Musician defined

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tosapicker	Musician defined	Lead	[-]
(06/22/09 7:05 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Years ago, I applied for a customer service job at a large music publishing company and the interviewer asked me if I was a musician. I had been playing guitar for about 25 years, but never outside my house. I guess I felt a "musician" played professionally and said "no." The interview went downhill from there. Does the appellation "musician" apply to composers / professionals only or does just playing an instrument qualify? Relic'd Telecaster / '50s Harmony Montclair / '30s Kalamazoo Sport Model / Roy Smeck Vita Uke / '20s Supertone Parlor / Fender Squier 51 / Danelectro U2 / '70s Yamaki Custom Last Edited By: tosapicker 06/22/09 3:26 PM. Edited 1 time.
geeterpicker		#1	[-]
(06/22/09 7:50 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I define a musician as someone who plays out or puts their music out there for others to hear in some way. If one never leaves the living room, they are more of a hobbyist. That's my opinion. Brian
mudpuppy55		#2	[-]
(06/22/09 8:48 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	According to Reference.com: Musician A musician is a person who plays or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music: An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument. A singer (or vocalist) uses his/her voice as her instrument. Composers, arrangers and songwriters memorize and orally teach, or record their compositions in the form of traditional notation or audio recording. A conductor leads a musical ensemble. A conductor can simultaneously act as an instrumentalist in the ensemble.A musician can be self-taught, or learned by formal education in a conservatory or by a private instructor or a guru. Musicians can be amateur or professional. The meaning of these terms is, however, somewhat diffuse. Musicians have varying levels of activity and ambition in music, which often makes music both a hobby and a profession. Many professional musicians define the core of their musicianship as a state of "being married" to music, which suggests an active and progressive relationship even and especially after finishing formal education. A professional musician is, however, usually defined as one who is paid to perform, compose or act in any other productive manner related to music, and whose main source of income is this activity. Professional musicians may work freelance, enter into a contract with a studio or record label, be employed by a professional ensemble such as a symphony orchestra or big band, or by an institution such as a church or business (such as a jazz club or a bar). A musician who earns money by selling sound recordings is called a recording artist. The concept and the status of the musician in society varies widely, depending on sociological, cultural, and economic factors. In a way, I can see where one could define the word to be both in and outside the home. Guess I'd say it's a matter of personal judgement and taste. The "whatever floats your boat" theory. Necturus maculosus (A.K.A. mudpuppy) Chuck, Mi.
RevGeo		#3	[-]
(06/22/09 9:05 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	1. musician (n) One who hangs out with drummers. 2. musician (n) Any of several types of human beings who create or play music. Easily identified by the pizza sign atop their automobile. Rev George
jscio		#4	[-]
(06/22/09 12:31 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Best I've seen in a while, Rev.
MrSoul		#5	[-]
(06/22/09 1:45 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Like too many interview questions, thisone was unspecific, and seemingly designed solely for the purpose of inducing remorse and insecurity in dissappointed job applicants. When I meet other "musicians," I want to know if they can read standard notation and what if any instruments they play. If somebody cannot read music, the conversation might proceed, but I find it much easier to work with people who can read and who know something about music theory. Of course, an amateur guy who plays in his home, might qualify under this definition, but that's a small percentage, and most of those folks can open up fake book and play a song can actually perform in a live situation.
SixxStringer		#6	[-]
(06/22/09 2:38 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	While my first read of MrSoul's comments said to me "elitist"...I realize that I agree with him, for the most part! I am often referred to, by my kids, or others who know me, as a "musician", but I *ALWAYS* correct them, and say that "I play (at) guitar--I am not a musician". I don't read music, I couldn't play a lead if the fate of the universe depended on it, and frankly, my "ear" for music ain't all that hot. But I have been playing my guitar (ok--GUITARsss!) for 45 years, enjoy the heck out of it, and even get paid to do so now and again. But the bottom line is that just because I can pile up some rocks around my flower bed, doesn't mean I am a LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT! Richard My Video of "Hiscox Drop Test" Hiscox Lite-Flite Cases (U.S. Dealer)
ruralgurl		#7	[-]
(06/22/09 6:03 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	There's professional musician and there's amateur musician. Sorry, I don't buy into the hobbyist thing unless you collect instruments and never learn to play anything on them. JMHO. Walk in beauty, live in peace.
