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Thread started 03/07/19 6:32pm

Seahorsie

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How DID he do it?

How did a virtual unknown musician from Minnesota that couldn't even read music become a worldwide artist? I think of that sometimes when I am listening to his music with my eyes closed. I mean, I know he knew the basic keys he was starting out in, but most of the time he would just play the songs in his head, or jam with his current band, and music just flowed out. I really do think music is a God-given talent, and P. always acknowleged this. The power of it all still gets me though.........

king dove dove heart

Good morning children...take a look out your window, the world is falling...
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Reply #1 posted 03/07/19 7:13pm

laytonian

Willpower.
Intelligence.
Stamina.
Vision.
Creatvity.
IOW, take all the self-help words, apply them to a kid who
envisioned the future -- and then put them in a small, powerful and beautiful package.
Who else had all that?
There's no competition.
Welcome to "the org", laytonian… come bathe with me.
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Reply #2 posted 03/07/19 7:30pm

poppys

Seahorsie said:

How did a virtual unknown musician from Minnesota that couldn't even read music become a worldwide artist? I think of that sometimes when I am listening to his music with my eyes closed. I mean, I know he knew the basic keys he was starting out in, but most of the time he would just play the songs in his head, or jam with his current band, and music just flowed out. I really do think music is a God-given talent, and P. always acknowleged this. The power of it all still gets me though.........

king dove dove heart


How do you know he couldn't read music? Where does it say that? His father was a professional bandleader, his mother was a singer. He took music in school too. I learned how to read music in public elementary school.

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #3 posted 03/07/19 7:42pm

TheTruth123

poppys said:

Seahorsie said:

How did a virtual unknown musician from Minnesota that couldn't even read music become a worldwide artist? I think of that sometimes when I am listening to his music with my eyes closed. I mean, I know he knew the basic keys he was starting out in, but most of the time he would just play the songs in his head, or jam with his current band, and music just flowed out. I really do think music is a God-given talent, and P. always acknowleged this. The power of it all still gets me though.........

king dove dove heart


How do you know he couldn't read music? Where does it say that? His father was a professional bandleader, his mother was a singer. He took music in school too. I learned how to read music in public elementary school.

He acknowledged that several times. He was self-taught so he must have played by ear. But in agreement with the OP, I also wonder how he knew what notes were called "A", "B Minor", etc. How did he learn so fast that he could conduct his rehearsals like he did? Ever listen to him speaking to the band in these?

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Reply #4 posted 03/08/19 6:44am

poppys

TheTruth123 said:

poppys said:


How do you know he couldn't read music? Where does it say that? His father was a professional bandleader, his mother was a singer. He took music in school too. I learned how to read music in public elementary school.


He acknowledged that several times. He was self-taught so he must have played by ear. But in agreement with the OP, I also wonder how he knew what notes were called "A", "B Minor", etc. How did he learn so fast that he could conduct his rehearsals like he did? Ever listen to him speaking to the band in these?


Thank you TheTruth123. Please provide links with context to your statement.

I could never do what Prince did. I'm not a musician, and I can read music, it's not that hard. For some reason no one that ever starts threads like this acknowledges that Prince's father was an accomplished musician, he took him to gigs, so Prince knew other musicians such as Andre's father to name just one.

People like to fantasize that Prince sprang out of the musical ethers fully realized. I don't think so. He had a musical heritage and community behind him. Maybe he didn't need to write down notes to create his music but I'm betting he could read it when he wanted to.

It's like when European archaeologists went to Mexico and decided that space aliens made Chichen Itza because they didn't think the people there were capable of it. They wrote entire books on the subject.

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #5 posted 03/08/19 6:57am

TheEnglishGent

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I always took it to mean he couldn't sit in front of a piece of music and play it by sight. I can read music, in as much as I know what all the notes and symbols mean. What I can't do is sit in front of a piano and just bash out something I've never played before just by having the sheet music there in front of me.

It's absolutely inconceivable to me that Prince couldn't point to a stave and tell you which notes go where.

RIP sad
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Reply #6 posted 03/08/19 7:17am

NorthC

poppys said:



TheTruth123 said:




poppys said:




How do you know he couldn't read music? Where does it say that? His father was a professional bandleader, his mother was a singer. He took music in school too. I learned how to read music in public elementary school.




He acknowledged that several times. He was self-taught so he must have played by ear. But in agreement with the OP, I also wonder how he knew what notes were called "A", "B Minor", etc. How did he learn so fast that he could conduct his rehearsals like he did? Ever listen to him speaking to the band in these?




Thank you TheTruth123. Please provide links with context to your statement.

I could never do what Prince did. I'm not a musician, and I can read music, it's not that hard. For some reason no one that ever starts threads like this acknowledges that Prince's father was an accomplished musician, he took him to gigs, so Prince knew other musicians such as Andre's father to name just one.

People like to fantasize that Prince sprang out of the musical ethers fully realized. I don't think so. He had a musical heritage and community behind him. Maybe he didn't need to write down notes to create his music but I'm betting he could read it when he wanted to.

