Posted by Rick Denney on June 13, 2002 at 10:22:11:
In Reply to: Pushing the envelope posted by David on June 12, 2002 at 01:03:10:
It never hurts to remind ourselves of what is important. But technique is important, too. If you can't play the spots on the page, by and large, then you can't exercise your musicality.
I was talking with Lee Hipp once, saying things very similar to what David has posted. I asked Lee which was more important--musicality or technique. He said, "Both."
When I attempt to play something musically, there are two things that might keep me from succeeding. One of those is my musicianship, and it is that lack that David admonishes us about. If I have no musical vision, then no music will emerge.
But it is the second limitation that holds me, an amateur with limited practice time, back far more than lack of musicality: I don't have sufficient technique to convert the music in my head into sound. Technique is therefore not the end but the means. You can't build a castle without tools.
Rick "who thinks musicianship adds, but lack of technique subtracts" Denney