littlerockjams said:

Throwing my .02 in aa a music instructor, so take that for what you will... The interview quoted above is on video, I’ve seen it myself. So to continue to say that Prince could read music, when he said he couldn’t, is simply saying he was lying for whatever reason. Or, you could imply that you have insider information, which I don’t think the case is either. With that said, there are two types of reading music, basic reading comprehension like Every Good Boy Does Fine, Good Boys Do Fine Always, etc., where you can sus out what the notes are. Then there is the ability to sight read, where your reading chops are so good, you could look at a piece of music and know it/play it as easily as you’re reading this paragraph. That is the reading I think he was referring to as not being able to do, not the basic reading skills (which he did likely pick up in his HS music class). Someone asked a side question about “who wrote down the music then?” I’m guessing for scores, music collections, etc. I’d bet dollars to donuts that absolutely wasn’t Prince. That’s too mundane a task for someone with his level of creativity. Stuff like that falls to people like me. I transcribe songs and notate them daily for students and my own practice. It’s not hard to do, once you’ve developed the skills to do so.

Thanks for your input, LRJ. I think like you do, but that all the mudane task of transcribing it to a little sheet of paper probably did not interest him. He was a "big picture" kind of guy. Right down to the shoes that matched the outfit, and the backdrop scene for each number. He had worker bees to do all that............

Still a freaking artistic genius, however!

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.........

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One thing is sure as hell,

there is no such thing as god.

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Prince was self made.

Was talented, and he had an ear for sound.

Extremely motivated.

Small/tiny.

Good looking.

Poor.

Nothing to lose.

And didn't even trusted his own shadow.

-

There ya go!

Perfect cocktail.

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Oh I forgot;

he prefered purple,

he had an enormous respect for all women and skin colours ànd genders, before he got mad with relegion (and lost it nearly somehow).

And he knew how to mix religion and sex, and how to get away with it.

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[Edited 3/14/19 9:09am]

littlerockjams said:

Throwing my .02 in aa a music instructor, so take that for what you will... The interview quoted above is on video, I’ve seen it myself. So to continue to say that Prince could read music, when he said he couldn’t, is simply saying he was lying for whatever reason. Or, you could imply that you have insider information, which I don’t think the case is either. With that said, there are two types of reading music, basic reading comprehension like Every Good Boy Does Fine, Good Boys Do Fine Always, etc., where you can sus out what the notes are. Then there is the ability to sight read, where your reading chops are so good, you could look at a piece of music and know it/play it as easily as you’re reading this paragraph. That is the reading I think he was referring to as not being able to do, not the basic reading skills (which he did likely pick up in his HS music class). Someone asked a side question about “who wrote down the music then?” I’m guessing for scores, music collections, etc. I’d bet dollars to donuts that absolutely wasn’t Prince. That’s too mundane a task for someone with his level of creativity. Stuff like that falls to people like me. I transcribe songs and notate them daily for students and my own practice. It’s not hard to do, once you’ve developed the skills to do so.

Thank you. And that was my point above. I think he had the basics that he got at school, but not anything more than that. As he said in that interview, he had a good ear. Some of the best musicians often play by ear, and only have the fundamentals when it comes to the more complex parts of music that don't necessarily involve playing the music.

I think it's more impressive to be able to play by ear than to read music. I was taught to read music at a young age, but could never play by ear. I had a childhood friend with zero musical upbringing, who could play by ear on keys when we were still kids! And he nailed it. I'm not talking getting close, laying down something that resembles the original piece. No, he would be on point. Makes you wonder about the whole nature v nurture thing. My answer about that is always - a little bit of both!

Vannormal said:

rgsince81 said:

Vannormal said:

-

One thing is sure as hell,

there is no such thing as god.

-

-

[Edited 3/14/19 9:09am]

There is a God !!!!!! And Prince is a Genius, Period!

-

Could you ask you're god while praying that he will stop massmurderers from acting like in New Zealand ?

Or stop horrible bone-cancer with little children from happening ?

Thank you so much.

-

Peace. Always peace.

-

[Edited 3/15/19 7:10am]

poppys said:

luvsexy4all said:

stole alot

troll a lot

Agree with both of you...love the wit.

benni said:

littlerockjams said:

Throwing my .02 in aa a music instructor, so take that for what you will... The interview quoted above is on video, I’ve seen it myself. So to continue to say that Prince could read music, when he said he couldn’t, is simply saying he was lying for whatever reason. Or, you could imply that you have insider information, which I don’t think the case is either. With that said, there are two types of reading music, basic reading comprehension like Every Good Boy Does Fine, Good Boys Do Fine Always, etc., where you can sus out what the notes are. Then there is the ability to sight read, where your reading chops are so good, you could look at a piece of music and know it/play it as easily as you’re reading this paragraph. That is the reading I think he was referring to as not being able to do, not the basic reading skills (which he did likely pick up in his HS music class). Someone asked a side question about “who wrote down the music then?” I’m guessing for scores, music collections, etc. I’d bet dollars to donuts that absolutely wasn’t Prince. That’s too mundane a task for someone with his level of creativity. Stuff like that falls to people like me. I transcribe songs and notate them daily for students and my own practice. It’s not hard to do, once you’ve developed the skills to do so.

