Technique and Musicality

Jack Grassel

The violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin said:

"I have nothing against virtuosity. I admire it, applaud it, and think it's fantastic. Such advanced craftsmanship, such skill, it is to be admired and cultivated. But there comes a time when virtuosity can become self destructive because it must be fed by musicianship. When musicianship does not fully feed virtuosity - virtuosity destroys itself."

Technique - the skill one has at using tools.

Musicianship - the vision in the mind that appears in the world as sound by using skill

and tools.

Mileage - the life experience and human feeling that colors the notes you play with something that is felt by the listener.

Mileage is the term Willie Brown uses constantly in the movie "Crossroads". Is there a limit to human feeling? If you have more technique than you need and use it, the music may sound empty. If you don't have enough technique to express your feelings, the music will sound incompetent. Techique and feeling must be in accord. They become more affective as mileage is added.

From observing Mr. Menuhin play, it seemed that he was very aware of each note. His motive was pure, to simply play the best possible music, and that’s it. We accumulate experiences which shape and color our music everyday. We need to increase our technical skill as we increase our capacity for feeling and keep them in balance with each other.

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SUPPORT:

See the movie "Crossroads".

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