bare bones music to appeal to the broadest audience possible. So…this could impact that market, but I don’t see it killing rock and roll or jazz anytime soon.
OK, on the video: it’s a brilliant parody of High School Musical and I could write a PhD (and probably one day will!) on the earth-shattering significance of High School Musical in creating a new aesthetic, discovering a new audience and providing a new, sustainable business model.
On the product: the only reason people bought guitars in the 1960s was they were the cheapest, fastest way to make music (every British guitarist started with Bert Weedon’s Play In A Day) which is the same reason they switched to synthesisers in the 1980s so there’s no point being snobby about art and craft.
As previous posters have already said, the fact that everyone can paint doesn’t make everyone a good painter and the fact that everyone can download Songsmith won’t make everyone a good songwriter so enjoy the clever advert (and it is clever) and have some fun with what sounds like a clever product!
Ooh – I knew there’d be hubris sooner or later:
“I don’t think it’s something to worry much about, I can’t see this ever matching the creative process of real musicians.”
…is exactly the sort of line that history books love to quote as being naive and wrongheaded. Not disagreeing, necessarily – just saying it’s along the lines of:
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”
- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.”
- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of DEC
Disclaimer: I have never seen anything of High School Musical. Though I find the idea of this video being clever parody rather reassuring.
For me tools like Song Smith underline the point of finding your own voice as a musician. When you start out you imitate and you sound ‘bad’, but hopefully, if you get passed all that, you start to sound unique.
I think this is independent of gear, it has to do with timing, the tonal qualities you get out of your instrument, how you hear harmony, how you breathe etc.
One can argue that there is no such thing as an original musical idea, but how you play that idea is certainly unique to time and space – your spin on it.
I once read an interview with guitarist Pat Metheny, he said that he used to be worried about his gear, being afraid not being able to get his sound. Then, when he was in Russia, his gear got lost and he was asked to sit in on a recording using someone else’ guitar and amp. When he heard back the recording he was amazed that he sounded just like himself – gear made no difference!
So I think being unique is what’s being a musician is all about, anything that gets you going on that path is great.
When I read this, I couldn’t help thinking about what inexpensive digital audio recording equipment did to the small, independent recording studio.
Not only does it lose customers (ie, bands that decide to go the DIY route), but it also ends up with more competition, as the barrier of entry is so much lower, and some of former customers may now bid against him for V/O work, commercials, etc.
I don’t think Songsmith’s effect on independent musicians will be anywhere near as devastating as digital recording equipment is to small studios. The majority of money to be made (at least from my experience) is with live performance sales, so Songsmith doesn’t seem applicable.
I *could* see how it might spur the growth of more bands as people, who otherwise wouldn’t have considered themselves songwriters, realize they can write great, compelling lyrics. But that’s not a bad thing at all.
And the videos is excruciating. I wasn’t going to finish it until I started reading Dubber’s post about how he barely finished it, and I was shamed into hitting play again.
I don’t know about you, but this is the first thing that’s going on my iPhone (when I FINALLY get one…):
RjDj
I think people get too precious about what being a “pro” musician is all about. As Andrew says, cheap wordprocessors didn’t turn everyone into novelists. There will always be a gap between enthusiastic amateurs and pro’s but at the end of the day music is about fun and everyone should have access to that.
I once heard Tommy Emmanuel say that when you played music you were showing people your soul. Heavy stuff I know but there is a large element of truth to that. Everyone needs access to “the joy of music”. Tools that make music more accessible to everyone should be applauded. Music is not just for the elites and if they truly were as elite as they think, they wouldn’t be threatened by a bunch of amateurs, would they?
STOP PRESS:
Disney and Washburn launch a Guitar Hero game for actual guitars.
Songsmith sounds like a device to make music with, but one you graduate from, unlike a musical device like a cello or a guitar, I think.
On that note, does one ever graduate from one’s musical instrument? What’s the goal of learning a musical instrument apart from bringing entertainment to others?
In Japan they say: “When the archer is perfect he throws away his bow and arrows…”. Archery was only a means by which to become a better human being. Music can do that too.
I have no problem with amateurs enjoying themselves for the simple pleasure of creating music for it’s own sake. No problem either with amateurs who are just passing through before they become competent musicians or even accomplished professionals.
I do have a problem however with listening to amateurish music. When there is not enough technique in some part of the chain before it hits my ears to get across the original intention, I am distracted by incompetence and the message is lost.
You need to have mastered enough of the elements of what you are doing to get your point across. And if one of those is a piece of software then that’s fine. It’s whether you’re using it in a creative way that’s important.
It was the musicality that Art Of Noise applied to sound that made it listenable. De La Soul had gut instinct with their sample use. Chopin was showing off. Bach was a sculpture of notes.
All had technique. Without it we wouldn’t have ever found out what they were thinking. You must be proficient with the tools, whatever they are.
Music is good for everyone. If more people make more of it then it is good.
JULIAN MOORE
you are simply stating a personal preference though.
what is amateurish to you is another man’s grammy nomination.
thats not the issue, you cant argue personal preference. Its the snobbery that these people shouldnt be allowed to create in the first place and that somehow they should be dissallowed from releasing their music to the public.
that is the issue.
and the fact is, we are all created equal, we are all entitled to create. Equally we are all entitled to release our creations to the public, and just as equally, as the public we are entitled to NOT listen to something as much as we are entitled to listen to something else, or buy it or not buy it for that matter.