Thank you. And that was my point above. I think he had the basics that he got at school, but not anything more than that. As he said in that interview, he had a good ear. Some of the best musicians often play by ear, and only have the fundamentals when it comes to the more complex parts of music that don't necessarily involve playing the music.

littlerockjams addresses both points very well. Prince could read music, at least on a basic level like I can.

So why make an OP pretending that he didn't? Makes him no less of a genius.

Still, a good discussion came from the topic. Kudos to all my debate partners.

Deleted bait - l'ange bleu - moderator

[Edited 3/15/19 17:55pm]

Nonsense deleted - l'ange bleu - moderator

[Edited 3/15/19 17:56pm]

Deleted bait - l'ange bleu - moderator

[Edited 3/15/19 17:54pm]

Deleted nonsense - l'ange bleu - moderator

[Edited 3/15/19 17:54pm]

poppys said:

benni said:

Thank you. And that was my point above. I think he had the basics that he got at school, but not anything more than that. As he said in that interview, he had a good ear. Some of the best musicians often play by ear, and only have the fundamentals when it comes to the more complex parts of music that don't necessarily involve playing the music.

littlerockjams addresses both points very well. Prince could read music, at least on a basic level like I can.

So why make an OP pretending that he didn't? Makes him no less of a genius.

Still, a good discussion came from the topic. Kudos to all my debate partners.

To me poppys, reading music at the most basic level, isn't really reading music. It's being able to identify a whole note, a half note, an eighth note, etc., but it isn't really reading it. It's not like someone who can pick up sheet music on Bach and be able to understand every nuance that is within the written music. It's the difference between a 1st grader learning to read, "Run, Jane, run" and a grad student picking up Leo Tolstoy's "War And Peace", reading it, understanding it, and being able to write a dissertation on it. The 1st grader is fundamentally reading, but the level of understanding is miniscule. Whereas the grad student is able to discern multiple meanings, indepth understanding, and can disect what they have read to the nth degree. While reading, "Run, Jane, run," is reading, it's not truly grasping what they are reading.

[Edited 3/15/19 23:07pm]

benni said:

poppys said:

littlerockjams addresses both points very well. Prince could read music, at least on a basic level like I can.

So why make an OP pretending that he didn't? Makes him no less of a genius.

Still, a good discussion came from the topic. Kudos to all my debate partners.

To me poppys, reading music at the most basic level, isn't really reading music. It's being able to identify a whole note, a half note, an eighth note, etc., but it isn't really reading it. It's not like someone who can pick up sheet music on Bach and be able to understand every nuance that is within the written music. It's the difference between a 1st grader learning to read, "Run, Jane, run" and a grad student picking up Leo Tolstoy's "War And Peace", reading it, understanding it, and being able to write a dissertation on it. The 1st grader is fundamentally reading, but the level of understanding is miniscule. Whereas the grad student is able to discern multiple meanings, indepth understanding, and can disect what they have read to the nth degree. While reading, "Run, Jane, run," is reading, it's not truly grasping what they are reading.

[Edited 3/15/19 23:07pm]

Great analogy, very well explained.

KoolEaze said:

benni said:

To me poppys, reading music at the most basic level, isn't really reading music. It's being able to identify a whole note, a half note, an eighth note, etc., but it isn't really reading it. It's not like someone who can pick up sheet music on Bach and be able to understand every nuance that is within the written music. It's the difference between a 1st grader learning to read, "Run, Jane, run" and a grad student picking up Leo Tolstoy's "War And Peace", reading it, understanding it, and being able to write a dissertation on it. The 1st grader is fundamentally reading, but the level of understanding is miniscule. Whereas the grad student is able to discern multiple meanings, indepth understanding, and can disect what they have read to the nth degree. While reading, "Run, Jane, run," is reading, it's not truly grasping what they are reading.

Great analogy, very well explained.

Now we are nitpicking what reading music is.

Still doesn't make the OP's characterization of Prince correct from my view. They have not engaged with me even once. I've said what I think, we don't have to agree, it's okay. All speculation anyway.

[Edited 3/16/19 9:26am]

Vannormal said:

rgsince81 said:

Vannormal said: There is a God !!!!!! And Prince is a Genius, Period!

