Music for Markmakers

April 30, 2009 6:54 AM

I would be grateful for suggestions for music for drawing in the classroom. I am hoping for music that encourages the perceptual side of the student rather than the text, writing, thinking.

I teach Observational Drawing at the college level. I arrange still life objects relevant to specific concepts that progress toward figurative drawing.

Students walk into the classroom and see the prearranged still life as their first visual impression. I require that they spend most of the four hour period drawing to earn academic credit for the class.

The music I currently use favors traditional Classical genres, Hildegarde Von Bingen, Vivaldi, Bach. The student population is extremely culturally diverse, many of them from non-Western cultures or poor urban backgrounds. Understandably, they find the Classical music stodgy.

Rather than giving them the “eat your peas and carrots” lecture, I would like to consider music they will find conducive to drawing.

When I work, I like music that has a strong, fast repetitive groove; it’s there with me but not demanding singular attention. Mostly on the sugarless side, and I prefer a discernable human touch. I typically play the same song over for an extended period until the music becomes a second skin. I obviously can’t do that to my class.

Here are the conceptual progressions:

Line
Value
Changeant Color
Skin Tones
Drapery
Biomorphic

Each week the still life theme supports these concepts.

Thanks for any suggestions regarding musical pathways for the exercises.

posted by effluvia to media & arts (20 comments total)

I think Nico Muhly's music would be wonderful for this. Preview his albums Mothertongue and Speaks Volumes on iTunes and you'll see what I mean. Muhly is a young classical composer who works with Bjork and Antony and the Johnsons, and has seemed to be simpatico with those artists' sense of atmosphere and style. Here are some bits on YouTube.
posted by hermitosis at 7:03 AM on April 30

This might be one of those things where you're not going to win. I love many kinds of music and have taken drawing and graphics classes in which music was played. Every time it has really grated. Music is such a personal thing that one persons inspiration is anathema to another. You might get away with the most mellow of Eno's ambient stuff turned down way low but put a pan pipe anywhere near my ears and I'll stab you with my pencil!
posted by merocet at 7:04 AM on April 30

Also, Kronos Quartet has done a lot of interesting internationally themed albums, like Nuevo and You've Stolen My Heart. I often listen to Kronos or Philip Glass when I'm trying to get into a writing groove.
posted by hermitosis at 7:10 AM on April 30

Why search for the perfect music yourself? At a pair of drawing classes I took at the local community college by the same instructor, the students were encouraged to bring music in, and then she would choose one. The only stipulation was that it be appropriate - no constant cursing or anything like that. The music was kept low enough so that people that wanted to listen to something else on their iPods would be able to.

Alternately, I listen to a lot of early Andreas Vollenweider, Ottmar Liebert and R. Carlos Nakai when I work.
posted by azpenguin at 7:24 AM on April 30

Good Christ, art classes do NOT need music. I'd drop your class and complain to your chair if you made me listen to your music while I was trying to learn to draw. Drawing is about drawing, not listening to music. Forced group music listening is NEVER a good idea.
posted by gum at 7:34 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]

Forced group music listening is NEVER a good idea.

We are influenced by all our senses, especially while making art, and playing music in class is one way of teaching people this. It's also a way to drown out air-conditioners, noises from outside, and your classmate's noisy mouth-breathing.
posted by hermitosis at 7:47 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]

Points for mouth-breathing.

I would highly recommend Sigur Ros. Contemporary and experimental, but not too much so. Their music is textured and very ambient, and conducive to meditative states. Mild to a degree, but capable of eliciting strong feelings and sensory impressions. And the lyrics are gibberish. Perfect choice, in my opinion.
posted by mediocritease at 8:13 AM on April 30

I like the Amelie soundtrack and other works by Yann Tiersen. Very nice music, definitely helps me when I need to channel some creativity.
posted by lizbunny at 8:18 AM on April 30

Explosions in the Sky
Four Tet
Amon Tobin
Steve Reich (especially his piece "Electric Counterpoint" -- tracks 5-7 of this album)
Isan
Ellen Allien & Apparat
Tortoise
My Brightest Diamond

All links go to emusic.com, which has amazingly cheap and good music.
posted by Jaltcoh at 8:33 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]

Brian Eno's ambient works would seem to lend themselves very well to something like this as they were conceived of as functioning generally as 'background music.' On Land (Ambient 4) is one that comes to mind at the moment. They're not too demanding of your attention, but seem to work at a fairly subliminal level.
posted by metagnathous at 8:42 AM on April 30

Why don't you ask your students to suggest music to you, with the understanding that you have final say over what is or is not played in the class? It might give you some insight into where your students are coming from, and it encourages them to be more engaged in the class.
posted by LN at 9:22 AM on April 30

Lullatone
Múm
Eluvium
posted by naju at 9:26 AM on April 30

Jaltcoh's suggestions are all great; I would also like to introduce you to Low Light Mixes, which may fit the bill remarkably well.
posted by Shepherd at 10:04 AM on April 30

Give a listen to Lil' Beethoven by Sparks. Repetitive yet somewhat techno, beat-based music. It provided the perfect ambient background for me many times when I was facing a writing deadline. Here are a few sample tunes:
The Rhythm Thief
I Married Myself
Your Call's Very Important To Us (Please Hold)
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:22 AM on April 30

These are wonderful suggestions! Thank you for these great musical pathways.

In response to those who would prefer silence, as Hermitosis pointed out, in this particular classroom environment, music overlays the ambient distractions in the classroom and helps students slip out of time consciousness. Otherwise, they constantly look at the clock, begin a desultory conversation or turn up their personal music player to distraction.

I have tried asking students to suggest music, but then a few DJ wannabees take over and we have a drama about style and content.

Are you on the Senate subcommittee on teaching art?
posted by effluvia at 10:30 AM on April 30

It's a shame that they "turn up their personal music player to distraction," as I would think that MP3 players would be the perfect solution to this problem.

Is the music distracting to everyone, or just to you?--is it possible you want to play music because you don't like the music they bring in? That's fine, of course, but you may end up with reactions like gum's.

For music suggestions, if you are going to have the students sit for four hours and draw, you are going to need a long mix of music, and changes in tempo would, I think, be beneficial. Have you thought of checking out a mix site, like the recently FPP'ed 8tracks?
posted by misha at 11:00 AM on April 30

Seconding Brian Eno's ambient works - try Music for Airports.
posted by porn in the woods at 11:40 AM on April 30

Steve Reich's "Music For 18 Musicians" 60-70 minutes of trancelike bliss.
posted by hippybear at 1:01 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]

cinematic orchestra, everyday
posted by doobiedoo at 4:56 PM on April 30

in the minimal reich vein, john adams, shaker loops
and for arctic wind down after cinematic orchestra sunshine, trentmoller, the last resort
silence really is the best though
posted by doobiedoo at 5:01 PM on April 30