Too Much Noise-Not Enough Room For Music

Musicians who perform most every night often find themselves seeking escape from noise throughout their day. I am one of those. I have become so sensitive to sound that I rarely listen to the radio, don't own an iPod, have a turntable stored in the garage, and, upon waking in the morning (yes, I wake in the morning! to make breakfast for my daughter and then walk her to kindergarten) I shy away from conversation - talking is too strenuous, and listening to spoken-word jumbles up the scarce peace of mind I am alloted to begin each day with. About the only music I listen to is on myspace profiles and when I must learn someone else's material for a gig. There is more than enough ambient sound in the world to fill my head and tax my nervous system. Police sirens serenade me to sleep at night and, cleverly enough, serve as my alarm clock in the morning. Trash trucks, and other deep-throated diesel-engined delivery vehicles, provide an out-of-tune low-brass section playing counterpoint to the constant whooshing-buzz of helicopters that sound like aboriginal bull-roars on meth-amphetamines. The idea of a pleasant sounding - maybe even soothing - cell phone ring being invented is doomed from the start: anything manufactured to interrupt your life at unpredictable intervals will inevitably become torturous.

Igor Stravinsky wrote, "Music is given to us with the sole purpose of establishing an order in things..."

I must disagree with Igor on that point (although he was right about Spring). Music can often scramble one's brain - particularly if you spend four hours performing in front of a well aimed guitar amplifier set to stun.

I tuned in the classical radio station the other morning, thinking that the music would take the edge off of the frantic dynamic of getting a child dressed, fed, ready, and on-time for school. It worked for three minutes, until the music stopped and the on-air fund-raising pitch began. I slammed the off-button before the guilt of not paying for music began to drag me down. ("Oh my God! I'm not supporting classical music!" Dial down to the jazz station, more on-air fund drives - switch off - "Oh my God, I'm not supporting jazz!" - Well, I used to, but when times get tough, the first thing to go is the jazz station membership, then the pedicures... )

I think I'd enjoy listening to music more if I just quit the busines