What do you consider to be a musician?

[Gavincoolguy]

I am wondering what your view is on what makes a musician? Is there some point where someone is definitively a musician; and is the line monetary? Do you hold yourself to a different standard of what a musician is than to a complete stranger? I'm just curious your opinion!

[rayliam]

Anyone who creates or performs music is a musician. Even singers are musicians since the human voice is an instrument. There is no monetary line. If you're involved the act of composing, producing or performing music, you're a musician. I even believe audio/mix/mastering engineers to be musicians too even though it's not often considered or regarded as often because their art/science contributes greatly to how we perceive recorded music as well as live performances with anything amplified with electricity.

[BertKoor]

A musician imho is anyone that can make music. No gatekeeping needed for me.

Slightly different angle on the subject: my mother (parttime photographer) was having a discussion with my nephew (parttime pianist) what makes you a 'professional' in such arty professions. Having completed an education is enough? Being paid?

They came to the conclusion that it's not about the money or education, but the line can be drawn at being able to deliver up to good quality standards, even under difficult circumstances.

[whyterabbyt]

A musician imho is anyone that can make music. No gatekeeping needed for me.

Slightly different angle on the subject: my mother (parttime photographer) was having a discussion with my nephew (parttime pianist) what makes you a 'professional' in such arty professions. Having completed an education is enough? Being paid?

They came to the conclusion that it's not about the money or education, but the line can be drawn at being able to deliver up to good quality standards, even under difficult circumstances.

In English, its not necessarily an either/or. There is a difference between 'professional' and 'professionalism' where the latter is more specifically related to 'good quality standards' as you say. 'Professional' gets that same meaning, although it still quite literally has the alternate 'being paid' meaning as well. Confusingly maybe, 'professional' comes as both noun and adjective whereas 'professionalism' I think is basically only a noun, but more betterly disambiguated.

[cryophonik]

Anyone who creates or performs music is a musician.

I totally agree.

I even believe audio/mix/mastering engineers to be musicians too even though it's not often considered or regarded as often because their art/science contributes greatly to how we perceive recorded music as well as live performances with anything amplified with electricity.

That's a very interesting take that I've never really considered before tbh. Would you extend that to include the stage lighting crew? To clarify, I'm not asking to be argumentative, I'm just curious. It's pretty subjective, after all, right?

[eLawnMust]

I was one back in the 70s & 80's... Things are different now with many dumbed-down genres & simplistic lullabies with way too much FX, looping & loud drums which I guess is the instrument anyone can play. Many buy ableton or cubase thinking that they can now identify as a musician if they can pluck out a few octave hits & apply FX with automation... Doesn't cut it. There is a flow to it & starting out at 90 MPH in a tune at high volume leaves you nowhere to go. Music must be 'musical' thus the essence of the 'Muse' this can be in a positive or negative way but it must be in there... Selling it has nothing to do with it nowadays as anyone can throw together a construction kit then sell it online... If one has to use construction kits or buy MIDI chord packs then probably a different hobby would be more appropriate...

Most desktop dabblers nowadays can't even pick out a simple however popular tune & figure out the progression without resorting to some plugin or standalone which are commonly inaccurate...

Best way to test your music for actual 'Muse' is to take all FX OFF... ALL of them then listen or have someone else listen & see if it retains 'Muse' in standalone fashion. If it does then you are good to go but if it sounds real playskool then go back, do it right... Forget all FX until you do it right. If this cannot be achieved then throw everything on the shelf & listen to what others are doing that is actually good (getting harder to find)...

[Aloysius]

I am wondering what your view is on what makes a musician?

When a man and a woman love each other very much ...

[BBFG#]

Hmm... I have a thought here that saying "anyone that does music is a musician" is relatively like saying "anyone that drinks alcohol is an alcoholic"...

[cdbaksu]

Like any other art form, there are degrees of knowledge and skill one can attain.

With the aid of today's technology I'd say this about "making music":

Objectively, simply dragging 'n' dropping a "Cmin_piano_90BPM.mid" into a DAW does not make one a musician.

[FranklyFlawless]

I am wondering what your view is on what makes a musician?

Anyone capable of creating original compositions and/or performances.

Is there some point where someone is definitively a musician; and is the line monetary?

Yes, no.

Do you hold yourself to a different standard of what a musician is than to a complete stranger?

Yes.

[Synthman2000]

It seems as a post sequencer terminology issue.

It's really not worth worrying about too much. For myself a musician is a performer of an instrument, including singing and drums, live. But there is no need getting your underwear in a twist about such terminology.

'makes music' is a fine term for everyone else. Someone may make something amazing in a sequencer that sells millions of copies but could never play it live or even perform the parts.

Playing 2 or 3 chords nicely through a track and you are a musician. That person may not be able to compose a 5 min track on their own. Different creative abilities, part of the same area of interest.

It's almost academic really, average person on the street would never quibble musician or music maker but someone involved in music may fret (pardon the pun) about such things.

It's all a little judgemental and results based on personal goals are arguably what matters.

[donkey tugger]

Someone who hangs around with drummers.

[BertKoor]

Someone who hangs around with drummers.

Never. Those are Groupies.

Nowadays those are called Followers / Subscribers?

[harryupbabble]

a musician is a modular guy who wear floral shirts

they were discussed in this thread:
viewtopic.php?t=538809

[mellotronaut]

I am wondering what your view is on what makes a musician?

When a man and a woman love each other very much ...

not quite a woke reply, i guess