On feedback...
I can't begin to describe how much I've learned in the past few months. And I thought I had learned a lot in the prior year! I'm constantly learning... not just about music composition and software, but about my own music.
I thought I'd had my sound defined. I thought I was classic singer/songwriter. Then I got a little brave this summer. I started sharing more and reached out for feedback from an "unbiased" source. I got more than I bargained for and got challenged on my compositions. "Try this... Did you ever consider... You'd sound great with... Try to tame that left hand... Let's remove some of the vibrato and polish from your voice..." Yikes! My head was spinning...
Some of it I nearly took offense to; some of it was empowering. Regardless, I considered every single note given, even ideas that really challenged my own aesthetic. I kept some suggestions and tossed others, often surprised at the difference some of those changes would make. One major suggestion ended up being my turning point: I pushed out of my comfort zone and grabbed a keyboard and midi cable. I was already looking at synths for a song or two, but this clinched it.
Then I sought more feedback from others, trying to balance my ideas with the reactions of the listener, still trying to be true to myself. It was still me. It was still the same "feeling" I wanted for my songs, just better packaged and more clearly communicated to my audience.
So... the point? Don't be afraid of feedback. Don't sacrifice your style to conform to what others want, but be open to what could enhance or further define it. I didn't take every piece of advice given to me, but I did (and do) consider each one. I get a lot of feedback, some of it rather contradictory to other feedback or to my own style. Learn to filter the suggestions to find those that you can use. There may be a nugget that brings your music forward. I could go on, but I will save it.
One final note: Always be gracious! Acknowledge and show appreciation. Feedback takes time and thought. Respect that. You don't have to defend and explain why you didn't work a suggestion into the final product, but always show gratitude.
Stay tuned Loves.
SariGirl - the Lyrical Physicist
I can't begin to describe how much I've learned in the past few months. And I thought I had learned a lot in the prior year! I'm constantly learning... not just about music composition and software, but about my own music.
I thought I'd had my sound defined. I thought I was classic singer/songwriter. Then I got a little brave this summer. I started sharing more and reached out for feedback from an "unbiased" source. I got more than I bargained for and got challenged on my compositions. "Try this... Did you ever consider... You'd sound great with... Try to tame that left hand... Let's remove some of the vibrato and polish from your voice..." Yikes! My head was spinning...
Some of it I nearly took offense to; some of it was empowering. Regardless, I considered every single note given, even ideas that really challenged my own aesthetic. I kept some suggestions and tossed others, often surprised at the difference some of those changes would make. One major suggestion ended up being my turning point: I pushed out of my comfort zone and grabbed a keyboard and midi cable. I was already looking at synths for a song or two, but this clinched it.
Then I sought more feedback from others, trying to balance my ideas with the reactions of the listener, still trying to be true to myself. It was still me. It was still the same "feeling" I wanted for my songs, just better packaged and more clearly communicated to my audience.
So... the point? Don't be afraid of feedback. Don't sacrifice your style to conform to what others want, but be open to what could enhance or further define it. I didn't take every piece of advice given to me, but I did (and do) consider each one. I get a lot of feedback, some of it rather contradictory to other feedback or to my own style. Learn to filter the suggestions to find those that you can use. There may be a nugget that brings your music forward. I could go on, but I will save it.
One final note: Always be gracious! Acknowledge and show appreciation. Feedback takes time and thought. Respect that. You don't have to defend and explain why you didn't work a suggestion into the final product, but always show gratitude.
Stay tuned Loves.
SariGirl - the Lyrical Physicist
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