(1) – Choose well - Choosing is the most pervasive act of a sentient being. Choosing “well” is an ability often underappreciated and little emphasized, when one is considering both direction and goals. With countless children, choosing plays a big part in the majority of their lessons during early education. However, recognizing the connection of that action (making a choice) to its significance is usually not incorporated into their thinking until much later. In schools generally, the “what” is usually taught well before the “why”. In this case, I think learning a bit of the “why” would help the “what” make sense. And the earlier the importance of personal choice is explored, the better for all. In music, choice can be as simple as what note comes next, when composing, or, as complex as navigating the path of pursuing a musical career. Even not making a decision is a choice. So choose carefully…
(2) – If it “IS” important, “ACT” like it is – If you find something you like, save it and make duplicates whenever possible. In these modern times, having cloned lovemates is generally deemed socially unacceptable. So different, though, is the world of bytes and bits. There is an old geek adage that goes, “Data does not really exist until it is stored in three discrete places.” Toward that end – Save, save, save! Backup, backup, backup! Get in the habit of saving every time you get something you like or even think you might possibly use someday. Space is cheap, so save often. Likewise, if your work, or the work you do for others is important, having current duplicate copies as backup to that work can be the reason you might have a confident smile and swagger as opposed to finding yourself wandering aimlessly about the town square, mumbling scary things under your breath. Backup! No, really, make it so! And while three copies on your one hard drive may be better than no backup at all, the greater the geographical distance between the backups, the better. Hey, you could even use some of those “Free Gigs of Storage” available online.
(3) – Sometimes less is the best option – Supersized bags of fast food, smooth jazz, Hummers, MacMansions, 96 channel mixing boards – All of these things exist and are rarely noted as anomalies. Bigger, faster, richer, prettier – All characteristics that have become goalposts to strive for in this, our new world country. But just like Mies Van Der Rohe may have construed from Wieland, “Less is more”, so should we, on occasion. The broader picture aside, in music and audio there are many places where doing little or nothing is the best choice. Don’t misunderstand me, though. I’m not saying there’s not a place for Berlioz’s “Requiem”, because notwithstanding the grand size of the sonic source, I still love and admire this piece. I’m just saying that sometimes a choice like “Solo (Thelonious) Monk” can have just as great an effect. Speaking of effects, sometimes you can tell how good an audio engineer is, when they decide not to overdo that seductively lush reverb in the mix. I’m just saying… Sometimes a space is just space, not just another room that needs to be filled.
