Musicians or non musicians

[Yesspaz]

Hello Andyyyy. I think there're are a lot of "musicians" in this world that are musicians only because a certain artist or composition inspired them to pick up an instrument. I'm in this group. I play bass because I always wanted to be in a rock band, and my musician heroes are Chris Squire, John Entwistle, Paul McCartney, Ross Valory, and many others. But ultimately I'd have to say I'm not really a musician because of my total lack of skill. Rather, I don't have the skill to play the type of music I want to play (I'm more than adequate to play 90% of the stuff you hear on your local classic rock station).

[mossy]

Further to my earlier post, the definition of "musician" is still unclear to me.

I sung in choirs growing up, toured with a national equivalent of "Godspell", played tambourine in a folk-rock band, "played" flute at parties and jams, and lived in the woods off lyric royalties for two years. This isn't a sorry list of "accomplishments" but rather fodder to ask...Does this make me a musician? I've never thought so in the global scheme of things, but I've never felt like less of a musician than the next Joe Blow.

Seriously...I have no idea. I wouldn't call people like Rick/Roll or Mortis non-musicians though, because they don't actually play an instrument.

Perhaps this thread should be redefined as who plays an instrument and who doesn't.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by mossy

toured with a national equivalent of "Godspell",

Perhaps this thread should be redefined as who plays an instrument and who doesn't.

I can see that

Good point!

[Andyyyy]

Originally Posted by mossy

Further to my earlier post, the definition of "musician" is still unclear to me.

I sung in choirs growing up, toured with a national equivalent of "Godspell", played tambourine in a folk-rock band, "played" flute at parties and jams, and lived in the woods off lyric royalties for two years. This isn't a sorry list of "accomplishments" but rather fodder to ask...Does this make me a musician? I've never thought so in the global scheme of things, but I've never felt like less of a musician than the next Joe Blow.

Seriously...I have no idea. I wouldn't call people like Rick/Roll or Mortis non-musicians though, because they don't actually play an instrument.

Perhaps this thread should be redefined as who plays an instrument and who doesn't.

Hmmm... This shows that perhaps "musician" can be an incremental thing. It's not like pregnancy in that either one is or one isn't. You have shown that different people can posses varying degrees of musicianship. What's sad to see is that there are many of us who had the spark for music, but life has taken that spark out. Raising kids and having a family is draining, so who can have the energy required to learn and play music AND keep your day job? There are those who have become successful at living off music (and we all need to live off our talents and capabilities somehow), but there are many more like myself, who were not good enough to earn a living from music, but as we got older and have just a bit more time, can now return to music. The downside- we're not as good as we would have been had we stuck with it for 30 years.

Originally Posted by yorksrvc

after reading this forum, I want to say that mossy really pegged it. Appreciation of music is really in the heart and soul. Physically, I was able to express it through my hands, mind, and emotions........BUT!!! I don't play anymore and I can get REALLY emotionally over-whelmed by a sreaming high guitar note or a mellotron waving behind a driving bass or deep bass pedals or a fancy drum fill. I can be alone listening and let out a................WHEW!!! That WAS GREAT!!! or drive down the road and laugh happily at some awesome riff. You surely don't need to play or be playing to feel the beat!!! I MUSIC!!!

Amen to that! Sounds like the definition of GEnesis, or even more, Steve HAckett!

[davido]

Geek by day, musician by night!

However, I have made the decision that the second part of my life (having pretty well expended the first part) will be much more musical than the first part. Over the next several years I will stare into the abyss that is the professional pursuit of the muse.

Rock on bro's...

david

[Andyyyy]

Originally Posted by Yesspaz

Hello Andyyyy. I think there're are a lot of "musicians" in this world that are musicians only because a certain artist or composition inspired them to pick up an instrument. I'm in this group. I play bass because I always wanted to be in a rock band, and my musician heroes are Chris Squire, John Entwistle, Paul McCartney, Ross Valory, and many others. But ultimately I'd have to say I'm not really a musician because of my total lack of skill. Rather, I don't have the skill to play the type of music I want to play (I'm more than adequate to play 90% of the stuff you hear on your local classic rock station).

Hey Yesspaz!
Yeah, I picked up the bass because it had 4 strings and I thought it would be easier to learn! Poor reason! Squire was one of my favs too! (Who ever heard of putting tremelo on a bass till Squire did it on Starship Trooper!) Love Jeff Berlin, Tony Levin, Baba Elefante and others. Also managed to learn a little keyboards, though I haven't gotten that good on either. I love writing and that's where the keys come in. I too wanted to be in a band, especially after all the bands my younger brother was in that I got to watch. My one and only band was in the early 80s when I rented a room from a drummer. He was the one who exposed me to prog. I ws into jazz/rock, he turned me on to Genesis, Gentle Giant, Mahavishnu, et al. Also helped me develop a feel for odd rhythms since 4/4 bored him! I was infected for life! We had a total of two gigs, and we had em dancin in 11/8! But with today's equipment, you can be in a virtual band. That's how we did much of the music on Giant for an Hour (in the Musical Suggestions forum). Maybe we can light some fires here too!