What is it about Rock and Roll? It is so much fun to play. It is so simple but packs such a wallop. I have been playing some simple bluesy rock and roll lately. That’s what has been coming out of me much of the time. Generally it is very happy music. Bluesy-happy? Somehow, yes.

I don’t know much about structure in music. I took piano lessons when I was 5 or 6 years old. I learned how to read notes then. I guess I progressed into the second book of piano music. I learned to use two hands in my playing and in interpreting the notes at the same time! I started writing songs at the same time I picked up the guitar when I was nine. My first song was called, “Oh, My Little Gerbils”.

When I was in seventh grade I had a music class where I learned that songs can be written AA BB structure, or ABAB structure. I guess I must have learned a little bit more than that, but I don’t remember now. I did apply some of what I learned to writing music.

Mostly though, I have been a real snob about learning about structure generally. I guess I gave up on “fitting in” in most ways at some point in my teenagerdom. But I realized later that I could have benefited some by learning theory. But then again, I concentrated on theory in a very general sense in college. Actually, I love theory. I want to share ideas.

When I was fourteen, someone gave me a book called Think On These Things by J. Krishnamurti. His writings had a huge effect on me. I carried that book around with me for a couple of years. I used to go walking everywhere as a young teenager with my guitar and a backpack with my journal and that book in it. It was partly through Krishnamurti’s influence that I decided to at least in some ways, rely upon my own perceptions to decide what is and is not true, and to realize the influence that the world has upon me in developing those perceptions. I decided that I wasn’t going to let anyone tell me what the truth of anything was, including any truth about music.

I guess, though, I did end up compromising myself in some ways. But now, as I have said so many times now in earlier posts, I want to learn. I want to listen. And I want to share.

I think the next time I get on stage at the Wildflower I will express my desire to learn a little about Rock and Roll. There are some amazing folks there. I would love to try to play Rock and Roll with some of them. For Fun. What better goal is there?

tagged: Krishnamurti, Rock and Roll

Posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 am under Too Blended to Pick and tagged: Krishnamurti, Rock and Roll.
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