The question underpinning this argument is: What are the useful purposes of music?
Entertainment seems to be the most important purpose in this forum. With music as entertainment we, as performers, can (hopefully) make a living doing what we enjoy.
But there are many more useful purposes of music. It can be used to promote learning, healing, bonding. Both the acts of listening to music and of creating music can encourage these important activities. Essentially, music has a profound effect on the emotions and the act of creation augments that effect in only positive ways.
The external tools used to facilitate the experience of creating music is irrelevant. The experience is key. Of course, if a creator of music decides to present the music to the public then there will inevitably be judgment of the sound they have created. The reaction to this judgment may or may not lead to changes in the tools used to facilitate the act of creation. Whether it leads one to change from using something like Songsmith or not is also irrelevant. Again, the experience is key. In this case, the experience also belongs to the public. If they are entertained then there may be no immediate need for a change of instrument (which is what Songsmith is).
KW said “real skill and talent is what the public deserves”.
I think the term “talent” is misunderstood here. Certainly it takes real skill to master a complex instrument such as the guitar and if you have a talent for it, then that skill is easier to obtain. But the talent that most people connect with is not talent for playing ability, but for the act of creating itself. And if someone has true talent at songwriting then they will be able to create passionate pieces of music out of Songsmith and the like. Whether or not they choose to use that as their instrument is up to them.
I am going to finish this by describing a situation where music is used for what I think is a far more useful purpose than entertaining the masses.
I taught a good friend of mine a few guitar chords so she could play some of her favourite songs. Luckily, the music she likes is quite simple, so she was able to learn the parts relatively quickly for a beginner. She now sings and plays those songs to her 4 year old son as he lies in bed, ready for a restful sleep.
Dubber: “more music in the world is a good thing in and of itself”
Agreed.
Excellent post! And I’ve never seen HSM, so I didn’t know it was a parody. I assumed it was MSR devs being cheesy for fun.
This app is groundbreaking in it’s simplicity and potential. It’s not ProTools (or hell, even Steinberg VST, or *gasp!* GarageBand)… But it does something that none of those other apps do. I’m stoked about it, I’m going to bust out the guitar and play some stuff I’ve been noodling on and see what it comes up with. My wife’s going to use it to write some piano stuff just for fun.. So it’ll be interesting to play with it. Sadly, I have to wait until I’m all finished moving. :/
That guitar hero game with the real guitar is a step in the right direction but after watch the guy demonstrate I am nearly certain that very little real learning about guitar playing that could possible be gotten from this. Or at the very least it is a remarkably inefficient way to do so. If I were starting out on guitar and wanted to learn “Stair Way to Heaven” I don’t see how mindlessly hitting the frets I am told to with no relation to the theory behind it will make me any good. Though I am not doubting that some day a good video game system that can teach one to play is possible, but this game is still on the ground floor along with “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band.”
Recently I read the book “This is your brain on music” by Daniel Levitin. In one section he writes about certain non-western cultures where signing and dancing is something everyone does. As a visitor asked to join in, he felt uncomfortable and opted out. The people didn’t understand his reservations. To me, this shows that our culture has a counter productive tendency to elevate anyone with a little talent to some absurd god-like status, possessing a “supernatural” gift that is unattainable for the masses of regular folks. It makes people afraid to open and sing, or try their hand at an instrument and experience the joy and community that music can bring. However, when a musical experience is disguised as a game (Songsmith – Guitar Hero), it seems to allow people to deal with the inhibition and insecurity that keeps them (Westerners at least) marginalized as passive observers.
Can I be upfront here? (That was a joke – based on a previous posts comments)
I am going to put forth an effort to be brief here (and yes it will be difficult but here goes) -
Art is in the eye of the beholder.
“Good / Great” songs are in the ears of the be-listener (yep, made that word up).
Talent and skill are great things but a great song or art they do not always make.
Access to affordable tools for any and everyone to create is a great thing. Power to the people.
Musicianship appreciation and admiration are fine and dandy, but I think we could all find songs we love that do not necessarily consist of high-brow musicianship.
When sequencers and samplers first came into existence many years ago – for the most part – they were the tools of “Electronic Music Makers” – Dance music, Industrial, Trip-Hop, etc. etc.
It has only been in the last 15 or so years that these tools (DAW’s) became the norm for most all aspiring musicians. Whether it was for the engineers to record live instruments or for the DJ/Musician to create “Tracks” that we now call “Songs”.
We each like what we like – whether simple or complex, whether classically trained or simply aspiring bedroom remixers and producers.
Were the Ramones amazing musicians? Maybe not, but many of us love what they did.
This reminds me of something I have heard regarding the battle against the introduction of the radio – I forget who exactly it was – but I recall the argument being that if these boxes emitting music were to be allowed to exist, that folks would quit gathering on their porches to sing and play music.
Maybe we are coming around full circle here? Maybe this is the way back to each and every person having that opportunity again?
Power to the people.
Good and great songs will always have their place in our individual appreciation – even if everyone in the world has the ability to create music (as everyone should).
Yep, that was not very short of a comment at all was it? My bad.
