The following is an introduction to Translating the Language of Music, a multimedia qualitative examination exploring musical conversations.

This four part series was created by Steven Davy for a graduate school thesis project at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism.

Each chapter is an effort to add to an overall understanding of how communication takes place between musicians and with the audience in the process of playing and creating music.  For more about the project’s methodology stop by the About page.

Click on the media player below to begin and thanks for stopping by.

 Gavan discusses his experiences playing bass backing up several bands and the language of music created as musicians come together from various backgrounds.

And now… Chapter 1 | Expanding Language Boundaries

A few days prior to our interview, I went to Bell’s Brewery to observe Gavan playing bass for Mark Duval’s Two Track Mind. Gavan opened the show before Two Track Mind took the stage and played a few songs on guitar. For a little clip of Gavan’s performance click here.

For chapter two I interviewed John Campos, a professor of recording theory and techniques at Western Michigan University.

Campos discusses the unusual environment of the recording studio where distractions of all shapes manifest and impact communication between musicians.

He also brings a unique perspective to the project as a longtime musician in the Kalamazoo-based band The Corn Fed Girls.

For chapter three, I was allowed to observe a practice session ahead of a performance later that night in Kalamazoo, Mich. with musicians Seth Bernard and May Erlewine. Also at the practice was percussionist Mike Shimmin and bassist Andrew Kratzat.

During the practice, I recorded video and audio focusing attention on Bernard and Erlewine, a duo in a committed personal and creative relationship. Following the practice, we sat down for an interview.

I showed them portions of the video during their practice and had them describe their musical communication in their own words.

In the final chapter of this examination, I interview percussionist and trained music therapist Carolyn Koebel.

During a previous evening at Bell’s Brewery, I stopped by to observe Koebel playing percussion for Mark Duval’s Two Track Mind, one of the many bands in which Koebel plays.

In our meeting a couple of days later, Koebel discusses her engagement, not only with her musical collaborators, but also with the audience.