Musicians being bitten by the teaching bug?
- Mar 24, 2009
It appears in modern times it is now socially acceptable for a musician, regardless of one's background (or choice of music for that matter) to start teaching to students. The first of many is Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos, who gave a lecture at Edinburgh University on the sounds of the 21st century. Kapranos joined forces with leading figures from the worlds of academia and classical music in a debate about Scotland's key roles in today's modern musical world.
Other names include The Smiths' Johnny Marr who gave a staggeringly well received lecture on 'outsiders in the music industry' at Salford University. The last time Marr had performed at the university's Maxwell Hall was with The Smiths in 1986. Remarkable (ah-hem...)
And finally, Jarvis Cocker - who gave a lecture on the art of lyrics and their role in popular music, which was in aid of Manchester's In The City music conference.
Now, is this a common trend I've missed out on? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for musicians having their say in today's academic world, but didn't it used to be about musicians rebelling against the educational system, students leaving school and forming bands? Well ladies and gentleman, this certainly isn't the case anymore.
I'll let you decide whether these artists are displaying a reputable guide on sociological topics for the youth of today, or are in fact talking a load of nonsensical twaddle. Whether it be the former, or the latter - you've got to hand it to them, this trend is catching on. To help you decide, here is an excerpt from one of Jarvis Cocker's lectures:
JARVIS COCKER, Brighton Festival, 23 May 2008
"Let's take a look at the rhyming structure of I Am the Walrus. First, there's another Beatles song, Michelle, which has a more conventional rhyming structure: 'Michelle, my belle.' These are words that go together well, my Michelle. Rhymes generally come at the end of a line.
"The more complicated rhyme structure here gives the impression that it doesn't really rhyme at all, which lends more authenticity to its stream-of-consciousness approach. It feels like a genuine and unpremeditated outburst.
"This question of [whether] to rhyme or not to rhyme is where many a songwriter comes a cropper. It's the one thing they know a song must do, so they pursue it at all costs and they become a rhyme whore..."
