The concept of "tone" is difficult. It's especially difficult for young musicians because it is not only intangible but also hinges on the notion of quality. At the ripe old age of six, the difference between a good quality meal and a bad quality meal usually boils down to whether or not dessert was included. In other words, a student may rush through a piece with terrible tone but still views the playing experience as a good one for reasons the adult may not agree with. Playing "as fast as possible" is more important than playing "beautifully."
So developing beautiful tone is an ongoing process. It's also not something that's going to happen overnight. It's a balance of physical expertise and musical maturity. It's also a bit like trying to explain what color is to someone who's never seen color before. How do you describe the difference between a "rich" purple hue and a "faded" purple if the person has never experienced color to begin with? Why does it matter if the painting is rich looking or faded?
This is why I choose to focus on the physical side of tone. What it takes to develop the muscle control to make a beautiful sound. It adds a tangible element to an otherwise intangible subject.
I've practiced martial arts for years. A lot of kids have at least tried karate (I always ask them if they have before giving this analogy) so I tell them that tone is like throwing a punch. Music and martial arts actually have quite a bit in common, one of the things being that the source of power needs to come from the entire body and not just "the arm." When learning how to punch a bag for the first time the tendency is to line yourself up in a way that just lets your knuckle touch the bag. But to eventually get power you have to aim "behind the bag."
To me this is a perfect metaphor for "deep tone." You are making an effort to line yourself up in a way that produces a fuller sound. Appreciating the quality of that sound comes with time. But producing that sound is something that can be understood much more easily.
So developing beautiful tone is an ongoing process. It's also not something that's going to happen overnight. It's a balance of physical expertise and musical maturity. It's also a bit like trying to explain what color is to someone who's never seen color before. How do you describe the difference between a "rich" purple hue and a "faded" purple if the person has never experienced color to begin with? Why does it matter if the painting is rich looking or faded?
This is why I choose to focus on the physical side of tone. What it takes to develop the muscle control to make a beautiful sound. It adds a tangible element to an otherwise intangible subject.
I've practiced martial arts for years. A lot of kids have at least tried karate (I always ask them if they have before giving this analogy) so I tell them that tone is like throwing a punch. Music and martial arts actually have quite a bit in common, one of the things being that the source of power needs to come from the entire body and not just "the arm." When learning how to punch a bag for the first time the tendency is to line yourself up in a way that just lets your knuckle touch the bag. But to eventually get power you have to aim "behind the bag."
To me this is a perfect metaphor for "deep tone." You are making an effort to line yourself up in a way that produces a fuller sound. Appreciating the quality of that sound comes with time. But producing that sound is something that can be understood much more easily.
nice content, sign of genius
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