The Role Of Competency In Music
For some people, music is just something you wake up overnight and go ahead and do. Some people think once you have a nice voice and know a few songs or can compose some, you are good to go.
I used to have that mentality too, in fact, I personally told several people to hit the studio and make some music because I enjoyed their voices.
It was later I realized that everyone can sing, no doubt but not everyone can make good music. Initially, I wasn't a music kind of person, I could go days without listening to any song and I'll still be fine. I transformed into that kind of person because of the kind of music that was available for me as at that time.
Being a Christian, I preferred to listen to more gospel songs that inspired me to put my trust in God and serve him. Actually there were songs like that then, but they were not making sense at all.
The songs then were not different from nursery rhymes, I don't mean to insult anyone's song but they were boring me instead of igniting my spirit. You couldn't different those songs from noise.
I don't know if it's because they feel it's something that has to do with the church and since God's name is mentioned inside, they don't have to practice and go through some discipline to give out the best.
Those days, many people were rushing to become gospel artists. It became a business strategy for many, I am not saying it's bad but at least there should be a measure of excellence in what they were giving out but the reverse was the case.
Those were the things that chased me from music, I just decided to stay away and mind my business but later on, I stumbled upon Nathaniel Bassey, Don Moen, Hill songs, and others who resurrected my love and passion for music.
Competence plays a very big role in music, from the vocals down to the instrumentals, one needs to be perfect to some extent.
I know the word "Perfect" sounds big, but it's something that can be realized. Music has its own discipline like everything else. For one to give out good and powerful music, he or she needs to pay the price in practice to show themselves approved or competent for the job.
How I love Nathaniel Bassey, the man will always talk about the role of excellence in music, it's not good enough to have a nice voice, it's not good enough to know the lyrics, it's not good enough to know how to play that instrument, be a pro at it.
That is what gives it life, your music will not make sense if you are not competent enough. For you to give out the best to your audience, you need to know what you are doing. Know your place and build yourself there in.
And it is not done through magic, consistency in practice, in rehearsals and in research will make that a reality in your life. Don't just be okay with what you are offering, there are greater and bigger heights in music that you are yet to attain.
If you are competent in your music career people will listen to you. It will make people want to listen to you more and more because they know that they will be blessed and their hearts will find peace by the end of the day.
What I dread the most each day is to bore people with my songs. I hate situations where I sing and it looks as if I spoiled the song I presented. When music is mixed with excellence, it makes the equation balanced.
Take someone like Nathaniel Bassey for instance, from his instrumentals down to his lyrics and vocals, there is excellence flowing all around. The fact that he is even popular and sings gospel songs doesn't make him forget the place of practice. He doesn't just sleep and come on stage and sing off-key and say "Gospel songs have nothing to do with the principles guiding music." Rather, he ensures he gives out the best.