[Nate Miller]

that is fairly well written-up. I think what you are speaking to is that music is an art form. The philosophical study of aesthetics is really at the heart of it.

when we talk about "perfection", we have to remember that "perfection" is just a word. Just like "Beautiful", we each can have our own definitions of "perfection" when it comes to music. Unlike the study of physics where the acceleration of gravity on Earth at sea level is what it is regardless of how you and I feel about it, music and the arts are different.

This is why things dont add up in the surveys.

If it were possible for the surveys to yield your favorite pieces, then it should also be possible to create a "formula" for a perfect piece of music.

but that is clearly not possible

which why we call it "art"....for lack of a better word

 

[Nate Miller]

Rawness. Yes, thanks for putting my notion about this into words. I have trouble posting without sounding condescending. I try to help, but often it just raises tensions.

if its any good to you, I think you make good points. Dont worry about sounding condescending, just say what you have to say

 

[Nate Miller]

Can imperfection in music be a good thing? I really don't want perfection in jazz performances (improvisations). I want to hear what comes from those human minds with so much experience!, how they cover their slight mistakes. That to me is what enlightens me and my playing.

there's an old saying among jazz players...."when you make a mistake, repeat it"

then you work with it and "pitch your way out of a jam" to borrow a term from baseball. And to borrow another baseball term, "When you're swinging for the fences, sometimes you are going to wiff"

I always encourage people I play with to take chances. Even if you bust, there's something about just trying that raises the energy of the group. And as a performer, part of the mental preparation is to accept that mistakes are going to happen, so its best to just put it behind you and get on with it quickly when it does happen, and if you perform enough, it surely will.

sort of like the old joke about there being just two kinds of performers: those that get nervous and liars