It's like when European archaeologists went to Mexico and decided that space aliens made Chichen Itza because they didn't think the people there were capable of it. They wrote entire books on the subject.


Those aren't archeologists. That's pseudo-science.
And knowing what an A minor or major chord is, is basic knowledge. Everybody who plays an instrument knows it.
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Reply #7 posted 03/08/19 7:33am

poppys

They were highly respected at the time North. Do your own research. Hint, there was racism involved in their "theories".

But leave it to you to always try to debunk whatever I write. Do you have anything on the actual topic being discussed?

[Edited 3/8/19 7:40am]

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #8 posted 03/08/19 7:52am

NorthC

poppys said:

They were highly respected at the time North. Do your own research. Hint, there was racism involved in their "theories".

But leave it to you to always try to debunk whatever I write.


We're going a little off topic here, but 19th century theories by Waldeck and others indeed included wild thoughts about the ancient Egyptians or Phoenicians. Those ideas were already abandoned in the early 20th century. Stories about the Egyptians migrating to America haven't been taken seriously since then. So we're talking about the 19th century when archeology was still full of adventurers, but the very first explorer in Central America, John Stephens in the 1840s already realized that the Maya civilization was indigenous. But you're right that some racist ideas prevented people from accepting that. Also, 19th century historians had a habit of seeing similarities: pyramids here, pyramids there, so there must be a connection! The idea about aliens is from Erich von Daniken and he never was widely respected.
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Reply #9 posted 03/08/19 7:58am

Krystalkisses

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I marvel at this too sometimes.
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Reply #10 posted 03/08/19 8:15am

WeDaBest

TheEnglishGent said:

I always took it to mean he couldn't sit in front of a piece of music and play it by sight. I can read music, in as much as I know what all the notes and symbols mean. What I can't do is sit in front of a piano and just bash out something I've never played before just by having the sheet music there in front of me.

It's absolutely inconceivable to me that Prince couldn't point to a stave and tell you which notes go where.

I agree. When musicians play by ear several of them still know a lot about music. They can tell you what key a song is in, whether notes are major or minor, change keys to chromatic, etc. Its just the actually following a piece of sheet music to play something that they dont do.

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Reply #11 posted 03/08/19 8:19am

poppys

Can anyone actually prove definitively that Prince could not read music? This is all speculation.

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #12 posted 03/08/19 8:36am

WeDaBest

poppys said:

Can anyone actually prove definitively that Prince could not read music? This is all speculation.

I can't remember who was interviewing him. But they asked him and he said no. And then the interviewer asked if he would learn how, and he said no, because he influenced too many people (something to this effect)....Cant remember where this was from.

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Reply #13 posted 03/08/19 8:37am

Madhouse6

Yes - ask others around him and they will confirm that he would listen to a piece and then play it

He also tweeted a picture of us playing blow up instruments and titled it they play by ear in reference to himself
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Reply #14 posted 03/08/19 8:39am

poppys

Madhouse6 said:

Yes - ask others around him and they will confirm that he would listen to a piece and then play it He also tweeted a picture of us playing blow up instruments and titled it they play by ear in reference to himself


That does not mean he couldn't READ music.

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #15 posted 03/08/19 9:02am

Madhouse6

There was an Australian interview circa the Musicology tour and he was asked and Maceo said something like ‘see Genius’.
So it’s out there if you take time but also sure it’s been discussed here before
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Reply #16 posted 03/08/19 9:10am

poppys

There must be/have been someone who knows that for sure - a teacher or relative.

He may not have chosen to use that to write music, I know a musician like that right now.

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #17 posted 03/08/19 10:58am

KoolEaze

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poppys said:

Madhouse6 said:

Yes - ask others around him and they will confirm that he would listen to a piece and then play it He also tweeted a picture of us playing blow up instruments and titled it they play by ear in reference to himself


That does not mean he couldn't READ music.

http://prince.org/msg/7/446672

[Edited 3/8/19 10:59am]

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #18 posted 03/08/19 1:09pm

Astasheiks

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TheEnglishGent said:

I always took it to mean he couldn't sit in front of a piece of music and play it by sight. I can read music, in as much as I know what all the notes and symbols mean. What I can't do is sit in front of a piano and just bash out something I've never played before just by having the sheet music there in front of me.

It's absolutely inconceivable to me that Prince couldn't point to a stave and tell you which notes go where.

That is what I was thinking! biggrin smile razz lol And also I have seen him in early photos of him with sheet music in front of him..... So what are these people talking about?

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Reply #19 posted 03/08/19 1:48pm

poppys

KoolEaze said:

poppys said:


That does not mean he couldn't READ music.

http://prince.org/msg/7/446672


Thanks KoolEaze. He read music, but he used other methods is what I'm getting here.

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #20 posted 03/08/19 2:15pm

poppys

Astasheiks said:

TheEnglishGent said:

I always took it to mean he couldn't sit in front of a piece of music and play it by sight. I can read music, in as much as I know what all the notes and symbols mean. What I can't do is sit in front of a piano and just bash out something I've never played before just by having the sheet music there in front of me.

