I am a new "lurker" on the mailing list, and under most circumstances will
remain so in such auspicious company, however, music is my field and I
would like to add some thoughts to Joe Katzman's comments.
I belong to an international organization of 33,000 women dedicated to
musical excellence and education. I sing with a chorus of 135 that is
part of the organization.
Joe said: "Music is by its very nature an intense activity. Most work
environments do not cultivate intensity (many cultivate "tense," but that
is not the same thing). Intensity taps and strengthens existing emotions
and attachments, whereas "tense" tends to weaken them. Perhaps "passion"
is a good synonym here. "
Music and the performing thereof can indeed be intense (often aerobic!) In
fact, we have found that adding "tension" while singing defeats our
purposes. Tense arms and hands translates to tense voices which results
in a restricted sound. As Joe mentions, INtensity is a better term.
While passion is a key ingredient, I believe it is more appropriate when
speaking about #2 Expressiveness. Instead I would offer "energy" and
"forward motion" as terms that would work. Energy and forward motion are
the waves that help passion and expressiveness surge.
One other thought...
Joe comments, "Music draws on one's creative powers and gives them public
expression. Sometimes it can be a challenge just to match the notes, but
once profiiency is reached every song and playing becomes slightly
different each time."
Once proficiency is reached ( and I could argue that to most musicians
that is almost never reached the way we would like) the playing is BETTER
every time. As you pass through the learning stages and begin to make
music (by adding passion, expressiveness or as we sometimes say"heart"),
something happens that is difficult to describe and must be experienced.
When that happens, the desire to improve grows stronger and each
performance grows better.
There is so much of music that is so applicable with a LO. As one who is
less technically oriented and more creatively (dare I say right brained)
oriented, I can see how LOs have the capabilility to marry the two -- as I
believe they are meant to be.
--Peggy Shadel pshadel@aol.com
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>