Comments on: If I’m so talented … http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/ Criticism and commentary on southern gospel music Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:10:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Christy http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/#comment-3501 Christy Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:11:47 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/#comment-3501 I believe Jerry meant that you are very quick to criticize everyone in SG in a holier-than-thou, condescending way. Your response to this post shows that you can critique everybody else but you don't like it when the shoe is on the other foot. Anyhow... You talk about lazy pianists - you're right, there are many. There are many more who, like you mentioned, have had so many blue-hairs come up to them and compliment them to death that it starts to go to their head and they become a tad divo-ish (I say divo because they are 99% men). I agree with you. And that goes for singers as well! Many believe that they are the next best thing to come along but they simply are not. But please don't paint everyone in SG with the same brush. Many of SG's pianists (a dying breed) are so very talented, but they can't showcase their diverse playing styles within the strict confines of 'southern gospel'. All they need to do is throw in a jazz lick and people in the audience are scratching their heads saying, 'that's not the way that song is supposed to go'. You can't learn to play by ear. You CAN practice and become a better player, and I think that everyone in SG has that duty to their audience to do just that. But you cannot 'improve' on a talent that God gave. I believe Jerry meant that you are very quick to criticize everyone in SG in a holier-than-thou, condescending way. Your response to this post shows that you can critique everybody else but you don’t like it when the shoe is on the other foot. Anyhow…

You talk about lazy pianists - you’re right, there are many. There are many more who, like you mentioned, have had so many blue-hairs come up to them and compliment them to death that it starts to go to their head and they become a tad divo-ish (I say divo because they are 99% men). I agree with you. And that goes for singers as well! Many believe that they are the next best thing to come along but they simply are not. But please don’t paint everyone in SG with the same brush. Many of SG’s pianists (a dying breed) are so very talented, but they can’t showcase their diverse playing styles within the strict confines of ’southern gospel’. All they need to do is throw in a jazz lick and people in the audience are scratching their heads saying, ‘that’s not the way that song is supposed to go’.

You can’t learn to play by ear. You CAN practice and become a better player, and I think that everyone in SG has that duty to their audience to do just that. But you cannot ‘improve’ on a talent that God gave.

]]> By: Al http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/#comment-3480 Al Tue, 05 Dec 2006 02:12:40 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/#comment-3480 Here's an analogy for you. Some of the greatest sports coaches and managers were journeymen players, not stars. Even if their own level of ability didn't make them superstars, they had that certain something that allowed them to see the big picture, which defined them as great managers. The same is true here. One can accurately write, and express opinions, even having not necessarily been on the front lines. If this weren't so, very few political pundits would earn a living. As for the NNS, it can actually be fairly sophisticated. Anyone who doubts the validity of that hasn't taken the time to learn it. It is truly just another way of stating the same thing as traditional notes do, but has the added benefit of being easier to change or modify on the fly than written scales and notes. Many recording sessions begin with the arranger's sheet music, and end up being played off of legal pads that look like ancient hieroglyphics once the basic arrangement is run through a few times. Some of the great session players of all time were far more adept at reading the NNS than they were traditional music, and I don't say that to denigrate the need to learn traditional sheet music and theory. Whenever I listen to his albums now, I still think Chet Atkins wasn't exactly a slouch! Nor was Hargus "Pig" Robbins, and any number of amazingly talented musicians that used the NNS. Here’s an analogy for you. Some of the greatest sports coaches and managers were journeymen players, not stars. Even if their own level of ability didn’t make them superstars, they had that certain something that allowed them to see the big picture, which defined them as great managers. The same is true here. One can accurately write, and express opinions, even having not necessarily been on the front lines. If this weren’t so, very few political pundits would earn a living. As for the NNS, it can actually be fairly sophisticated. Anyone who doubts the validity of that hasn’t taken the time to learn it. It is truly just another way of stating the same thing as traditional notes do, but has the added benefit of being easier to change or modify on the fly than written scales and notes. Many recording sessions begin with the arranger’s sheet music, and end up being played off of legal pads that look like ancient hieroglyphics once the basic arrangement is run through a few times. Some of the great session players of all time were far more adept at reading the NNS than they were traditional music, and I don’t say that to denigrate the need to learn traditional sheet music and theory. Whenever I listen to his albums now, I still think Chet Atkins wasn’t exactly a slouch! Nor was Hargus “Pig” Robbins, and any number of amazingly talented musicians that used the NNS.

]]> By: shanjenkins http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/#comment-3469 shanjenkins Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:48:27 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/#comment-3469 You are right, Avery. We all deserve our opinions. Whether we are professional artists or not, most of us reading this are all consumers and listeners of SG. That alone entitles me to my opinion of things. You are right, Avery. We all deserve our opinions. Whether we are professional artists or not, most of us reading this are all consumers and listeners of SG. That alone entitles me to my opinion of things.

]]> By: MM http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/#comment-3468 MM Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:32:36 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2006/12/04/if-im-so-talented/#comment-3468 My thought, both in reading the original post and now this article, was, "Why not discuss the matter presented instead of hurling insults trying to be-little someone for making a point." Completely off subject, but this is the attitude of most "Christians" today. Instead of talking about issues, concerns, comments, or suggestions, we would rather attack one another. When will we come down from the exhalted place we put ourselves and realize that there is importance in being able to discuss matter civilly. I have always found this blog to be informative and entertaining. Although I do not always agree with everything that is written, i understand that it is my choice to read and comment, or not to. Slinging condescending retorts is immature and completely unnecessary in this kind of discussion. My thought, both in reading the original post and now this article, was, “Why not discuss the matter presented instead of hurling insults trying to be-little someone for making a point.” Completely off subject, but this is the attitude of most “Christians” today. Instead of talking about issues, concerns, comments, or suggestions, we would rather attack one another. When will we come down from the exhalted place we put ourselves and realize that there is importance in being able to discuss matter civilly. I have always found this blog to be informative and entertaining. Although I do not always agree with everything that is written, i understand that it is my choice to read and comment, or not to. Slinging condescending retorts is immature and completely unnecessary in this kind of discussion.

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