Homage Mug Sucks

The banjo is the quintessential instrument of bluegrass. Noam Pikelny’s playing in the Punch Brothers was a great artistic inspiration for me (even though I’m not really a musician). “Waveland” from his solo album is an incredible example of lyricism emerging from the substrate of technical mastery - a longing melody appears in the midst of blazing fast rolls and arpeggios. My hope is that a similar lyricism emerges with mug suck training - perhaps there is a hidden grace and beauty in this act that tends to be automatically perceived as repugnant.

A great album. The pared down piano trio version really brings out Stravinsky’s dissonance. I have a habit of listening to it on the Spring equinox every year. My hope is that mug suck training recontextualizes mouth suction (usually an activity performed unseriously by children) in the same way The Bad Plus recontextualized Stravinsky.