By
Jeffrey Cappelli. September 1, 2002.
Music's broad based appeal reaches almost everyone. For many, participation is the ultimate enjoyment of this art form. Indeed the greatest joy for me is making music.
Every student knows the feeling of things coming together and the magic of a musical thought or sound produced from his or her fingers, voice, bow or horn. It is a good and rewarding sense that overcomes us.
I recently met a man who had an elaborate stereo system. I had gone into his home to see the family piano and discuss restoration. Under the piano was a network of switches, amplifiers and exotic cables. In the room were beautiful huge speakers. Although this man did not play an instrument, he explained to me that his speakers had been carefully and painstakingly tuned for a certain perfection of sound. Each had a custom leather cover which stayed on when not in use. Even the cables had a special type of core with 24K gold wrapping and other impressive-looking connectors.
Although I like mechanical or high tech toys, I was unable to get terribly excited about the elaborate system. I was told that one has to sit at an exact point in the room to fully realize the perfection of the sound as the system cranks it out at an overwhelming volume. Audiophiles gather there on a weekly basis to consider the latest equipment or experiment with the sound reproduction.
My discussion about restoring the once-great piano fell flat. He was unimpressed with the piano itself, considering his perception of its limited sound capability compared to the stereo, and the restoration cost would have amounted to something like half the value of the stereo system.
I also love to hear music. Some favorites are old, flawed recordings of Wilhelm Kempf or Bill Evans made with yesterday's technology. I hear their ideas and expression and I don't really care where I sit or stand while listening.
We all share the appreciation of great sound. There is enjoyment when it is so well done as with my acquaintance who had the spectacular stereo. Or more to my liking, there is enjoyment in the sound the CSO creates nightly at Ravinia or similarly the enjoyment of the Grant Park Symphony. I too like a good stereo system but will always be more interested in the sound and shape of the music itself than the technical aspects of the sound reproduction.
Students are continually showing their ability to recognize sound and shape as witnessed in lessons, juries and recitals. I believe that a certain level of maturity and awareness about these important factors in making music are being observed, practiced and realized. This is terribly important because
as we endeavor to improve our skills it is imperative that the sound we are making is going toward a well shaped, technically correct and meaningful conclusion.
Indeed, even a child can learn to create fine tone colors and expressionsperhaps even beyond the spectacular stereoon their own piano or other instrument. We, unlike the machine or digital equipment,
have the ability to go as far as our imaginations will take us with sound.
We will continue to do our best helping and participating in your family's music instruction. We are grateful to be a part of your week and look forward to a productive fall semester.
