Emotionality

Jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris is performing in Burlington. Last night he led a workshop on the art of listening. Of course, I had to be there.    

Stefon defines music as the science of organizing sound and silence into emotion. The workshop was about experiencing music emotionally. Sitting at the piano, he directed us to close our eyes, then to experience and demonstrate the emotion our ears were hearing. One time he changed just one note in the chord, and the sound - and the emotion - changed noticeably. 

When our group was having difficulty demonstrating an appropriate emotional response, he asked us clench our fists, or open and raise our arms, just to feel if if the physical response was in tune with what we were hearing. Then we would sense if it was right or not. This worked. He said the body naturally knows how to respond to emotions.

  

When I hear a performance, I may walk away impressed with the technique and virtuosity of the musicians. Now I will focus on how I am feeling as the musicians are recreating and communicating emotions musically.

As Stefon said, when he plays, if we’re not feeling it, he is not doing his job. If we come to a performance filled with the distractions and anxieties of the day, he says, let the music take you away. That’s the beauty of it.

I am eager to practice my new listening skills. It won’t be long. We’re hearing Stefon Harris play the marimba and vibraphone tonight at the Flynn, along with the Imani Winds.