Re: question about teaching and learning guitar (Master Musicians)

Greg Cisko wrote:
"Warren W. Gay VE3WWG" <ve3wwg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:7jsGe.6564$q23.1098436@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Is the musician really a "master" if he cannot read
music? I suppose people might use different definitions
for "master musician".

Did Hendrix and Van Halen read music? 

Obviously "master" applies to some level of musicianship. So
I guess we come back to what is a "musician"?

The online dictionaries sez :

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=musician&x=0&y=0

Main Entry: mu·si·cian
Pronunciation: myu-'zi-sh&n
Function: noun
: a composer, conductor, or performer of music; especially : INSTRUMENTALIST
- mu·si·cian·ly /-lE/ adjective
- mu·si·cian·ship /-"ship/ noun

================

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=musician :

mu·si·cian Audio pronunciation of "musician" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (my-zshn)
n.
One who composes, conducts, or performs music, especially instrumental music.

[Middle English musicien, from Old French, from Latin msica, music. See music.]

================

Given that both of these definitions specify composes "OR"
performs music, I suppose you could reach the conclusion that
you can be a musician if you only perform it. It also says
compose it, without any mention of reading/writing it (you
can obviously compose a song without writing it).

Comparison of people (musicians) is fraught with problems
(which one is more of a master?) because it really depends
upon the criteria you want to use. Its like trying to
decide what is the "best car" or "best guitar".

But, if it were to happen in cases where "all else were
equal", I would say that the superior musician would be
the one that could read/write music (he would be the master
within the two). In a sense, this by itself (I believe)
will tend to make all things else NOT equal, because he
will leverage that reading/theory ability in his playing
and composition (and voiding the comparison to start with).

I'll have to think about this some more. I am beginning
to think there is no settling this ;-)

Warren.
.

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