What would be your definition of a musician?

[Meffy]

And because I'm just creating music by myself, should I release it with my real name or create a band name, like you do with user names?

Whichever you prefer. Your music, your choice of identity.

[leggie]

If your playing with an oscillator your a musician that settles it bowed string, wavetable, vector synthesis , FM, Diva..................

[herodotus]

'Musician' can mean many things.

People around here take an extremely expansive view of this. But some definitions of 'musician' can be more narrow without being wrong. That is why dictionaries often list multiple definitions for a single word.

Music has been in a process of change ever since the phonograph recorded sound for the first time. It probably won't be a stable concept for many years.

And it would not surprise me at all if some of the things being called 'music' right now were called something else in 100 years.

[debra1rlo]

People around here take an extremely expansive view of this.

I know you meant me. But it's true, I believe even moltres_rider is a musician.

[cryophonik]

I believe even moltres_rider is a musician.

I don't know what that means and I'm afraid to google it, especially coming from you.

[debra1rlo]

that's probably for the best

[licasto2]

If you know how to put on a band aid and take an aspirin does that give you the right to call yourself a Doctor? I you can brush your teeth are you considered a dentist? If you know how to count are you automatically in the same league as an engineer? Some of us have dedicated our life to speaking the language of music. You only get to call yourself a musician if you can speak with others using music and they can understand what you are trying to say. If I've offended you then you are probably in the wannabe category. All it takes is dedication, time and practice.

[Tony Ostinato]

i remember when i was joining the musicians union i was so worried about the audition and the written test.


i think a musician is someone who shows up to the gig at least knowing the songs they are going to play.

[debra1rlo]

i think a musician is someone who shows up to the gig at least knowing the songs they are going to play.

even the improvisational musicians? are they somehow psychic?

[debra1rlo]

You only get to call yourself a musician if you can speak with others using music and they can understand what you are trying to say.

What if you are a mute guitarist and none your peers knows sign language?

[cryophonik]

i think a musician is someone who shows up to the gig at least knowing the songs they are going to play.

Back in my session playing days, I showed up for a ton of gigs having no idea what I was going to play.

[debra1rlo]

i think a musician is someone who shows up to the gig at least knowing the songs they are going to play.

Back in my session playing days, I showed up for a ton of gigs having no idea what I was going to play.

Ah, good. I never know what I'm going to play. Ever. That should count for something.

[herodotus]

People around here take an extremely expansive view of this.

I know you meant me. But it's true, I believe even moltres_rider is a musician.

I know you are just hitting on me because runagate moved to Texas.

But seriously, I myself define 'musician' very liberally. I am just not willing to tell someone like Julian Bream that he is wrong if he has a narrower definition of 'musician' than I do.

[debra1rlo]

People around here take an extremely expansive view of this.

I know you meant me. But it's true, I believe even moltres_rider is a musician.

I know you are just hitting on me because runagate moved to Texas.

busted
yes, that was a brilliant defensive maneuver on his part, since Texas so deeply offends my sensibilities.

But seriously, I myself define 'musician' very liberally. I am just not willing to tell someone like Julian Bream that he is wrong if he has a narrower definition of 'musician' than I do.

see, there's the problem. everyone is taking a question like this too seriously. i've never let another person's definitions stop me from spreading my tuneless joy to everyone that didn't want to hear it.

[herodotus]

see, there's the problem. everyone is taking a question like this too seriously.

I like to be serious, because it gets people to drop their guard, so later, when I get frivolous, I can get them to spit coffee all over their monitors/keyboards.

I have done this to hibidy numerous times.