how much do you think knowledge about music influences musical tastes, choices or even capabillity to listen some musical genres? i'm thinking for example of contemporary music, free jazz and such. in same cases it's not knowledge but just information? like in opera - maybe it's easier to listen when you know story behind the music or writers'/composers' intentions and messages. i'm listening music all my life but in some cases i feel really frustrated with some genres, free jazz for example. is it dullness from my side or it's just matter of musical education, information, conditioning or whatever?
well good music should be able to be enjoyed on both levels. its no good having something so clever but then really dull. music has to communicate something to the layperson at least before it can bother to appeal to the person who knows lots about songcraft. sometimes knowing lots can get in the way. its all part of the universal musical mind in each one of us. according to bill evans...
I use the loads of knowledge I've picked up to go exploring. If I know that this particular drum beat is from Senegal, then I will check out senegalese music. Same with Indian time signatures.
I sort of have that, but less on the technical side of music. Environment is very influential for the music. If you would blindfold me and put on a random black metal record I could tell you wether it's from Sweden or Norway. It's true for most bands that they really radiate what country they're from in their take on the genre, the atmosphere they present (with other genres I'd be less confident though ). But I doubt knowing the origins, history, influences of music would make me like a certain band or artsit or musical style any more than I would normally do.
i think musical knowledge is very important. i think id be a completely different person if it wasnt for the music i listen too. id rather listen to older music than stuff thats out today, that ass rap isnt for me. my dad got me into alot of things, but then i started discovering things for myself, and it just turns out that alot of the music i fell in love with is from his generation. but, hey, thats no problem, there are less arguments about what to listen to.
i think musical knowledge really does help...in my case, i play guitar, a little piano, and fake that i can do bass...and after seeing how a song is really made up, it helps you kinda focus on the song more and appreciate the skill of the musicians who wrote it. the first couple o times i listened to the Wall by pink floyd, i didnt like it. but i found out what the story was behind the songs and now it makes sense and i understand and like it. Also, alot of musicians today dont kno the backround of rock, and it kinda makes their playing less fun to listen to than 60s and 70s stuff.
