Musicians have better taste

Subject: Musicians have better taste
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 07:52 PM

In my experience I've found that people who actually play a musical instrument have better taste in music than those who don't. Their ears are more open than other people. They've listened to more types of music than non-musicians and have the capacity to enjoy more styles of music - even styles of music that they can't perform. I can't play Dixieland or Western Swing - but I can tell when a band is good or not.

Many years ago when I was single one of the first things I'd try to do when I met someone was to get a look at their books and records. I was amazed at how many people would tell me "I don't buy records - I just listen to what's on the radio". I knew then that there was no relationship on the horizon for us.

Now my record collection borders on the obsessive since I worked in a record store for a decade. But isn't it easy to tell when you look at someone else's collection that you've found a kindred spirit? Especially when you find some really off the wall recordings?

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: michaelr
Date: 05 Apr 12 - 09:18 PM

Musicians listen differently than non-musicians. It's a communication chasm that can never be bridged.

As for "better taste" - I don't think that's a legitimate generalization. Horses for courses and all that.

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: Gurney
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 12:48 AM

Me not a cannibal, so don't know.

Having got that out of the way, I'd agree that people who play music are more aware of it. And as Michaelr implies, other people sometimes are much more aware of other pastimes and artforms, such as basketball, modern art, reality TV, shopping, fashion..... all of which pass well out of my orbit. Takes all sorts to make a world.

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 01:01 AM

I was fascinated by one relevant item of info in the Arena programme on BBC the other night on that Renaissance-style polymath Jonathan Miller. Among his many attributes, he is one of the world's most respected directors of opera, having been invited to do stage direction by the conductor of one of our leading opera companies [he's just one of those that get invited to do things - how do some people manage that, eh!]: his Rigoletto set in a Mafia-dominated American gangster community, and his English-country-house resolutely non-Japanese The Mikado, are constantly revived, televised, &c.

But Dr Miller, I learned from the programme, cannot read music.

What lesson are we to extrapolate from that, I wonder?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 03:24 AM

We've had this discussion before, though not in this context. But basically, Dr Miller directs opera, but doesn't play or conduct it (or sing it).

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: Will Fly
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 04:37 AM

I also watched the programme on Jonathan Miller - a person I admire very much. He may not read music but can he play any instrument, I wonder?

I've known lots of excellent musicians who couldn't read a note.

I also think that playing an instrument gives you a different perspective from a non-player when listening to music. It's not just a question of theoretical technicalities. Concert-going friends of mine, who don't sing or play themselves, often take a miniature score to a concert performance. They can read the score very well but - to me - that's not quite the same as actually playing an instrument. The act of playing and performance adds something extra.

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: GUEST,Tony Rath aka Tonyteach
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 06:01 AM

Interesting idea this - I would put the point that if like me some days you pick up a guitar first thing in the morning and are still at it either playing or teaching 8 - 9 hours later you tend not to listen to music for pleasure. Play it yes, I listen to learn stuff

I will say this at the age of nearly 67 there is still stuff I want to play and stuff I want to do - this gets me up in the morning

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: melodeonboy
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 06:09 AM

As a musician, I always try to focus on the music itself in all its aspects (technical ability, expression, soul, humour, emotion etc.) whereas I often get the feeling with non-musicians that their appreciation of music depends to a significant extent on extraneous factors - how many times they've heard it before; the appearance/supposed sexual attraction of the artist; whether it's been used on a Guinness advert; whether the artist has been seen on television/appeared in the gutter press; whether it fits their image, and so on.

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 11:26 AM

Shouldn't one distinguish between people who play an instrument and musicians---a much smaller subset.

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 03:58 PM

I agree with Dick... my fingers have a mind of their own and at least with typing I can use spellcheck ... but there is no equivilent for "note check".   lol

I can pick out a tune on the piano ( now keyboard) but at the same speed that I did when I was 4 years old and trying to work out the Sleeping Beauty Waltz on my mom's piano. I got it right, but boy it took some time.

I hear great music in my head and can even compose a tune or two - all in my head & while singing it back to myself. My instrument is my voice and I do consider myself a musician, just not an instrumentalist.

And we all know of those unfortunate individuals who "play" an instrument and have no clue if they are in tune, on the beat or are even playing the correct note. yet they show up time after time to picking parties, sessions and sing arounds.   Where do they fit in the grand scheme of things.... mabe Dante knows.

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: Paul Burke
Date: 06 Apr 12 - 04:23 PM

I still try to recall, alomg with the memory of my first taste of beer, what it felt like to hear folk music for the first time: exhilarating morris dancers, beautiful but incomprehensible songs, but most of all the impossibly complicated Irish music I found on records by John Doonan (Tyneside Irish), Jimmy Power, Seamus Tansey and the rest. I remember not being able to make any sense of them in terms of tune or time, despite being irresistably attracted, though they are the staple of the sessions now. I don't know if I have better taste now my ears and fingers are accustomed to the gyrations.

Subject: RE: Musicians have better taste
From: Stringsinger
Date: 07 Apr 12 - 12:53 PM

Musicians go down well with a dash of salt, in many cases. If they taste better,
a lot has to do with experience, exposure and education.

Many cause upset stomachs.