OH YEAH – a big PS here -
Casio has been doing something similar to this for decades.
despite my hatred of this ‘ad,’ and that i think even the product is incredibly weak in practice from what i’ve seen/heard, i’m definitely for this kind of thing. i’m a ‘real’ musician that’s spent years honing ‘real’ instrumental skills but i’m also an electronic music producer that creates music with a wide range of incredibly powerful digital tools…and after years of both its clear to me the tools are basically irrelevant no matter how powerful they are. music is in your mind.
while it might take a group of people a good bit of time and effort to learn how to play and write from scratch exactly what that program plays and writes…we all listened to it right? its ridiculous! none of that will be winning any awards let alone listeners anytime soon. actually, if a song created like that ever does, it’d take a truly gifted mind to get it to spit out something amazing and worthwhile.
and yes while things like this do give more people a chance to get involved in music in a more direct way than simply listening, i think it is laughable to ever group something like this into the same world in which the truly great, inspiring and life changing music resides. ok this might be working in the direction of ‘democratization,’ and tools like this will continue to evolve and become even more powerful, but this by NO means puts everyone on the same level as the true musically talented people.
the thing that people seem to overlook with things like this…yes it puts powerful tools in the hands of everyone but it is by no means a real normalization of anything. you still have naturally musically gifted people with powerful tools and totally talentless amateurs with powerful tools. guess where the good music will come from? and if good music comes from the amateurs, that stands out from all the other people who have access to the same tools, well i guess they weren’t that talentless in the first place!
the last bit of the post pretty much sums it up. it can open the door to absolutely everyone, but the gifted people who’s eyes are opened by something like this will move well beyond that they’re inspired to.
and one last thing, RW it took me becoming a producer after years of guitar and sax playing to realize physical skill in performing on an instrument does NOT make you musically talented…plenty of people can play up a storm but still have weak musical minds.
A strategy to the worried musicians who, like me, are finding Garageband and SongSmith are their biggest competition.
Technology is always being invented in every industry which shifts the jobs of humans to computers instead. It has already happened within the music industry with, for example, music copyists and sheet music publishing software.
What did CD manufacturers do when CD burners became standard in consumer computers? Lobby to have them removed because the quality wasn’t very good? No! Start producing blank CDs of course! Possibly a weak analogy but you get my drift.
Technology has caught up with us again – so let’s use that as an incentive to move ourselves forward with new ideas rather than hold technology back.
How many of us would be affected if we had no digital tools at all today because people that used to record onto tape lobbied against computer recording because it didn’t require as much recording knowledge? All of us?
Another era of music is coming to an end. Let’s use our competition to drive us forward and force us to think of new ways to approach music in perhaps new markets.
One thing I haven’t seen bought up yet…
So, you sing a tune (probably way out of tune compared to those pitch perfect (autotuned?) performances in the ad), and then the software extracts the key/note information out of it, and puts a set of pre-played sequences underneath it (which I assume, are probably fairly limited).
So, it doesn’t actually teach you anything about making/writing music, other than the false representation that it really is all that simple, and everyone’s track is going to end up with the same presets behind their music?
It’s not really close to Logic, maybe Garageband with its included loops…
Its taking some of the technology that we can see in the likes of Melodyne, and automating the rest for you.
I guess it will be great for kids, and people who honestly think that writing music is as simple as adjusting a slider.
Yes, it might (and hopefully will) get more people into actually writing music, but I also think it will potentially end up like the cheaper DJ systems, that people get into thinking it will be easy, then give up when they realise that you really do have to put time and effort into it.
Kinda like the pro-thumb-skaters who have never grazed a shin in concrete.
And yeah, that ad is pure cringe. :)
well I think people are exaggerating too much… if more music comes around, it wouldn’t change anything. why?
let me explain it: there is music I like, and music I cannot listen to! really simple, isnt it? ;)
doesnt matter how much artists are makin music… the ratio isn’t shifting at all…
I think these new tools are great. The more people who get to experience the joy (and tribulations) of making music, the better. Stuff like Songsmith and GarageBand’s new Learn to play lower the bar of entry for people, which is a good thing.
I don’t believe for one bit that the stuff that comes out of these programs will devalue professional music. Quite the opposite, it will teach the laymen a thing or too about how hard it really is to make great music. Appreciation of professionals will go up, not down.
I agree with your thoughts about getting kids to play without any pressures or expectation. Saying this, however, i can’t help but feel that this kind of software will distract kids from the established avenues of music tuition, theory etc…I picked up a guitar…won’t this ultimately just create a bucket load more manufactured pop. And with advertising no doubt geared towards shoving it down kids necks they will feel that this is a conventional avenue. I’d let my kids play with it, but only because I know enough to get them guitar or piano lessons, would every parent do this…probably not. Just seems like money making rather than educational
I wouldn’t normally comment twice on the same blog but I think James Pew’s point is hugely important. We’ve turned art from something everyone does into something we pay a few people to do. I’d therefore say anything which democratises culture, whether that’s acting, singing, dancing, playing instruments, painting or anything else is good and anything which restricts participation is bad.
