Friday, May 7, 2010

How is music art?

Though we often think of art as something to be seen with the eyes, music is considered an art form because it involves creativity and skill. Like other forms of art, music involves creative expression of thoughts, feelings, and/or ideas through the arrangement of a set of characteristic components. In the same way a painter expresses their idea through the arrangement of color, shape, texture, and symbols, a musician communicates through the arrangement (or re-arrangement) of sounds and rhythm.


As I mentioned above, music involves skill as well as creativity in expression. You are probably no stranger to the fact that it takes many years to become an expert in playing an instrument. Some people may be said to have a "talent" or natural capability for the skill of playing an instrument. In both visual art and music, the artist hones and uses their skill to fluently express the message behind their work. 


Music, as an art form, is often at the forefront of questions about the nature of art. For example, must art be beautiful to be appreciated? Must art adhere to previously established rules? Many genres of music which have evolved over the past century (like heavy metal, electronica, and "noise music") may be considered post-modernist for their challenging traditions of what makes music artistic. Even when a style of music is at odds with traditional or classical forms, if it can be said to be both creative and displaying some skill, it is art.

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