Imitation as flattery
Any form of imitation is flattery or so I’ve heard. All of our arts are based upon imitation. That is how we learn our craft. It is also a given the some are better learners than others. This afternoon I listen to a podcast that tried to outline how one particular recording artist builds the phrasing. The instructor was excellent. In fact I sat back in awe of the ability to imitate and fraction out the different features of a given phrase. I wish I had that sort of talent. It takes one beyond the idea of copying. It requires a certain set of skills that few have. The ability to listen to a phrase and then replicate it by ear is almost magic. It is also the foundation of our musical system. Still some artists make it more difficult than others by the series simple dexterity of their work. Yes I know it is not simple. When you can take a phrase and modulate it and then sing on top of it and then add rhythm you have made a piece of music that goes beyond simple plain song. And do not forget that plain song used to be the standard by which all western music was judged. I can only wait to hear more by this particular instructor because obviously there is a talent that needs to be witnessed. I will wait to see who the next performer is to be outlined. After all this is a complex task and one that cannot be simply done by saying I want to do it. Go ahead. Sing a song. Imitate someone else. How did you do?
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