Buck		#8	[-]
(06/22/09 7:41 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	MrSoul wrote: When I meet other "musicians," I want to know if they can read standard notation and what if any instruments they play. If somebody cannot read music, the conversation might proceed, but I find it much easier to work with people who can read and who know something about music theory. Now that seems to be a very short sighted definition. If music itself if is "the art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion", then the ability to express or interpret those sounds in written form would seem to run a distant second. I know personally many people who make a living writing, recording, and performing without the ability to read a single note on paper. As far as I'm concerned you are a musician if you make music. It doesn't have to appeal to me, but I'm not going to tell you it's not music. (I do make rap and disco jokes, but...) I am a musician. Todd
billwi		#9	[-]
(06/22/09 9:19 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	There were two people walking down the street. One was a musician. The other didn't have any money either.
WeaselD28		#10	[-]
(06/22/09 9:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I wonder how well Ray Charles read standard notation.
Larry124		#11	[-]
(06/22/09 9:32 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I think that once there is an intentional listener other than the player then the musician becomes also (like it or not) an entertainer. Possibly also an illustrator/demonstrator, storyteller, or even a teacher -- role model or overt.
hippiedog		#12	[-]
(06/22/09 9:44 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I consider myself a musician but I will not at least in the time being give up my day job. Hippiedog
MrSoul		#13	[-]
(06/22/09 9:50 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Your ability to create jokes for rap music may make you a lyricist and or a comedian. Back in the Sixities, we might even have called you a Performance Artist. Being a lyriicst or a comedian, or even a d.j. are perfectly fine titles and lines of work. However, until you can read and write music, I think that calling yourself a musician is somewhat misleading. In my experience, the word "musician" implies a certain set of skills, and if you call yourself a musician you are expected to have a skill set that includes the ability to read music. Now this may prompt a debate as to whether a self-taught rock shredder who can'r read a note is i or is not a musician. Here's my simple answer. There are midwives who are great at diagnosis and some really street smart jail house lawyers, but you can't become a doctor or lawyer unless you can read or write. Why should a different rule apply to musician? I don't think am being elitist. To the contrary, I mostly refer to myself as a guitar player and occasional song writer, although I can read music, and ,with the aid of computer software, write in standard notation any songs that I create..
Buck		#14	[-]
(06/22/09 10:16 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	MrSoul wrote: However, until you can read and write music, I think that calling yourself a musician is somewhat misleading. What about performing artists in Bluegrass, folk, acoustic roots, and similar music. Are those artists not musicians simply due to lack of formal training? Todd
Guitaropsimath		#15	[-]
(06/22/09 10:52 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The other side of that reading coin is that depending on sheet music to play can be limiting and time consuming. Give me a picker with ears any day over one who has to be spoon fed their part. Does that sound harsh? Sorry, I've just gone through some frustrating sessions with a symphony violist. Doug
MrSoul		#16	[-]
(06/23/09 1:09 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Buck wrote: MrSoul wrote: However, until you can read and write music, I think that calling yourself a musician is somewhat misleading. What about performing artists in Bluegrass, folk, acoustic roots, and similar music. Are those artists not musicians simply due to lack of formal training? Not necessarily. If there is a specialized language for communicating music, and specialized techniques, and they possess them, they may qualify as musicians even if they did not attend Julliard. or some other traditiona, formal music school. But, even if they are not musicians, these people are artists, and I don't think that I insult or denigrate them by calling them artists rather than musicians. In our contemporary American society, I think that standard musical notation is the language of music, even if it is supplemented by Tab and recordings. So a venerable practitioner of indigenuous music, who can't read musical notation might legitimately claim the title of musician, but the vast majority of contemporary players can't call themselves musicians unless they can read and write music. This includes Sir Paul, and others who have made tons of money thanks in part to the musicians who were able to transcribe their works. Now there