Andrea
During this morning's dog walk I thought about musicianship and virtuosity and how, more than 25 years after I earned my music college diploma, I still think about those fellow students who belittled my piano skills because I wasn't a virtuoso (and never became one) - but on the other hand, I have several instruments that I can play fairly well plus I can sing and teach and conduct and I guess that's an achievement of sorts, too.
#MusicalMusings
May 9, 2025 at 7:43amWeb
Show threadCassana 🍻May 9, 2025
@andijah Not "of sorts", those are achievements. Virtuosic playing is wonderful, of course, but most of the time that's within a fairly narrow scope: aesthetic ideal, style, genre, period, etc. I personally think competent versatility is just as wonderful, especially in teachers, band/choir leaders, session musicians, (ethno)musicologists, etc. Obviously yes, I'm biased. I've seen people drop out of ethnomusicology, because they couldn't deal with the wide variety, approaches, etc.
Show threadWafaaMay 9, 2025
@andijah I don't know anything about music, and I've tried to sing many times because using my voice makes me feel good.
But what I know about is to be a generalist and not becoming the superstar of only one thing. And I also know how people/ peers are so judgmental because they project their own wants and fears.
If you feel good, keep doing it....