Challenging Conventional Wisdom

Each day, we make decisions based on conventional wisdom: what makes a good parent, where to spend money, why education is important, how to view politics, which activities lead to happiness and success.  We are unduly influenced by sound bites that dominate the news headlines, and seek simple short-term solutions to complex predicaments. The problem with this, of course, is that conventional wisdom is often wrong.  At the least, there’s a hidden side to just about everything.

That’s the argument presented in Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, which I just finished reading.  Though not one of the top 10 books I would recommend to musicians, it does present an interesting perspective and valuable lessons.  In it, the authors systematically challenge the conventional wisdom behind a number of topics, as only economists could do.  They explain why real estate agents often don’t work to get their clients the best home price; prove that teachers often cheat; clarify why drug dealers live with their moms; and confirm that a rose by any other name would indeed smell just as sweet (he compares a convicted felon named “Winner” with his brother “Loser,” a celebrated police officer). 

By having a more nuanced understanding of the principles at work around us, we can make savvy and informed decisions, rather than adhering to often misleading conventions of the day. 

So what are the assumptions we cling to as musicians?  Where do they come from, and what do they truly mean?  Consider the hidden side of statements below:

• The music industry is dying
• Conditions are harder for musicians than ever before
• Practice makes perfect
• Nobody cares about quality music today
• All serious musicians go to grad school
• Musician = starving artist
• Making money through music requires compromising artistic integrity
• Musicians can’t have families
• There are just three career options for classical performers: orchestra, teaching, and Starbucks
• Working with a record label is more prestigious than self-releasing
• Better get management, so you can focus all efforts on the music
• The best musicians become performers, the next best teach, the rest do something else
• A talented performer who pursues a non-musical career path is a failure
• You can’t possibly make a living through music—better get a “real” job

2 Responses to “Challenging Conventional Wisdom”

1. Jeff says:

   January 22, 2010 at 2:58 pm

   Any noob to the site should look around all the answers to these questions are hanging out here

   * The music industry is dying
   IF YOU SAVE IT YOU WILL BE A HERO, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE MUSIC THAN TODAY, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TO BE A MUSICIAN

   * Conditions are harder for musicians than ever before
   THIS IS ONLY TRUE IF YOU ARE NOT USEING THE INTERNET, AND EERY REASOURCE AVAILABLE, THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN SO MANY.
   * Practice makes perfect
   PERFECTION DOESN’T EXIST, THERE IS MORE TO PRACTICE THAN MUSIC.

   * All serious musicians go to grad school
   SHOULD I MAKE A LIST?
   * Musician = starving artist
   NOT ALL MUSICIANS ARE ARTISTS, STARVING LIKE HOMELESSNESS IS A CHOICE. THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITY AND PROGRAMS FOR EVERYONE YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE THEM
   * Making money through music requires compromising artistic integrity
   I THINK THAT THE MORE ARTISTIC INTEGRITY YOU HAVE THE EASIER IT IS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL. JUST BECAUSE BANDS LIKE KISS HAVE NO ARTISTIC INTEGRITY DOESN’T MEAN THAT WHY THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL
   * Musicians can’t have families
   IF COLTRANE COULD HAVE A FAMILY PERFORM AND PRACTICE 12 HOURS A DAY SO CAN YOU
   * There are just three career options for classical performers: orchestra, teaching, and Starbucks
   APPOCALYPTICA
   * Working with a record label is more prestigious than self-releasing
   ISN’T THERE A CHAPTER IN THE SAVVY MUSICIAN ABOUT THIS?
   * Better get management, so you can focus all efforts on the music
   THIS IS A CHOICE, KEEP IN MIND HOW MUCH TIME YOU WASTE EACH DAY FOR WHAT EVER REASON, AND DECIDE IF YOU WANT MORE DISCIPLINE AND A BIGGER CUT, OR IF YOU WANT TO RELAX AND PROBABLY SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME WORKING ON MUSIC, BUT THIS REALLY VARIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON.
   * The best musicians become performers, the next best teach, the rest do something else
   THIS IS A VERY AMERICAN THING TODAY, OTHER CULTURES ONLY ALLOW THE BEST MUSICIANS TO TEACH. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TEACH TEACH, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PLAY PLAY, PEOPLE WHO DON’T WANT EITHER DO SOMETHING ELSE
   * A talented performer who pursues a non-musical career path is a failure
   THAT’S YOUR ENVY TALKING, YOU THINK THEY CAN DO SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN’T SO YOU DECIDE TO ELEVATE YOURSELF OVER THEM. THE TRUTH IS THEY DON’T WANT TO BE A PERFORMER.
   * You can’t possibly make a living through music—better get a “real” job
   IF YOU READ THIS BLOG YOU DON’T BELIEVE THIS.

   sorry if i bored anyone, but i knew unless i did it right here and now i wouldn’t have done the exercise.
2. Ambrose says:

   February 2, 2012 at 8:59 pm

   Hey there guys, newbie here. I’ve lurked about here for a bit while and thought I’d take part in! Looks like you’ve got quite a good location here