Recently, one of the great basketball players of all-time passed away. Bill Walton was an outstanding performer both at UCLA and in the NBA and later became a highly respected basketball announcer and analyst. During his playing days, his intelligent, unselfish and team-oriented approach to the game set him apart from his fellow competitors. He was also known for his outspoken political beliefs, love of music and the arts, humanitarian gestures, and devotion to his family. He attributed his success both as a player and as a human being to his college coach, the legendary John Wooden. During coach Wooden’s career as a teacher and mentor to athletes, he established his Pyramid for Success in which he listed the necessary qualities to succeed in sports as well as in life. This inspired me to start thinking about a Pyramid for Musical Artistry and the factors that go into developing such an approach to music. It should be noted that while the traits that I have indicated and discussed below are certainly necessary to reach the highest levels of musical expression, they are not easily attained and may take many years, if not a lifetime, to acquire.
Core Level: The five qualities that are essential to beginning the quest to achieve artistry are easily understood. An individual must be Industrious, which includes having a tremendous work ethic and being able to focus on the task at hand without distractions for hours at a time. Added to that is the simple aspect of having musical Talent. While many believe that talent is overrated, there simply must exist a natural skill set for the discipline of music. Without a basic gift, no amount of work and dedication will allow one to reach a level of professionalism let alone artistry. Equally important is the shear Passion or love for making music. I have seen many capable players who have long careers but lacked true passion for music. They are not artists but rather what I have referred to in previous articles as “gig-meisters.” Only those with a true passion for music will have music for their lifetime once the gigs dry up. A fourth fundamental quality includes being Studious. The desire to study or learn must exist throughout one’s career to avoid stagnation. No one attempting to be an artist in any discipline can stop learning. It is an unfortunate consequence of the improved access to instruction at colleges/universities as well as on the internet that too many young musicians feel as though they’ve “got it” when leaving academia or entering the profession. Two of the greatest flutists of the last half century, James Galway and William Bennett, as well as the phenomenal clarinetist, Harold Wright, all sought the advice and knowledge of the great French master Marcel Moyse after their international careers were well established. Finally, nothing can be achieved without good Health—the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the individual. Taking care of oneself by being aware of the foods we eat and drink, exercising regularly, getting sufficient sleep on a regular basis, maintaining annual medical checkups, etc., contribute to one’s overall health and the ability to function in our discipline while enjoying life.
2nd Level: The next level involves four areas necessary to integrate the core level qualities. Patience with oneself during the process of learning and the evolution of a career is a necessity in order to learn about music, your instrument, and the levels of achievement possible. The internet has conditioned us to expect immediate results but in music one needs to adapt a different mindset and that can only occur with having the patience to accept success and failure. Being willing to wait for one’s turn to prove his/her abilities also requires this characteristic. Patience goes along with having and maintaining personal integrity. Integrity necessitates poise, sincerity or as coach John Wooden writes, “purity of intention,” and maturity, while showing respect for others and the profession of music. Integrity is exemplified by the way one talks, dresses, acts, and thinks. Flexibility is a trait that allows one to adapt to any musical or non-musical situation. It is a very necessary ingredient for success in a discipline and one that may take many years to acquire, but it is essential. The final quality at this level is Initiative or the ability to make thoughtful decisions and act on them. Initiative requires a curiousness and conscious awareness of what is necessary to elevate one’s abilities and career while not being afraid of failure. When one combines this with patience and integrity, taking initiative for one’s musical success is a positive endeavor.
3rd Level: Appreciation is a huge topic and one of the most important qualities any individual can have while attempting to strive for musical artistry. One should be appreciative of their support system which can include family, friends, and teachers. However, it is not often understood by young musicians that having deep respect for older performers, concepts, and stylistic approaches is also essential. As Tony Bennett stated so perfectly, “Whether it’s the masters of singing or painting that I have studied throughout my life, I have found that I learn more by looking back.” I have witnessed an alarming disregard for that philosophy today in my interactions with younger players and I believe it emanates from the approaches for teaching woodwinds at universities throughout the U.S. University professors are too often consumed with preparing students for a specific type of job or the latest stylistic trend instead of trying to develop a more complete musician. Their recruiting may depend on listing how many of their graduates have attained a certain level of job BUT the result is often that the student musician is short-changed, especially with learning from the past. Listening to recordings of master musicians while studying with older, experienced professionals is a necessary part of anyone’s training and should not be thought “unfashionable” because it may or may not lead directly to a gig. Learning from the past is the first step in preparing for the future. Finding Joy in what we do as musicians is everything. If the only happiness one can experience in the music industry comes from getting a certain gig or receiving plaudits from colleagues, then I believe that individual is going to miss out on an important experience—the joy from knowing deep inside that one is playing or has played at a high level of musical expression and that listeners may have felt deeply moved by the music. Getting a gig or receiving compliments is nice, but that is just part of the business. Music can and should provide more to the performer and audience member. That sense of joy can be further enhanced by becoming a team player. Exhibiting Team Spirit while performing as a member of a band, orchestra, chamber ensemble, vocal group, combo, etc. is guaranteed to help create a better performance by the group as well as the individual. It requires a genuine consideration of others and self-control while sublimating one’s ego. Performers who are unable to do so have only one choice but to be soloists, and there are very few of those in the world.
4th Level: Confidence is a necessary element of any performer’s makeup. If the attributes I have set forth in levels 1-3 are in place or at least being worked towards, then a sense of confidence can build in the musician while performing without fear or undue stress. Knowing one has prepared well and approached their assignment with the proper state of mind can allow the player to realize their musical goals. A lack of confidence can never permit one to perform or attain their best. On the other hand, too much confidence coupled with a warped sense of ambition will certainly prove detrimental to achieving complete musical artistry. Finally, the value of Friendship can never be disregarded or taken for granted. It is all important in the way we lead our lives, both professionally and personally. Every great artist in any field of performance goes through highs and lows as they evolve. Having and maintaining loyalty with friendships based on mutual respect and devotion often is the difference between those that merely survive and those that thrive in life and in music. All artists need these types of relationships. Friendship can also be shown by the manner those more experienced and established in their careers extend themselves to those less experienced. It is a sign of a mature and secure person who will act in this fashion.
All the characteristics listed in my pyramid are more easily understood when we think of performers such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Carter, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy DeFranco, Arthur Rubinstein, Yo Yo Ma, Pablo Casals, etc. Artistry was not something these individuals talked about but was a characteristic that they exuded while demonstrating the qualities listed in the pyramid. It was a lifetime pursuit that they never stopped striving to achieve. I think it is a worthwhile endeavor.