It's absolutely inconceivable to me that Prince couldn't point to a stave and tell you which notes go where.

That is what I was thinking! biggrin smile razz lol And also I have seen him in early photos of him with sheet music in front of him..... So what are these people talking about?


I think it's that whole - he sprang outta nowhere thing. Which makes no sense.

Dude was a genius AND had musical roots - if you don't follow the magical unicorn fairies explanation for everything he accomplished. Which diminishes the fact that he came from a musical family. Louisiana is full of them, Trombone Shorty being one of the most famous right now. It's like saying Mavis Staples was born singing without any historical input.

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #21 posted 03/08/19 2:38pm

alandail

Prince could read music, he just couldn'tg hear the music in his head as he read the notes. And you don't have to read sheet music to understand what you're playing.

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Reply #22 posted 03/08/19 5:18pm

Seahorsie

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Wow, you all been busy while I was away yesterday. Yes, I based my statement on that interview. I almost hate to bring this one up, but I am from the old school in the Ozarks, so this one may blow your minds. Old time front porch hillbillies many times (especially string players) the person could not read sheet music, but could read "shapenotes". A simplified verson, tells each key to play in the song as it goes along. Sorry, but I had to let you in on that.................

stirthepot

Good morning children...take a look out your window, the world is falling...
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Reply #23 posted 03/08/19 5:38pm

scorp84

He took music classes in school, where he picked up a basic knowledge of chord structures, and he practiced. Then after that, he practiced some more. When he found a little more spare time, he practiced.

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Reply #24 posted 03/08/19 5:46pm

onlyforaminute

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There is a difference between not doing something and not being able to do it.


Haven't read him saying he didn't know how, just that he didn't do it. Maybe it was a personal choice thing not a lack of ability thing.


Who wrote out all that sheet music shown in PR?

Prince looked over his shoulder at me, nodded and walked out the door and we drove to a restaurant. At the restaurant, I was sitting on the other side of Prince and the managers. Prince looked at me and said, “What do you think about the script?” I said, “I’m not here to talk about that. I’m here to talk about a story I told Bob yesterday in Los Angeles.” Prince was very surprised. He looked at Steve and Chick and he must have been thinking, “What the heck?” I launched into another storytelling session: Suddenly I saw the violence, the dysfunctional relationship with his mother, his father as a musician writing music and hiding it in a box. Prince looked at me and said, “Okay.” And he looked at Steve and Chick and said, “You take off and you [Magnoli] drive with me.”






[Edited 3/8/19 18:57pm]

Time keeps on slipping into the future...


This moment is all there is...
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Reply #25 posted 03/08/19 7:39pm

TheTruth123

KoolEaze said:

poppys said:


That does not mean he couldn't READ music.

http://prince.org/msg/7/446672

[Edited 3/8/19 10:59am]

Thank you.

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Reply #26 posted 03/08/19 8:47pm

benni

Seahorsie said:

How did a virtual unknown musician from Minnesota that couldn't even read music become a worldwide artist? I think of that sometimes when I am listening to his music with my eyes closed. I mean, I know he knew the basic keys he was starting out in, but most of the time he would just play the songs in his head, or jam with his current band, and music just flowed out. I really do think music is a God-given talent, and P. always acknowleged this. The power of it all still gets me though.........

king dove dove heart


You take a kid that's hungry, that starts with nothing, and hears music in everything, and you put him in front of a piano, put a guitar in his hands, a pair of drum sticks, and watch what he does. Prince once said in an interview that he heard music all the time. When you have someone that is that artistic, that in tune with their own art, they won't let anything stop them.

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Reply #27 posted 03/09/19 9:55am

luvsexy4all

stole alot

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Reply #28 posted 03/09/19 7:19pm

poppys

benni said:

Seahorsie said:

How did a virtual unknown musician from Minnesota that couldn't even read music become a worldwide artist? I think of that sometimes when I am listening to his music with my eyes closed. I mean, I know he knew the basic keys he was starting out in, but most of the time he would just play the songs in his head, or jam with his current band, and music just flowed out. I really do think music is a God-given talent, and P. always acknowleged this. The power of it all still gets me though.........

king dove dove heart


You take a kid that's hungry, that starts with nothing, and hears music in everything, and you put him in front of a piano, put a guitar in his hands, a pair of drum sticks, and watch what he does. Prince once said in an interview that he heard music all the time. When you have someone that is that artistic, that in tune with their own art, they won't let anything stop them.


But Prince wasn't put in front of a random piano, he didn't start with nothing musically. The piano was there first. Music was in the family, in the bones. Reading music and taking it to another level are not mutually exclusive.

[Edited 3/9/19 19:28pm]

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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Reply #29 posted 03/09/19 7:20pm

poppys

luvsexy4all said:

stole alot


troll a lot

"if you can't clap on the one, then don't clap at all"
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