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SUPPORT ME ON PATREON\n\nWATCH MUSIC is not a GENRE VIDEOS and MORE\n\nMusic is layered vertically & horizontally. You\u2019ve got the vertical stack of ensemble music \u2013 orchestra, band, choir. Then there\u2019s the horizontal layout of composition \u2013 chords, melodies, verse/chorus, theme/variation. Which means even an a cappella voice is layered. In each case, you\u2019re dealing with multiple parts that shape the whole. At times one part is dominant, but rarely for an entire composition. For a musical work to make a positive impression, all these parts need to work well together.\n\nThat doesn\u2019t mean every part does the same work, serves the same function, or is even the same quality. Let\u2019s establish that perfection doesn\u2019t exist. Musicians & singers can do so well that they create the illusion of perfection. Then someone else comes along, does the same thing in a different way & executes it equally well. Neither one is better nor more perfect. They each succeed & each make a different impression.\n\nThe same is true for parts not as close to perfect. We\u2019ve all loved music that has less than stellar lyrics, passable rhythm, quirky singing or soloing that doesn\u2019t follow strict technique, or just plain sloppy playing. Does this make the music not good? No. The end result is a work that makes a positive impression & contributes something valuable to the musical conversation. \u201cLouie Louie\u201d is no less worthy than \u201cMoonlight Sonata\u201d or \u201cBlue Monk\u201d.\n\nSo why is it that some of us judge a work based on surface elements like chops or sound or precision? Why do we often dismiss works that have one or more imperfect elements when perfection doesn\u2019t exist? To what standard are we holding these works? Answers to most of those questions are personal \u2013 based on taste, emotion, experience, upbringing. But that last question \u2013 what standard \u2013 I believe there\u2019s one answer to that: the wrong one. When we judge a work to be inferior it\u2019s because we\u2019re using a standard that doesn\u2019t fit, one that may be valid for another work or one\u2019s experience as a listener or creator, but doesn\u2019t apply to most other works in the world. It\u2019s unfair. It\u2019s reductive. And it\u2019s damaging because it not only dismisses the differing experience & origin of that work, it overlooks its depth & its unique & extremely valuable angle of expression.\n\nThis is exactly how we judge people & communities too. If what we see or hear doesn\u2019t fit our preconception of what a worthy person or community should be \u2013 i.e. only what we ourselves have experienced & valued & expressed, we mark that as inferior, in need of help or pity or worse, discipline & control. Judging based on standards that don\u2019t fit is A. quick & shallow; B. highly subjective & prejudiced; and C. the cause of most division & destruction in the world. That includes racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism \u2013 any negative -ism & person-based phobia.\n\nWhen police spend time \u201ccleaning up\u201d a neighborhood by scrubbing graffiti, arresting vandals, profiling with stop & frisk procedures, and more disproportionately violent responses, they\u2019re ignoring the breadth & substance of a person or community in favor of surface elements like paint, skin color, mode of expression or behavior. Those are only the beginnings of a cycle that often ends in the most heinous & inhuman acts. This \xa0defines how our society is structured. We're built on a foundation of judging everyone by one set of standards, disrespecting entire bodies of history, experience, work, contribution, creation, context, expression.\n\nWe can change this if we\u2019re willing to be less reductive & reactionary. ...\n\n\n--- \n\nThis episode is sponsored by \n\xb7 Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app\n\nSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/musicisnotagenre/support\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices