I have a confession.
Well, not really a confession, but something I should share. A few days ago (as I write this) I was doing a Music Meditation at Namaste. About 15 or 20 minutes into it, one of my electronic devices I use in this and other musical applications died. Well, I had to think fast. I bypassed it, and continued.
The quality of the performance was not affected in any way. Frankly, I’d be a pitiful excuse for a musician if I let it be affected.
It reminded me of some years ago when I played at the Apollo in NYC. I was doing a solo sitar performance with laptop accompaniment. As the first of my allotted three songs ended, my laptop froze up. So, I improvised my way around it. Later, I mentioned this to a friend in the audience. She said she wasn’t aware that I was having technical problems. I siad “You weren’t meant to.”
If I use a single acoustic instrument, or an arsenal of instruments and electronic devices, it all exists to derve the same purpose. Each one is but a tool. You either use it, or not.
In the end, the music, and its effects in the hearts of the audience are all that matter. All else are details.