To what extent does emotion clarify knowledge in (pick an area of knowledge)?
An area of knowledge that embodies emotions as a distinct part of it is music. Many of the arts have this in common, but music is truly an example of an area of knowledge where emotion is essential to it's success and uniqueness.
From the moment I started taking piano 7 years ago until now, the variety of teachers I have had always tell me one common thing: you need to put more emotion into this piece. I still do not think I have mastered this vague concept of emotion in piano, but I understand that it is what takes a normal piano player to a great one. Anyone can play the notes, but it takes a talented individual to make it sound pretty.
It makes sense to me that music is entirely built on emotion. Even some of the earliest composers (Mozart, Strauss, Chopin etc) wrote their music from emotions they were feeling or simply to describe a person or place and embody it's characteristics through music. Whether a composers 'point' is received exactly with the listener is irrelevant because they will feel some type of emotion from it.
Emotions have helped me clarify knowledge in piano because if I understand how the song is played, I know it better. Consequently, when I play in front of an audience, they think that I have better knowledge of the piece because it is being played more professionally. If I were to play a piece in a monotone and nondescript way, no one would feel any emotion besides boredom. Although it is debatable whether apathy is an emotion, but it is generally not what composers strive for.
I completely agree with you on this. I have to put emotion into dance or else I'm not a good dancer, but what about sports? I know it is not exactly an art form but do you think emotion goes into that or people can go through the motions and just be good at it with no passion? Is there an art form that doesn't require emotion?
ReplyDeleteI understand how essential emotions are for music, but if someone else plays a musical piece with a lot of emotion and then you play your piano completely copying how they did it, but you yourself don't have any emotion is it possible that I would sound just as good as if you had emotion? If is it still emotion clarifying the knowledge because you are using the person you are copying's emotions?
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