Writing original music isn’t for the faint of heart. Somehow, you have to find the vulnerable parts of yourself that allow you to bare your deep feelings and thoughts while still keeping it together enough to contain the musical execution–the structure and form of the piece.

Although many artists may take this balancing act for granted, the marriage of vulnerability and strength is not a matter of luck, talent, or character. It is a skill that can be developed and expanded upon. So how do we do it and who teaches this skill?

In my years of teaching music, I have found that songwriters, performing musicians, and recording artists can model the way that actors are trained in their approach to making music. Take Al Pacino, for example. He has the ability to simultaneously express strength of character in his body while exposing tremendous vulnerability and human frailty on his face. Have you ever felt the freedom of mastering the mechanics of a song performance while surrendering to the emotional content at the same time?

Marrying personal dignity and artistic vulnerability is more than just posturing or wearing your heart on your sleeve. Embodying these two poles of the human experience involves emotional surrender and mental focus.

Listen to this SOS podcast as the craft of musical expression and execution is explored from a fresh perspective.

 

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