-

Could you ask you're god while praying that he will stop massmurderers from acting like in New Zealand ?

Or stop horrible bone-cancer with little children from happening ?

Thank you so much.

-

Peace. Always peace.

-

[Edited 3/15/19 7:10am]

Why don't you ask satan?

KoolEaze said:

poppys said:

Pure obsession, a singular vision, sheer talent honed by constant hard work, writing and playing every day (like a fighter training for a match or a basketball player practicing his shot). He was a muscial athelete in a way, Dude just never...stopped...writing and playing.

Not listening to what others told him or giving a fuck what they thought or said. Dressing and acting the way he wanted to. Always keeping people guessing. Challenging his audience and his fan base. Changing up his look and his sound. Challenging the system. Straddling gender lines.

I think one of the real keys was avoiding the spotlight a lot (especially early in his career) and not going all in on reality shows, interviews, talk shows and shit like that as a rule. It built his mystique and kept people from getting tired of him so that when he finally got around to sticking his head back up (Musicology, Super Bowl, American Idol, Grammys), he was still sort of "fresh" in a sense.

He was lucky in a way too. He hit at just the right time and the popularity of MTV I don't think can be understated as contributing to his success. A lot went into it. Sometimes sheer talent and determination aren't enough but you never hear about those that failed.

Timing, courage, self reflection...

Most of it was talent and hard work.

Extraordinary-talent, hard work, obsession and lack of interest in anything else.

[Edited 3/17/19 10:45am]

Agree with above statements. He also had incredible support...talented management team,

"image" professional (Howard Bloom), very competent/hard-working tour manager,Alan Leeds

etc.

peggyon said:

poppys said:

troll a lot

Agree with both of you...love the wit.

-

...and thàt

yeah.

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oceanblue said:

Vannormal said:

-

Could you ask you're god while praying that he will stop massmurderers from acting like in New Zealand ?

Or stop horrible bone-cancer with little children from happening ?

Thank you so much.

-

Peace. Always peace.

-

[Edited 3/15/19 7:10am]

Why don't you ask satan?

-

I did.

But he says he has nothing to do with what his brother did.

They are not on speaking terms anymore since mankind you know.

Anyways. He also says he suffers from not having any contact with his bearded brother anymore.

Poor soul. I feel for him.

Did you know that hell aint a bad place to be ?

Ask Bon Scott.

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[Edited 3/18/19 3:08am]

purplefam99 said:

poppys said:

Now we are nitpicking what reading music is.

Still doesn't make the OP's characterization of Prince correct from my view. They have not engaged with me even once. I've said what I think, we don't have to agree, it's okay. All speculation anyway.

[Edited 3/16/19 9:26am]

Hi poppy’s, I really don’t think benni explanation is nitpicking. And the OP post supports what Prince said ( he doesn’t read music) And that his talent came from God. I don’t think it diminishes his light One bit. Does anyone recall the story where Prince and his dad were playing music For Lisa and I guess sort of jamming and prince says to Lisa “ this is why you don’t need to read music” I read this after he passed in one of the many books I read after He passed. I’m sorry I didn’t keep track of the book Or article. But he says something to that effect to Lisa Coleman.

I think you have the story a bit backwards. Lisa Coleman was playing classical music for Prince and his Father. They were fascinated with her playing. She told them that if you can read and play classical music you can play anything. He speaks about her playing during his first P&M show at PP Jan 2016. He said that when she first arrived in MN he was not sure whether she was going to work out - she wouldn't look him in the eyes. He was on the phone with his Manager telling him to get her a flight back to LA when he heard her playing piano in his basement. He said, "nevermind" to his Manager, and the rest is history

Some of Prince's interview with the Central High Pioneer in Feb 1976.....

*

"He likes Central a great deal, because his music teachers let him work on his own. He now is working with Mr. Bickham, a music teacher at Central, but has been working with Mrs. Doepkes.

He plays several instruments, such as guitar, bass, all key-boards, and drums. He also sings sometimes, which he picked up recently. He played saxophone in seventh grade but gave it up. He regrets he did. He quit playing sax when school ended one summer. He never had time to practice sax anymore when he went back to school. He does not play in the school band. Why? “I really don’t have time to make the concerts.”

Prince has a brother that goes to Central whose name is Duane Nelson, who is more athletically enthusiastic. He plays on the basket-ball team and played on the football team. Duane is also a senior.

Prince plays by ear. “I’ve had about two lessons, but they didn’t help much. I think you’ll always be able to do what your ear tells you, so just think how great you’d be with lessons also,” he said.

“I advise anyone who wants to learn guitar to get a teacher unless they are very musically inclined. One should learn all their scales too. That is very important,” he continued. "