Page 21 - RYAN'S GIG GUIDE JANUARY 2015

What is Music?
My name is Martin Stanyer I’m a musician who thrives on people with a passion for
delivering art that'll be Amazon then
It’s a longstanding argument I have with myself what is music? Is it some notes on a
piece of paper joined by ties and semi quavers or even worse demi semi quavers Is it a
few chords and tablature or is it a feeling that you get when you play a song that touches
the heart strings ripping out each and every emotion that you ever felt taking you back
to a time when you had your first kiss that girl that you danced with at the local rock
bar that you knew would never be your wife but she would be your that will do for
tonight Or maybe it’s being on the beach with your friends smoking a few Marlboro
lights and knocking back beers like you haven’t got a care in the world
blasting out some feel good anthems
I think that we can all relate to those situations I also think that music can be and is
more than that It can be as disposable and plastic as the cheap CD that you buy from
your local record shop (remember those?) or it can be as longstanding as time itself
There are songs such as Don Henley’s The Boys of Summer that make me want to get
behind the wheel and drive like a demented maniac jumping the car off some bridge in
a dare devil stunt – dare I say I prefer the Ataris version There are songs that make me
want to be an old romantic such as Bon Jovi’s Bed of Roses and then there are songs
that make me want to sit down and understand all those black dots and lines in
Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata a thought which was inspired amazingly by my boss
at work; who has given me a much needed kick up the butt and whilst she teaches me
the beauty of reading music I corrupt her hard work with how to book
bands and make some easy money whilst hopefully giving her some
confidence to play live You see that is the beauty of music its about
forming friendships that you never thought you would have it’s a
never ending rollercoaster of learning loving and being able to pass
that gift on
I myself aspire to be a music teacher Being able to teach people to learn
a variety of instruments or maybe it’s just that I fancy my chances at
being the next Jack Black in the school of rock and still consider myself
an outlaw? I was once known as Street Fighting Stan but long gone
are those glory days of picking fights and sleepless nights Yet
now and again a record will play and that nostalgia comes back
If I was to give the finest example of my teaching loving and
learning then it would be that I play in an awesome band
with my gorgeous wife whom I taught bass She also sings
and it gives her a confidence that she never had before It
gives me the greatest feeling ever to play with my greatest
friend and lover she is such a natural behind the bass and
that is something I could never be There is also our great
friend Craig Playing with him is like mind reading the ideas
just flow and his song writing arrangements are as magnificent
as his friendship is valued Music binds people
And so this brings me back to my original question of
what is music? It’s dangerous its’ cool it’s sexy and
it can break your heart But what is music?
RGG January 2015 - p.21