@Corky_Music is always dropping knowledge that is too good to only read once, so I thought I’d start a thread to start pasting these quotes to, so I can come back and revisit them easily. Here the first:
There’s really nothing better than to play for just yourself. On the other hand, the “biggest” way to “share” your music (if “share” is what you are asking about) is just you playing for someone else. However the more people you play for the “smaller” you become when you look at the ratio between you and the size of an audience.
LOL! It’s not really bigger. Think about that! Maybe the word we should use is “socially relevant.”That’s the wrong reason to play music. You are on our team. You are a music maker. I don’t care what level of “skill.” you are at. You decided to make music, you are a music maker. Regarding playing with other music makers: Answer: Don’t ask. Just find someone else that wants to experience this adventure with you.
Music is one of the most powerful and beautiful and mysterious experiences in the world. When we allow social relevance to have anything to do with it we … (I will let you all finish the sentence). But I have been finishing that sentence for over 60 years. LOL! - Corky - your partner in music.
note: I (Luke) added bold fonts and paragraph breaks to Corky’s original post.
I hope this will be the first of many Siegel quotes posted here…To the stars…
Absolutely love this quote from Corky Siegel! It’s a great reminder that the true value of music lies in the personal experience and passion, not just in how many people hear it. Looking forward to more of these insights!
When I was recovering from my wounds. It was suggested to me that I play a wind instrument to help build up my lung. Many instruments were suggested. That week I saw a documentary about Chicago blues, I was just getting into the Blues back then I had little idea of that music, I saw Corky Siegal play Billie Jean won’t you come out tonight I think it was called. I saw that and it prompted me to choose the Harmonica I was totally inspired! And it changed my life so thank you Corky!
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve technique (we need to technique in order to be able to express ourselves freely.) Nothing wrong with setting goals, scheduling practice time, applying discipline to sharpen our skills.
Let’s just remember to take a deep breath, realax, and enJOY playing. EVERY time our lips touch the harmonica! This is the whole point.
Luke is correct as usual. Always listen to Luke.
I was a little careless with my statement. But let me support what Luke is putting across. Practice, learning, goals, scheduling, discipline and sharpening skills for me are all joyful pursuits. I don’t really call that “struggle.” Certainly there are always moments of hurdles but I just never called it struggle. My silly semantics. But I’m only one person and there are many ways of getting to that joy. So I take back everything I have said in the last 60 years. Listen to Luke and all will be good.
Another one… This on the subject of “how much music theory do you need?”
I barely passed music theory 101 and only had a very rudimentary understanding (that anyone can learn in one week) and never made it beyond that. I was essentially kicked out of a composition class in the first couple days because of my lack of music theory and inabilities and strange way of approaching writing. In 1975 I was asked compose a work for the San Francisco Symphony. I said no (because I didn’t have the knowledge). They wouldn’t accept that answer. So I composed a work for SF which I performed to 6,000 people. Then I started getting commissions from all over (Grant Park, National Symphony at Kennedy Center, Lancaster) and I would say “no” and they would insist - and I finally agreed. I’ve composed countless chamber music works and 6 symphonic works. All the classical people tell me; “No one is writing music like you.” Of course, because I have no idea what the heck I’m doing!! Mozart (I’m not comparing myself to Mozart) was asked all kinds of questions by his students. And they said; “But the things you are advising me to do, you didn’t do.” He responded; “That’s right. But I didn’t ask.” And you should know that you will absolutely progress just by playing. If you are interested in learning something because it adds to your joy, you should do it. Playing fast can be fun and exciting but it’s only necessary if that’s what you want. You are correct. It’s all about the joy. Otherwise what’s the purpose, to show someone how smart or good we are? LOL! Anyway, this got me going. LOL! Luke is the man to guide you. - Cousin Corky
Nobody needs it. Music is an optional activity, and theory just deepens your understanding of how music is put together. If you like that, theory is there and you can get as far into it as you want. Generally, it’s fun, like unlocking a little more mystery each time.
But some folks prefer not to think about it. You don’t need to learn the rules of the road to drive a car. Driving is pretty intuitive and you can learn what not to do through experience. But, if you learn all the signs, symbols and expectations, and even how the car works, it deepens the experience a bit.
I should add: music theory isn’t needed for performers.
For people who craft instruments, compose symphonies, teach singing or how to play an instrument, design tunings, etc., it’s deeply integrated into the practice. Theory is the basic building blocks of those professions.
And for performers, theory is baked into the music, and implicit in the listener’s ear and the culture of the audience. But a performer doesn’t need to think about that until they ask the question “hey that thing I played was cool, why was it cool?” Or “what was I doing?”
Once you start answering those questions, you are in the realm of music theory.
Listen to Luke and all will be good. 
(But it wasn’t cuz of a lack of general music theory knowledge.)
