INDEX
Engagement with Music and Theater: The Acts of Listening and Watching
Nakamura: That might be different for me. As a musician, I find myself thinking about music while I listen to it.
Okada: I understand that someone who specializes in music might think about various things while listening. When I say “thinking,” I mean that if listening to a piece of music brings certain images or scenes to mind, that distracts me. If my thoughts go towards those visuals or images…
Nakamura: Does it pull you in that direction?
Okada: Exactly. I feel like that doesn’t count as truly listening to music. When I listen without any thoughts, I suddenly notice sounds like, “Oh, I never heard that sound before.” People often say they want to see theater that doesn’t require any thought. There’s a nuance in that, as it implies that my theater isn’t one that you can just enjoy without thinking. So I just respond, “Oh, really?” and think, “Wait! If you don’t want to think, why not just listen to music instead?”
Nakamura: Since I have a background in music, I often think things like, “Oh, they selected this particular tone,” or “They must have brought in this instrument to achieve that modern sound.” Beyond that, I pay attention to the individual energy, like noticing if someone is really in the zone or seems to be having a great time. While watching a live performance, I might think, “Hmm, they don’t seem to be on their game. Are they struggling with that solo?” or “Their emotions aren’t fully coming through; I hope everything’s alright.” I suppose my ability to play an instrument gives me some insight into what they’re feeling.
Okada: That makes sense. I can also pick up on whether someone is performing well. When I observe an actor, I can often tell if they’re enjoying themselves or if they’re a skilled performer. Those are the kinds of things I notice, too.
