what if ...?

The phrase "what if..." a potential creed for the passionate, creative artist. It's also simply a honest question for really anyone who curiously attempts to explore a vast, interconnected collection of information about a particular subject. So, an idea for a learner who likes to add 2 and 2 together and get 4?

The idea within this "what if ..." phrase is really "the" long term goal of this text for the aspiring learner. This goal concerns helping the learner to internalize enough of the theoretical and historical aspects of our musical systems so as to provide a basis for their continued expansion of musical knowledge on their terms. Once this process is set in motion, each of us can explore by our own labors, on our own terms, in the directions we think we need to go. This developed ability to reformulate existing information to further the search is perhaps the ultimate coolness for the self directed, confident learner in any endeavor.

For example, lets say an aspiring player is hip to the pentatonic scale color in the key of A minor and then bumps into the idea of a chromatic scale somewhere down the line. By combining the two, this learner might say; "if there are 12 pitches in the chromatic scale, what if I was to recreate the A minor pentatonic grouping from a different starting pitch?" Then the idea might emerge that "are there 12 minor pentatonic groupings of pitches?" Are these somehow different? Thus, then that if there is a C major scale, ( which there is ) can I create a different major scale from each of the 12 pitches of the chromatic scale? Just that one connect point in the theory can then dramatically expand one's perception of the art they now create and the art around them, and where it might go by adding in a "what if" approach. Another example of this approach?

What if an artist understands and can aurally identify a major triad. And then that this major triad can be extended to create the sound of a dominant 7th chord? And perhaps by thinking that if there is a 7th, might speculate that there is a pitch past the 7th, that can this chord be extended further past the 7th degree? How can I do this? And even though at this triad level of understanding the artist might not aurally or theoretically identify the various upper structure dominant seventh tensions, by knowing of triads and discovering the 7th, might this understanding prompt the creative artist to begin exploring beyond the triad into the theoretically complex and aurally gorgeous upper structure world on their own terms, with their own unique abilities, insights, artistic needs and aspirations?

The gradual expanding of one's knowledge of the resource tends to organically prompt "what if..." questions by the impassioned learner. As we ask this question from within our existing knowledge and explore the theory, then experiment with the discoveries we make, we can choose to add these new possibilities to our musical vocabularies, organizing them on our palettes by their importance in creating our artistic statement and their relationship to similar theoretical components.

This self created, internalized musical "search engine" can become the basis for the creation of one's artistic signature. Thus, we gradually internalize the sounds and theories of the organization the musical resources, and from this basis and our own curiosities, we begin to formulate our own "what if..." questions in regards to the hierarchy of the theory and the resulting sounds created. This ongoing process can gradually expand our own internalized artistic vocabulary, from which we can continue to create, articulate and share with those we love, the "art in our hearts." Cool with this idea of "what if... and what it may imply?" Is this innate ability characteristic of our species as human beings...? Do other animals ask these types of questions...?

Other artistic concept topics? How about artistic techniques?

They who conquer others are strong, those who conquer themselves are mighty. Lao tzu