I totally agree, I think the new games/tool/technology etc are fantastic. Through most of history people have made their own music with friends, it’s a nice, sociable activity. as a profesional musician, I for one would love to see the end of the musically able/unable myths that go round. I think that there is a greater tendency to devalue a musician’s hard work if people don’t understand how much hard work it takes. I’m sick of people behaving as though my ability to sing is God-given, rather than the hours and hours of practice that I put in every week. I would rather they saw it for what it involves.
Games like singstar enable me and my friends, who have had little or no music training to have lots of tipsy fun with singing. I often use Garageband as a simple way of introducing young people to making music. For some, that is enough. But for many, they very quickly discover the limitations of tools such as these and want to go beyond. What’s not to like?
Consumers, kids who will buy this software need to bring their game on the live stage. That’s where any concert-goer and bar patron will decide what is “real”. Let everyone have fun in make believe land. I’m not worried.
It takes administration, spreadsheets.
Smart Knowledge Management guy John Tropea tweeted overnight about the economics of the amateur.
The following (youtube) link joins up a few dots quite nicely on this matter.
Jim,
I totally agree.
And I will take the opportunity to say another thing:
The musicians, the music industry, this site and every one in some way connected to music is giving to much importance to recorded music!
This tools are really great as they call people’s attention to music and make the general public talk about music.
And that will bring people to gig’s! Because that’s what music is all about.
Music is a social art.
Music is about getting on stage with your band mates.
Feel the Adrenalin pumping in your veins together.
Feel all the excitement together.
And, of course, make your audience fell some of that to.
Feel the energy coming from the audience.
Feed that energy back to the audience canalizing it to your music.
You can’t make a computer do that!
You need to be actually playing the music to be able to that.
Just my 2 cents…
@dubber great point that I didn’t think of until you mentioned it, however, as even you seem to imply it still seems that the point of computers vs human in creativity stands. And regardless, I think it is more important just to note that there will always be bad music, and there will always be good music. Bad music is very easy to manufacture and duplicate, good music not as easy. Therefore, I think the creative edge should stay in real music for quite some time. Just gotta sort through a deeper sea.
To all;
Whenever something can easily be had, it becomes devalued. This is the case with the music business. Yes, you can blame the “The Bad Industry guys” for a lot of it. However, it is not all of their fault. Music has become so cheap that independent artist like me is finding it hard to sell. Of course you get the normal round of “create better music” and people will buy it. People talk about Britney, Miley, and all of the other pop queens, and just how bad their music is, and how bad they sing, blah blah blah…; but they and their music are the ones that are selling. Britney put out a song entitled, “womanizer” which is the same song that she put out years earlier entitled, “more”. The difference is everyone likes her now so the song is good.
The point is, “good music” is the eye of the beholder. As music creation has become convenient for the semi pro, the more crap is out there. Now, with this; one has to wade through even more crap. So now I am back full circle, as with Britney, Miley, and all of the other pop stars, I have to market myself so that you can find me easier.
… I had to leave Marketing 101 starts in an hour.
Envi
It’s important to remember that it can also be incredibly easy to create good music. I can see the right person coming up with some mind-bendingly fun stuff with this thing.
Andrew, I agree with your points as well. I think amateur and professional music are both valuable. I read or heard once that there were actually a relatively high percentage of households in the early part of the 20th century that had pianos in them. Obviously, they weren’t all owned by pros. Also, there was significant revenues from sheet music at the time too.
I don’t see why this same idea can’t work now: technology that everyone can use, whatever their skill level, and products that are sold to enhance the enjoyment of that technology.
good grief dubber watching that was sheer hell
but – i spent a week at new year at a small festival on the east coast of the Coromandel in New Zealand ( Prana Festival ) where the organisers booked acts on the mainstage from 8pm onwards but the day stage was purely a blackboard stage.
everybody was excited about this and commenting that the gap between the ‘professionals’ and ‘everyone else’ was getting smaller – the day stage was very relaxed and full of surprises like a six year old who sang some really well constructed songs with her muso dad, many djembe drumming circles, some impromptu singer songwriters and pro’s who weren’t booked to play on the mainstage but just wanted to jam anyway.
it was a huge success – i played the festival on the mainstage last year but think i may have actually enjoyed this year more as a participant as i jammed on the blackboard stage with no pressure, no promo and just enjoying who ever happened to be in the audience at the time.
this is related to your comments about democratisation of music/entertainment/art – there is surely a groundswell towards ‘everyone else’ reclaiming music as a basic human function
i doubt this will ever hurt ‘artists’ , to the contrary i think it is more likely to open up ‘everyone elses’ awareness and understanding of what ‘professional’ artists are doing – less elitism – more understanding
thanks for the post dub- although very very painful to watch
k
Ambient awareness. I blog about this notion frequently.
Tomorrow’s post is ‘Great songs are commodities’ which is one of the points expressed here, in my opinion.
Songs are different than musicianship, in my opinion. Perhaps society will return to an emphasis on long form composition. As it stands now, three minute pop songs using I-IV-V and maybe a VII, are not difficult to write. That is the heart of the matter.
And I don’t equate lack of difficulty with lack of greatness. People connect with emotion, feeling and a point-of-view and the familiarity of our modal structures is the framework against which people can convey that feeling. People used to say you could take any picture you ever needed with a 50mm lens and that’s the point I see with songwriting.
