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This page is about a little exercise for development of musicianship.
It's so simple that virtually anybody can do it - but, it's difficult to implement,
and virtually impossible to successfully complete.
The Scruffy Challenge is this: Go through an entire day, where any time you need
to talk to someone, sing the message instead. It doesn't need to be done loudly;
just, consistently using a melodic method of phrasing instead of non-melodic.
If you attempt this, be forewarned that it's more likely than not that someone
somewhere in your daily activities is going to think you're nuts. It's also
more likely than not, that at least one person during your day will think you're
not taking them, a situation, etc. seriously. If you decide to try this, it might
be a good idea to have some business cards printed up beforehand, with a brief
explanation of why you're acting so strange.
I'm sure to many of you, this concept may seem like a weird idea. Rest assured,
there's a method to this madness, and the potential for very real benefits.
You may be able to come up with extra items to add to the list, but I'll list
just a few of the aspects, to get you started:
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In order to achieve "The Scruffy Challenge", you'll need to be
truly focused on music. Whatever you're up to, whatever you're dealing with;
the practice of music can't be far from mind. Failure to sing whatever message
you need to convey is failure of "The Scruffy Challenge"! Therefore,
in order to try to meet the challenge and achieve its tenets, you'll need to
be ready at each and every moment to burst into song in front of a (probably)
unappreciative audience.
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The previous item mentioned "(probably) unappreciative" audiences.
I'm not suggesting that the potential audiences for such singing would necessarily
think that you're a bad singer - it's just that more likely than not, such
potential audiences would prefer that you just talked normally when they're
trying to discuss something with you. That highlights the second aspect of the
challenge: That, in order to attempt to achieve the challenge, the musician in
question needs to be dedicated to music, placing the pursuit of musicianship
as of at least equal (if not greater) value compared to any and every other
possible activity.
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If you attempt the challenge, you'll probably discover fairly quickly that
you're repeating melodies. This is normal, and contains a hidden benefit in
that becoming aware of the melodies you're leaning on highlights for you
information regarding which melodies you tend to use; i.e., it highlights
your melodic tendencies, at your current level of musical development.
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Repeating the same melodies over and over can quickly get boring - and, ends up
seeming trite. This is beneficial, in that it becomes a spur to development of
new understandings regarding melodies. You'll discover that you have ingrained
tendencies and preferences, regarding which melodies convey which emotions; some
seem to fit best in certain situations, and some seem just wrong. You'll discover
your own tendencies regarding rhythm patterns, and fit re. contexts.
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And, of course, there's always the fact that singing literally
everything ends up being a lot of practice during
the course of a day,...
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That's probably enough of that. As I said, you can probably come up with other
items to add to my short little list; I only wrote enough to get you thinking.
And, if you run into any problems, just tell them that I told you to
do it - and, you couldn't find any bridges to jump off of to emulate your friend
(me). In summation: The challenge is clear. Sing your way through your day! The
risks are clear. Everybody's gonna think yer nuts! The benefits are manifold.
People are gonna avoid you! (Just kidding, I think,...) No, seriously - LOTS and
LOTS of singing practice, will (more likely than not) end up being a highly
beneficial influence regarding development and enhancement of musicianship, for
anyone who tries to meet "The Scruffy Challenge".
IN CONCLUSION
I hope you've enjoyed my little presentation re. "The Scruffy Challenge".
If I discover at some point that I've got more to say about it, I'll add it
onto this page.
~~~
Scruffy Eagle
~~~
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