Ordinary people are not good enough to make music. They need to hire someone who is.

Conrad seems to believe that professionals are denying opportunities to amateurs. Well I'm an amateur musician and I don't find there is any lack of opportunity nor do I find professionals telling me I am not good enough. Quite the opposite; the professional musicians I know are very encouraging.

There are plenty of folk clubs and sessions where I can go and sing and play and, were I so minded, there is opportunity to look for paid gigs. One local venue has periodic "hiring fairs" where you can showcase yourself. However, I am quite happy to continue as an amateur.

I also play recorder in a group that gives a couple of concerts a year and have recently joined a wind band and a choir who also do concerts, so there is plenty of musical activity that I can take part in with opportunity to perform.