I find the question is it a “good” thing or a “bad” thing kind of strange. It depends from whose point of view. People that used to write songs for a living may have to find new jobs or learn how to score film or television.
As I become a better songwriter, I get a little sad that I don’t think there will be much of an audience for my best work. But I’m glad to have the tools and the network to help me realize that music, regardless of the “ROI”. It is what it is.
Andrew, kudos. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen 50+ comments on a post before. This clearly touched a nerve.
Best,
Sam
PS The Flying Change’s new album ‘Pain is a Reliable Signal’ out soon!
PPS What does “out” mean in this context? No idea. But we recorded some songs and they will be “released”
I think Taximezzo’s on to something. It is actually about the singing, which is something we don’t tend to do much anymore as a society. So many kids grow up these days without ever hearing their parents sing. Whereas in my childhoos in the fifties people sang loudly and spontaneously at school, down the pub, in church, at scouts or round the piano at home – it was part of life. It is part of life. The problem with Singstar is that it’s like the Karaoke microphone – it reinforces the idea that singing is something you need special equipment to do. The little girl in that ad didn’t actually need to be sitting at a bloody Windows PC in order to just open her mouth and come up with some words and a tune, for Christsake. People are terrified of one of the most natural, creative things in the world. Oh no, not me. I’m not a singer. Bollocks to that. Anybody can sing – even if they sound like Bob Dylan or Lou Reed. Nobody should feel they need a backing track before they’re allowed to open their mouth and let rip at the top of their lungs. As Taximezzo says, Singstar is A Good Thing if it gets people to start enjoying the sound of their own voice. But at the same time it’s also removing the act of singing another step further away from the spontanaeity of everyday life.
If someone can squeeze great music out of something so minimal, then more power to them. As a result of stuff like this there will be lots more junk, but it’s worth it if a few geniuses are enabled because of it. It’s just technology, it doesn’t turn a lousy musician into a Mozart. But because of it we might be able to discover the next Mozart who otherwise wouldn’t have had an opportunity to prove it.
-Dom
Totally agree with Tom Robinson on this one. Just sing! And Sam Jacobs – it’s about the songs. Many great songwriters create their songs accapella – away from their instrument of choice.
However if it stimulates the musical imagination and generates a real desire to keep coming back until you’ve written something good {Vox melody/lyrics} then anything that encourages us to sing and make more music has to be a good thing. Dom T sums it up for me “it’s worth it if a few geniuses are enabled because of it”. My daughter started on Garageband about four years ago. She soon found it too limiting – and picked up a guitar. Now at 14 she’s writing really good songs. -Rich{Proud Dad}
You guys really should hear this:
http://music.metafilter.com/2943/Runnin-With-The-Songsmith
Just a thought… (sorry if somebody else has already expressed it)
Lets say someone does (somehow) create a great song on songsmith. who owns the copyright?
ktb
My initial reaction was… yuck!
Fingernails on the chalkboard. Cringe down to my Coccyx!
I like your comparison with Frontpage and with a gateway drug Andrew.
Yes, it may be horrible though it does use a sequencer like interface which as you say could get them on to the “hard stuff”.
I suspect a keyboard, guitar, mic and a copy of Cubase or Logic may be a better bet though! Give ‘em 10000 hours ;-)
I started making music because I experienced a world beyond what the eyes can see listening to records as a child. A sound, a timbre, something haunting and ethereal.
Music transported me and made me pick up a guitar, play the piano, study sound engineering, and I’m still at it! ;-)
I feel that there is a magical element to music which while accessible to all, requires so much dedication that few have the discipline, passion and patience required to coax the music from the the imagination.
I feel that musical substance comes from a lot of instrumental practice combined with fine awareness and perception in life.
This can be cultivated, though once again requires almost obsessive devotion in order to be great.
I think software such as this horribly underestimates the curiosity and and capability children have for learning music…
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=I8cvKImVadE&feature=related
This software reminds me of manufactured boy/girl-band groups where formulaic tracks are made for them and pitch-correcting software works overtime.
I can not see any engineering or production skills being developed down this “sing into the microphone and then adjust the happy/sad button” route.
Get them on to the hard stuff straight away, they may surprise us with their virtuosity! ;-)
Marius
Further to the concept of Songsmith being instrumental in the revival of parlour music, David Darling’s ‘Music for People’ might be of interest:
http://www.darlingconversations.com/index.htm
A quote:
“The Darling Conversations explores the fundamental techniques of sound-making as an instrument of self-expression and personal growth. By approaching music from a philosophy of self-acceptance and joy, we can tap our inborn creative impulse and re-vitalize our music-making.”
Ok, I still don’t have any problem with this thing in principle, but after playing around with it this morning I must say it is an absolutely atrocious piece of crap with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
It doesn’t seem to actually follow a melody unless your melody happens to conform to one of it’s predetermined chord progressions.
So in a sense it teaches play it really safe and the music will work fine.
Hmmmm.
re;felix) i wondered about that – feel like posting an example?
k
I got excited by this too:
http://createdigitalmotion.com/2009/01/08/you-know-for-kids-game-design-world-creation-as-microsoft-research-previews-kodu/
it’s the same sort of thing, but the goal is to create real xbox games and share them with friends.
I agree. I think it will only mean more opportunities for the musicians who are really skilled and talented at what they do.