is nothing terrible about being a guitar player rather than a musician, and I call myself a guitar player. Note the quotation marks around musician in my original comments in this thread. I usually employ this distinction when talking about myself. I play guitar with a guy who has a degree in music composition, has published songs, recorded several solo albums, done session work, and backed major artists. He can sight read anything, and it takes him little more than a minute to transpose a tune. I can read music slowly, and I've written songs, and I can transpose, BUT it is abundantly clear to me that he is the musician, and I am the guitar player. When we hang out with older jazz guys, they get the distinction. Because I am honest about my limitations they are really quite nice. On the other hand, if I were to take the position that I am musician because I wrote some words for a I, IV, V progression, they would, to put it kindly, think that I had a rather inflated estimation of my musical abilities. Now to answer your question. For all I know, some bluegrass and old time music folks might have the skill set that would qualify them as musicians as I define that word. . Just because one plays bluegrass or roots music, does not mean that one cannot read or write music.For persons, who come from an economically deprived background, or a tradition where music is passed on orally, I might concede that they are musicians. However, that would inolve figuiring out if there was a speciallized language or means of communication that practitioners of music used in order to communicate with one another. In my view, anyone who was sufficiently acquainted with this specialized lingo to the point where he could use it play with other musicians, would qualify as a musician. However, you and I and the vast majority of people who live in contemporary America, and the specialized communication is reading and writing music. To be accepted as a musician by the people who do it for a living, I think reading is an absolute necessity. . The only exception that I can think of is Glen Campbell . You might consider this view elitist, but under the amorhpous "if it sounds good I am a musician" standard proposed by some, or the even less rigorous "if you can make a noise deliberately, you are a musician standard," we are condemned to suffer through all kinds of aural sludge and to do so appreciatively and cheerfully .
David T Martin		#17	[-]
(06/23/09 2:11 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Many of the best musicians, recording artists, people we emulate and look up to, dating back 100 years, do not (or did not) read music. They hear, they play, they are gifted. Musicality cannot be defined by the discipline of study or traditional music knowledge.
auggie242		#18	[-]
(06/23/09 5:55 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I was really sorry to discover that both Doc Watson and Stevie Wonder don't qualify as musicians. If you ever meet them, please feel free to let them know. and btw, implying that midwives are illiterate is no more defensible than the rest of your inane assertions. In this country to be a licensed midwife requires both a B.S. in nursing and a Master's degree as well. Frank Last Edited By: auggie242 06/23/09 6:10 AM. Edited 3 times.
WaveRay		#19	[-]
(06/23/09 6:29 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	When people state that or ask if I play guitar, I usually tell them I play WITH the guitar. However, I think I can be called a musician. I am not a good guitar player. I am not a good singer. I can't read music. I guess it's relative. Everyone that plays better than I might not call me a musician while everyone who plays worse (these terms themselves are subjective and relative at best) might have no problem calling me a musician. I can be called a musician because I work at it and I care about it and I love it. Although my progress with it isn't good evidence. If you can't think of me as a musician, so be it. Ray Page 63 in the introduction thread 05 HD-28V 03 Taylor 455ce 12er (dealer custom rosewood) 05 M3M 71 D-18 00X1 2/3 of my hair
glacierhiker		#20	[-]
(06/23/09 8:15 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Many interesting comments reflected in this thread. I think I agree with some that a musician is someone who makes a living (full or part-time) with with their musical skills. I'm not a professional. I guess I'm not a "musician". I play for my own enjoyment and occasionally entertain for my family and friends. I've played guitar for over 35 years and practice and play 1-2 hours just about every day. A day when I don't get to play is usually a lousy day unless I'm traveling on vacation. I don't agree that my playing is a hobby. Whenever I'm asked what my hobbies are, playing guitar is not one of them. Hobbies are great. But I could be happy without my hobbies. Taking guitar playing out of my life would leave a huge void. I'm not a hobbyist. Rich (2005) HD-28 (2008) 000-28EC (1971) Guild F30 (2007) American Deluxe Telecaster

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