Hey Everybody!Pt 2, Corporate Singing (with words from Dr. Michael Braz)
Hello Everyone,
For those who missed it, I published what I thought could be a risky blog nearly 24 hours ago. “I Thought We Were *SUPPOSED* to Sing” was perhaps one of the most ignited, passionate, engaging posts that I’ve had with the “comments” here in a long time. It was AWESOME seeing so many of you come out of “hiding” to leave your responses.
One such response came to me “off-blog” … via private email. It came from someone I respect and trust deeply. Someone who I had the privilege of studying under for four wonderful years at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA. His name is Dr. Michael Braz.
Dr. Braz is an amazing and talented individual. I wanted to post some of his thoughts because they were quite stirring. Dr. Braz defines his religious views on his Facebook profile as “Reform Judaism with Buddhist sympathies”. So these thoughts don’t necessarily come from a “Protestant/Christian” point of view, but from a spiritual, professional, and musical point of view.
He was gracious enough to give me permission to publish this. I will come back and offer my thoughts with Part 3 on Thursday, and we’ll all come together for some fun on FreePlay Friday.
It’s an easy read, I’ve highlighted and inserted a few thoughts for emphasis … here we go:
Hi, Fred–
… It may surprise you to find that I keep up with your
writing/performing/opinionating, etc. (as I also do with Russ Hutto and
other GSU music alumni). The reality of our working in two quite different
worlds in no way dampens my fascination with the way you are growing in your
chosen vocation.One of these days–I don’t know when, but I hope it’s soon–we’ll sit down
for a meal and tackle some of the common annoyances of the world. One
example might be how we condition people to be audiences, rather than
participants. Another might be how we intimidate people away from using
their singing voices (children are especially adept at teasing their
parents–especially their fathers–who try singing in church). [Fred says, "sign me up for this class and let's broadcast it on Mogulus]
Again, keep in mind that I am a very happy and willing stranger to the
terrain of praise bands, competing blogs (and breaches of blog etiquette),
intramural church politics, etc. On the other hand, I have just spent 9
months overseas supplementing my appreciation of spiritual traditions in a
variety of settings, especially Hindu and Buddhist. It’s somewhat ironic,
when you consider that my fascination towards comparative religions began as
a 16-year-old high school senior in Miami, stepping in at the last minute
for a pianist at a week of Baptist revivals, and that I served St. Matthew’s
Catholic Church (Statesboro) for 2 years as its first paid music director.What I think I’m trying to say here–with limited success–is this: people
are willing to be entertained, especially by those they perceive as doing
something better than them (music, sports, acting). At the same time, they
are a result of their conditioning, which serves as a sort of straitjacket
limiting their modes of expression.At any rate, there is much to talk about, should you ever find your way up
here. You might even bring a digital recorder–I have been known to take
requests. [note to self, Fred ... this is an open invitation to get what could be the only live recording of one of the most amazing Gershwin "I've Got Rhythm" piano solos ever known. I want it.]All the best,
Michael Braz
Now there’s some words to chew on, my friends.
Comments? I’ll be back with mine on Thursday. Stay tuned.