If the program is indeed “an absolutely atrocious piece of crap with no redeeming qualities whatsoever” as Felix describes then it will not sell or get used enough to matter. No worries. :)
Hunter,
I’ve uninstalled it and haven’t saved anything.
I may be wrong about how it works, it just seemed that way when I tried it. My description was probably a bit harsh as I was really excited about and then very disappointed by it.
I’m sure people will find truly interesting ways to use songsmith but it won’t be me.
The Dad’s gurn is awesome.
Thanks for that video Andrew – that’s 4 minutes of my life i’ll never get back.
On a serious note, I think people are overestimating the ultimate intent of the “bedroom producer” – which is to share their music with their friends and family. I do not believe that most of them will go through the steps of actually distributing their “bad” music via mainstream services like iTunes, CD Baby, etc. If they DID go all the way to distribution, only THEN would we have an issue with de-professionalisation.
I think this is cool – the notion of this type of ‘playing’ with music is all about Barthes muscular music. Real musician’s just need to keep developing ‘listening’ music
You are a wise one o’ Mr. Dubber.. Sometimes getting caught up in the business of music (which is seriously ironic on this site) we lose perspective of what really matters. Its nice to hear an honest positive opinion, and is quite humbling. Knowing all the answers is good but, knowing what the answers mean is what brings wisdom. And that wisdom, is the big picture scenario here. What really is it we are all apart of here? Why does it matter, and more importantly, how do we preserve or (to be cliche) “pass the torch” for future generations to come?!
Keep up the wonderful insight as it keeps me comin back for more!
Andrew, I agree with you.
I’d prefer my kid playing with songsmith then watchin’ brainless TV.
I’d prefer anyone who doesn’t sing to anything start jamming on this thing rather then probably never sing at all.
This thing is a toy after all. Most engineers were playing with Legos at one point in their childhood.
Thanks for the nice twist on this topic.
Andrew wrote: “But the idea of a resurgence in parlor music really appeals to me. The idea that kids will find it a normal part of play and not necessarily a career decision to play music seems like a good thing to me – and it’s something that’s been – if not lost, then certainly pushed right to the background.”
There are a number of reasons parlor music isn’t in vogue, one of which is – nobody has parlors today.
But seriously, since the explosion of the Internet, how can you say that recreational music has been pushed right into the background? Once you log on, it’s friggin’ everywhere. Everybody is slobbering it out and slappin’ it up. There’s more non professional musical activity today than there has been in the last 50 years. It’s moved out of the parlor and into the bedroom. And, even though there is more competition in terms of recreational entertainment, self generated music is an important part of the non professional entertainment. Remeber, during the heyday of parlor music, radio wasn’t even available to the masses.
In reality major businesses ancillary to the music industry do everything in their power to encourage non professional involvement in music. Instrument manufacturers, publishers of sheet music …manufactures of digital equipment and programmers that write programs for teaching, recording, producing and distributing musical material rely on non professionals to make a profit .. Google, YouTube, MySpace … .
Non professional music is big business.
Prior to the Internet, ancillary businesses had been suffering because schools had severely cut back on music education for budgetary reasons. Prior to the Internet, schools were the primary way to reach, and sell stuff to, vast numbers of non professionals. Now schools are not as important for commerce … Where they are missed is for the exposure they gave to the vast array of music that exists. Even if you hated being in music class, you couldn’t avoid exposure to music you may not have known of. Most of today’s non professionals are locked in their own narrow cast musical experience which is truly a sad place to be incarcerated.
But, to your point, thanks to the Internet – today’s global parlor is filled with non professional music and it is growing.
But let’s take a minute to discuss something that has nothing to do with non professional (amateur) or professional music. Musical talent.
As rap clearly points out you need no musical talent whatsoever to be a professional. On the other hand you can be brilliant musically and never earn enough money to pay your rent – or might chose to turn your back completely on becoming a professional.
As a person who has spent a lifetime working with musically gifted people, I can tell you that whether their talent comes naturally or through arduous training, the gift they offer the world can not be compared to anything anyone else has to offer. Musically talented people add a myriad of wonders to our world… and, in extremely limited numbers, what they have to offer is magical.
Let’s face it, we’re all amateurs when we start out, so the movement to self generated amateur music on the Net is terrific because it gives professional wannabes an expanded chance to be heard … including those whole are musically gifted… For instance, 7 year old Emily Bear who began writing and perfuming music when she was five, has written 130 pieces of music, has three CDs available and has appeared on several national TV shows…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wQ0vKu6MLg&feature=related
Truly magical.
I suspect the ad is the first of many from Alex Bogusky’s team trying to work out what they can do with the $300m Microsoft account they won last year. The extreme irony is that Bogusky’s agency is a product of the Mac approach which allowed him to compete with much larger networks.
Bogusky & Co are probably struggling to find anything interesting and so it looks like they have started on what makes the Mac fun and to see if they can find ms equivalents.
I blogged about some of this in ‘Zeitgeist Media Revisited’ which in itself is an interesting panel discussion between Lee Clow (Apple ad guru) and Alex. I look forward to Lee’s team coming back with the ads on this one and it is partly the huge success of the Mac he is PC campaigns that MS is even thinking about a new angle here.
