"Professional musicians contribute through their performance of music to the public in promoting the enjoyment and understanding of music. This Code is principally concerned with this role, though professional musicians also contribute by providing music for weddings, funerals, and religious ceremonies."
All job fields have their own code of ethics, and even among professionals in that field, the ethics vary. The above quote is an ethical statement from the National Association for Music Education. (I am going to just focus on this bit, but you can view everything they have to say about their code of ethics, you can see it here: http://musiced.nafme.org/about/position-statements/the-music-code-of-ethics/ .)
For me, this is only a shallow shade of how I look at music -- it's a very formal, educational view. Of course, since this is a statement from the "National association for Music education", this makes sense -- a statement on ethics from a group of performing musicians would probably focus on different aspects of music.
As a music performance major myself, I agree with this statement, but I find it is not enough. It covers the smaller portion of what I do as a musician. As a performer, I view music as something very spiritual. It is not simply about mastery or enjoyment -- music is what strengthens me as a person, makes me most productive in this world, and gives me purpose. It is then my duty to present this to the world -- to share the power music has with me with others in my performance. Performance is about being true to the music and presenting these deeper, spiritual feelings contained in it to others.
Going to college for music, I am helping to complete this mission -- I'm learning how to portray music correctly. I'm learning how to be the best performer I can be. I'm learning how to deliver the messages music has to offer. Because music is a language words can't grasp, I can't present these messages in any other way but music. But perhaps that is one of the best aspects of music -- you are forced to stop talking and start listening to the world around you. You are pulled into a realm that connects musicians and non musicians alike. You are brought into world that breeds connection and understanding among its listeners by what each individual hears and feels.
Works Cited:
MENC (et al), "The Music Code of Ethics (Position Statement)". NAFME. National association for Music Education. 2012. Web. 1 Oct. 2012.
I like how you did not fully agree with the ethics statement you found. I find it interesting to see your own view of music and how you think of it so much more exciting than that statement. What would your ethic statement be? I have a feeling it would be a lot less dry and more exciting than what you found!
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