Re: Why Looping has been good for me.

[Ted Killian <tedkillian@charter.net>]

I agree with all that an more.

I've been looping for nearly 30 years (over half my life) and it has made 
me a better, more well-rounded, complete, and interesting musician (I 
think). I have met people, other like-minded souls, via looping that I may 
never have otherwise. Looping has broadened my horizons, helped me learn 
more and faster. And, as there is no better critique of yourself than your 
own image in a mirror, looping is likewise a perfectly honest and 
merciless reminder of any unintended lack in technique you may have missed 
along the way. Looping is a tool, and as long as you don't turn that tool 
into a crutch, it is (or can be) a life changing one. It may have 
originally been (for me) a replacement for playing with others. But it has 
turned out, over the long run, to be the very thing that gave me 
confidence to go on stage, and learn to play improvise and interact within 
a group. Now I can loop, or not, or I can perform solo or in any size 
group, and it has the possibility of being an equally satisfying 
experience. 

My 2 cents.

On May 7, 2012, at 6:38 AM, Gareth Whittock wrote:

> Well, the things looping allows me to do can't be done by having other 
> musicians to play with. I'm interested in layering sound textures with 
> the earliest layers falling away in a sort of multi-level, sonic 
> stratification. Being able to steer the music this way and that is for 
> me a deeply satisfying process full of spontaneity and creativity. 
> Having said that, looping, while it is highly empowering, really does 
> come with a big responsibility, looping with another, sensitive musician 
> in some ways is even more enjoyable since you then have an increased 
> element of surprise..
> You might have guessed that I'm not the rhythm, bass, chords, jam type 
> of loopist. 
> 
> Peace
> 
> G