Re: What's experimental?

[George Ludwig <sfmissionman@yahoo.com>]

Why get hung up on a term? Academia might have a narrow definition of 
"Experimental Music" but unless you are performing for academic audiences, 
who really cares? BTW, all of academia is likely not in agreement on what 
constitues "Experimental". If you go to Berklee, Mills, University of 
Miami, University of North Texas, etc. they are all likely to have 
differing notions of what it means. 

Many years ago, I studied "Experimental Music Composition" under Herbert 
Brun at the University of Illinois. I'm still trying to figure out what 
all of that meant. Let's just say, there weren't a whole lot of notes 
being played or put to paper. But the experience defeinitely influenced 
(warped?) me.

I believe we are all of our own best references for this type of 
questions. If YOU think it's experimental, then it is. If some critic 
wants to then write you off as somehow not being so, then listen to their 
criticism, evaluate it for any value, and move on. I don' think it's such 
a big deal.

I should also add that such labels are only not for ourselves, but for our 
audience. It's a way of setting up expectations. So two sets of labesl are 
appropite. To myself, I think of what I do as "Classical New Age Surf 
Jazz" (or smethng along those lines). But if I tell others about it, I 
probably just cal it "Electronic Guitar". I might even get away with 
"Progressive/Experimental Electronic Guitar".

-George