Why Does Music Inspire You – The Reasons Why

Posted by Mike Schumacher

This article will discuss why does music inspire you. There is no one reason why it does.

But I believe there are some key reasons that will hopefully spark ideas on how music can be used.

How to use music to inspire people:

I have been told by various musicians about how they use music as an inspiration for their music. Below are their descriptions of how they use music to inspire their music and the ways it can influence their audiences.

These are listed from least to most famous of musicians, the last one being my personal favorite.

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The Utopia Brass Band

The Utopia Brass Band is a high-energy, three-piece New Orleans-inspired brass band that strives to preserve traditional jazz, hot jazz, Dixieland, and New Orleans brass.

With over thirty years of performing in New Orleans and around the world, the Utopia Brass Band has influenced the careers of many up-and-coming musicians.

I asked Rahn Thomas, lead trumpeter for the Utopia Brass Band what he does to stay inspired as he performs. Thomas replied, “I listen to my old music, a lot of it, and play music that reminds me of that period of my life.

This inspires me to write music that is reflective of that time, too. It might take me a couple of days to get it all down, but it’s well worth it when I finally sit down and hear it.”

The Chick Corea Elektric Band

“I always keep a couple of recordings of particular songs or melodies I want to use in my music in my head.

With the players I work with, it is not unusual for me to listen to the players as we work on the piece. But you need to also create music in your head when playing.

One of my favorite songs is “Carnival Time,” by Joe Pass.

The music is simple but the words are dynamic and emotional. So when I am writing, I often think of this particular piece.

When we are rehearsing, I will play it in my head and ask each player to listen to the music in his head. This is how you can test out some of your ideas on the group.

This might even help break up any tension or negativity in the group. When I am finished playing, I will ask each player what he or she thinks the other players are responding to, and whether they feel the music is flowing.

If it’s not, I will often have to change the direction of the music. But this creates a clearer picture in my mind, so I know what I should change to make it work.

In the end, I think we end up with a better, more creative piece.

One way to encourage and inspire other musicians is to have them sing along with you.

That way, you will be surprised by how many different musical ideas may come up from singing with others, and you will be able to work on each idea together in real time, instead of worrying about notes or scales.

One of the best ways to get inspiration for your music is to play music.

This will also provide you with an opportunity to spend time with your band-mates, and practice what you are learning and playing with others.

I have a dear friend who is a professional musician and a musician’s musician (someone who is surrounded by music). When he is working on a project, he’s surrounded by the things he is thinking about.

When we are rehearsing, he is always asking me questions about the piece. He will ask me how I feel about the music and my interpretation of it.

He will always end the conversation with something like, ‘this is how I feel,’ and he would also ask what I thought he should do with the music.

This way, he is not only asking questions to understand music and to be supportive, but he is also providing me with guidance as to how he thinks about music.

Sometimes, it is hard for me to say that is how I think, so I appreciate his input.

This is what makes a musician a musician and why it is important to surround yourself with musicians. It is a great way to get inspired.”

Heidi Welch

In 1965, Welch was one of the founding members of the Chubby Checker band, the A-B-C-D-E-F Band.

Welch says, “I always liked the blues. My friend and band-mate, Dave St. Hilaire, and I met in a Chicago blues club in the early 1960s.

He had given up his job as an advertising copywriter to concentrate on his musical interests.

I had no music training and was just getting by as a waitress in a cafe. He encouraged me to play the blues and taught me to play the piano.

We formed a blues combo. We could really play the blues!”

 

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