I agree with James Phew and others who have noted that some of this is a reclaiming of music. The Levitin book – This s Your Brain on Music should be required reading. I love that the author was/is a musician and producer who became a brain scientist.
A very large part of what levitin brings to the table is his musical insights first and the the science comes later.
If even naff computer programmes encourage more people to be musical then that is a good thing.
Many of us grew up with piano’s, guitars and other music makers way before computers or even useful s/w.
Fact is a piano takes up a lot of space and requires more skill than any s/w I know of.
Recently my 7 year old wanted a copy of Kidpix which is an old graphics programme they use at school. I was surprised to hear singing into the mic as that s/w also allows sound files almost anywhere. That part of the Kidpix s/w is not obvious but it all makes learning more fun.
Outsider insights are always useful. What starts as fun – serious fun can lead to a redefinition of work and play.
There is a new video of Paula Scher over on TED which talks about the cycle from serious to solemn. Part of that is about how being a outsider can qualify you to do even better but also recognising that once you get to a certain point the serious fun goes out of the process and its time to do something else.
If MS ads like the one referred to encourage people to have serious fun then I’ve in favour of it. Using a computer as a toy is a good thing.
Also for any parents needing a musical antidote for HSM try the recent musical version of Hairspray which retains just enough of the subtext and history to make it a whole lot more fun.
Did a bit more reading. Looks like this ad might be an outlier from someone else at MS.
However the new Ad agency is a real thing and they will be watching very closely to see if being intentionally bad works as a strategy. Which judging by the widening ripples on the pond seems to be true.
Alex Bogusky went on record at the Zeitgeist event and said that the new “role for traditional media is to seed ideas into popular culture” and that includes this video.
Consider the idea well seeded now.
Also quite a view viewers think that the computer is actually a Mac but that is another red herring.
Looks like this ad might be an outlier from someone else at MS.
Very interesting Jason. So it’s possibly a true story.
Sure does look like a Mac now you mention it.
b-r-r-r-r. I don’t want to go through that ever again.
Very interesting indeed Jason.
Oh and that comp really does look like a mac covered up in stickers. It immediately caught my attention the first time I saw the ad. I proceeded to do my little investigation, which actually only resulted in doing a couple Google queries (was feeling geeky last night). Techcrunch saw through the sticker-disguise as well:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/15/worst-microsoft-video-promo-ever-take-2-just-cover-up-the-mac-with-stickers/
Why on earth would they do this? Very strange.
Also, I stumbled across this video Robert Scoble shot in his hotel room at the CES (http://scobleizer.com/2009/01/08/microsoft-gets-you-singing-with-songsmith-first-video-demo/).
Here we see the two actors in the ad, who are actually the software wizes behind the Sonsmith development at MS, explain in much more detail how the program works.
It is pretty impressive. I downloaded the demo and had a blast within minutes. As a musician I see the potential behind this product and its functionalities, but MS developed it for the masses, and after a couple of minutes, frustrated by its rudimentary features, I felt a little bored.
Anyways, although the ad has proved to be extremely viral, I still think they they did a poor job at demonstrating what you could do with Songsmith during those 4 long minutes. It’ll probably be more popular at drunken parties than at pre-teen sleep overs.
oh and you can also export the MIDI files thus allowing you to import them in a sequencer and re-write the instrumentation. I don’t think this feature will have much appeal in this version of SM, but I like that they thought about those kind of details.
Robin,
Why on earth would they do this? Very strange.
So we will talk about it I suspect.
Hmmm,… How limiting and depressingly scairy can you get?!? OK, so it took a clever person with imagination to come up with that program, but it’s a complete cop-out for anyone trying to create something original. Mind you, the only type people to use that program are probably the sorded, soul-less and brainless minions that we just saw in the video and I don’t really think it poses a real threat to the recording industry! (Unless you’re a jingle writer by trade of course). There is one thing though – the fact that this program does exist and that Mama Mia did so well proves that “real, quality music” and original forms of truely creative art is dying out in comparison to the ratio of the globe’s swiftly growing population. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!! AAaarrrggghh – it’s in my head now!!
Hello,
I’ve done my own blog about this, partly in response to this article and some of the comments.
“The old ‘talent’ question rears its ugly head. A lot of kids will have loads of fun making some really awful music. Some people are offended by this. But lots of kids have fun making bad music with ‘proper’ instruments. Lots of boring old men enjoy themselves playing dull-as-shit blues covers too. At least Songsmith will be quicker.”
http://paganwandererlu.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/songsmith-will-change-your-life/
pwl.x
In my eyes, a musical instrument is an object that approaches infinite possibilities for one to create sound. An such, I believe that a wooden box is a completely viable musical instrument, as is a single string and metal bar, or a pair of hands.
This software does not approach infinite possibilities for creating sound. It is not (to my viewpoint) a musical instrument. I would place it somewhere in the videogame realm, as its potential is limited only to what the developers intended it to be used for, and the end results are completely predictable .
As such, I feel it has negative connotations for early learning of music. It would be wiser to give a child a simple percussion instrument and explore playing rhythms in time.
Lastly, I would say that comparing this software to parlor music is similar to equating paint by numbers as a viable means to introduce people to portraiture.
