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.

Michigan-based musicians Seth Bernard and May Erlewine have played together for more than five years.

The duo’s intimate musical relationship is the fuel that drives their passion to create songs together. Strengthening this bond further, Bernard and Erlewine are also romantic partners. The connection between them has resulted in a deep catalogue of songs widely praised by critics and fans alike.

Bernard and Erlewine allowed me to observe and record a pratice session with Andrew Kratzat on bass and Mike Shimmin on drums before a recent show at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich. as part of a radio documentary I am creating for my graduate thesis project at Michigan State University.