I’m fond of the historical aspect of this class. I’ve considered music as my favorite measurement of time for quite a bit now. A song can help keep track of a few minutes, or about an hour for an album. As well as in the grand scheme of time. You’re able to follow an artist’s work throughout their careers by the years in which they released projects, or say you remember seeing a band during a particular year and can reflect on how long ago it was. So I think what makes this class so interesting is the fact that we’re following the progression of music trends in America during the past century or so.

Although I am curious about the music of the future. In one of my other classes, we recently discussed concert holograms. The conversation began with 2Pac’s hologram performance with Snoop Dogg at Coachella a few years back. I learned the same thing occurred with a Michael Jackson hologram performance at the Billboard Music Awards. I thought these hologram performances were atrocious. I felt that it lacked authenticity somehow, and was in some sense disrespectful. First I think people should live, let go, and move on. We can enjoy the dead’s music, but virtually brining them back to life is just odd. But of course, single hologram performances weren’t enough for some people. I learned that a tour was taking place of Roy Orbison’s hologram performing. This I found mind boggling, although I’m kind of curious as to what the numbers were for it’s revenue and ticket sales. I’m of the belief no one should profit of a dead person’s image or likeness, & I’m sure Roy won’t see any of the profits from that tour.

It makes me think, where is music headed? What’s it going to be like down the road? Will musical performers become automations like cashiers are becoming? I personally hope not. I think of music as one of the most personable art forms within our species. Lately it feels like a popularity contest platform. Kids will copy and paste beats to create their microwave music, in hope of gaining attention, clout, fame, and fortune. Music is becoming more and more automated or virtual as technologies advance. Which from one perspective is cool. Someone with no experience or expertise in music can make some, but without raw talent, time, & practice, they wont make it big.

One final anecdote to conclude. A buddy of mine attempted to make music for a little bit. It seems to have fizzled out now, but for a while he would always say ‘I make music’. I knew damn well he just wanted to rap, and never really played or learned a musical instrument. Now I play the drums, I’m not expert on music theory, scales, & chords etc., but I asked him one time to play a C major scale (the simplest scale to play on the keys) on the keyboard we were near. The baffled face he made was pure comedy.