"Isn't that Richard's point? "

Well, on one level it seems to be, but if the 'empathy' is there, the problem shouldn't arise.

Are we discussing the effect of marketing, or the flighty fancy of passing afficiandos?
One of the best pipers I know is Swedish. I have a good friend in Denmark who is arguably one of the best fiddlers around, both of whose style and body language, I have no trouble predicting.

I don't know...., I think it is an imperfect premise to begin with

Practice, of course, Foolstroupe. But we must never dwell in the notion that it will ever make 'Perfect' somewhere down the line.
Someone asked Segovia once when did he learn to play the guitar (he was in his late '80's at this stage). Segovia just laughed and said 'I learn something new every day'

B.