I will try to keep this short and just say bravo for Microsoft’s Songsmith. I have worked in many areas of the music industry as a professional. And I did spend some time in retail.
While in retail, it just didn’t matter to me what the customer was looking for. What did matter to me was that I was able to help them find exactly what they were looking for.
I worked with those who were just starting out, with no musical background. I also worked with top touring and recording professionals, some with some pretty big names in the industry.
Again, to me it didn’t matter who they were. But it was was of paramount importance to me to make sure that they were able to purchase what they were looking for.
So as a result, I sold customers karaoke machines and Casio beginner keyboards all the way up to the most expensive and complicated professional audio, keyboards and recording hardware and software available. And could explain each item in detail to help them with their decisions.
What I found out about all this on a personal over the years was that music is still for everyone, no matter their skill level. Play On!
I could not make it to the end of the Video… the cheese factor is off the scale!!
I agree that this is a great program for kids… the same kids who think that mastering Rock Band makes you a valid musician in a roundabout way.
I hope that this program could act as a gateway into the wonderful world of music. I wouldn’t place all my chips on that though. I can’t wait to see what kind of youtube videos arise with these soundtracks.
Did I really see the second chap set happy and jazzy scroll bars?
No way I was going to rewind to check just in case I got to hear the screechy child again. Do you think her voice was digitally enhanced to give it that dreadful chalkboard edge? Or does she -gulp- really sound like that?
Sorry, couldn’t make it to the end. too much.
Interesting debate: democratisation? Yes but at what cost?
Here in Italy the market for what is referred to as ‘piano bar’ is enormous: we’re talking a man with a MIDI keyboard and scantily clad female singer; this passes for live music. Will it affect real musicians: certainly in this case it does: leaving out the choice of ‘style of music’ it still replaces a band with smaller number of people and a machine. I’m no Luddite, but it certainly has an effect on the opportunities for real musical performance. Just a thought: a few years ago a friend said to me: ‘but if you’re designing a leaflet, then….” Graphic designer? NO. Plumber. Technology allows access: but my experience has shown that if somebody can buy something that does the job 50% succesfully for a quarter of the price of the real thing: they’ll take it. So where does that leave the ‘professional’ whatever? designer, musician. In the last year I have had people tell me that they are writers, photographers, or web-site designers with no experience or training in any elements of these skills: simply the appropriate tools (usually software). Another friend, a lifelong professional musician is still ‘galvanised’ by the fact the College where he teaches, has DJ ing courses in the Music Department. What do you think about that?
Rowland
PS I do agree with the idea that as a game that starts people’s interest that’s fine in principle. It’s the thin end of the edge that concerns me: Hell: I’ll confess; I own a drum sampler, so I’m NOT using a drummer for recording (rationalised hypocrisy is a wonderful) BUT I would not take it on the road, ‘cos playing with a real drummer is frankly such a better and different experience, so why would I would want to? Hmm .. because the gig doesn’t pay enough…… see the dilemma?
Technology allows access: but my experience has shown that if somebody can buy something that does the job 50% succesfully for a quarter of the price of the real thing: they’ll take it. So where does that leave the ‘professional’ whatever? designer, musician. In the last year I have had people tell me that they are writers, photographers, or web-site designers with no experience or training in any elements of these skills: simply the appropriate tools (usually software).
That is one of the concerns I have as well.
Andy check this out http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/node/148560 radio head and songsmith Lol
Further to the renaissance of parlour music, this magazine might be of interest:
http://www.makingmusicmag.com/
A hundred years ago, the music business was … performance and published SHEET music. Every family of a certain status (or wannabe status) had to have a piano in the parlor. My ancestors had a pump organ and button box accordions, which I played with in the musty “old house” on the farm I grew up on; I suspect some read music and some didn’t but music was something everyone did together. Just as former teen football stars players are some of the game’s biggest fans today, it seems that people who play at least some music themselves have a deeper appreciation for what reall talent is. Music, period, needs to grab bigger brain bandwidth. Garage Band dabblers just may listen to professionally produced music with fresh ears and a fresh appreciation for what it takes to create a good song.
I agree that music should be enjoyed in the Parlor, as well.
I am a former professional musician. I played classical piano and still do on an amateur level. I had to find another way to pay my rent.
I can’t see how this music will take the professionalism out of the industry. I think that has already been done by the music business where the main focus is on good looks and how you can play the piano while you stand on your head.
The competitions where virtuosos are born who can type out a mean Liszt but have no clue how Liszt felt while playing that piece. Therefore, it is a really boring performance. And, there are a lot of these in this day and age. Sad isn’t it? Maybe ONE kid will get this software and learn how to be creative enough to want to play Liszt the way that he would have wanted it played…with feeling.
You go, Microsoft. Keep the music software coming and hopefully we can produce some well rounded professional musicians with something to offer. If not, at least we will get some creative pieces out of the deal.
The sad thing about this video is that it shows that a billion dollar corporation believes it can take over the market of making people sing…People will always sing as just like birds sing.
The best possible music education is to play and sing together, share music in the real time. Sitting around a laptop is nowhere as fun as playing real music. Learning to play and sing demands time and discipline, but it’s also just so fulfilling.
I just can’t believe how cheesy the songs they came up with are, lyrics, melodic and harmonic structure. No-one who has ears will ever consider buying this!