The musicians are almost extinct

[Monobeat]

I think that root of this arguement is out of jealosy somehow. I am not a good keyboard player, and would never claim to be. I am a drummer foremost, which lead me into rhythm programming, and paved the way into composition...

I think someone is jealous of my synthesizers and wants them for his own collection.

You'll have to pry them out of my cold dead hands.

[maelstrom808]

Music is music. It does not matter if the the person who created it spent more time in front of a piano roll window than they did with hands on the keys. It does not matter if they put more hours in cutting and editing audio than they did with an instrument in hand.

The lines between producer, musician, DJ, engineer, etc. blur more and more everyday. Expression is not limited to those who fill the traditional role of a musician. Technology opens up new avenues of creativity. You end up with more hacks, but you also end up more options for the truely talented as well as inviting new artists in, and that is well worth the trade off.

If you are primarily concerned with the previously mentioned hack's commercial success, my advice is don't be. The same situation exists in every proffession, and it has always existed and will always continue to exists.

Creativity and inspiration will come through in the end product if it was there to begin with. It doesn't matter what tools were used to create it. A good song is a good song regardless of how it was made.

[Khazul]

Originally Posted by Monobeat

You'll have to pry them out of my cold dead hands.

This can be arranged

[Monobeat]

I've decided to move deeper underground. As suspected by myself and several others that should remain anonymous, the Infekted posse has scouts/ sniper all over the country listening with their highly sophisticated techno detection/ synthesizer decernment gear, and are waiting to move in and "off" those people suspected of not being good keyboard players.

I suggest...

1) Relocating
2) Switching to polka.
3) "Donating" at least 1 piece of gear to me for long term inspection.

[LivePsy]

Originally Posted by teethofgold

still... this discussion of "people can't play keyboards" is seriously flawed in that some of the best electronic music (in my opinion) is not even physically possible to play.

This is true, and it is also true that the sound is far more important than the notes. We're treating music like its 600 years ago and musical scales somehow are relevant. Learning music LIMITs you incredibly, but learning to listen and eventually create something you hear inside is the real skill.

I've learnt piano passing all the grades in NZ and frankly had to unlearn a lot of crap to start appreciating and then making electronic music. Music is NOT about notes, its about sounds and silence. When we were able to create any sound imaginable, we left traditional music behind. Some of us just don't realise it yet...

B

[synthfiend]

my 2 cents;

even though a lot of electronic music is dependant on the sounds and their movement (rather than formal music composition), I think there is still quite a lot of underlying musicality to electronic stuff. Even if the composer does not realise it. Maybe a lot of electronic musicians (who are not formally trained in music) create tunes by ear...

[Ceri JC]

As a newcomer to this forum, would I be correct in assuming the debate about needing to play an instrument to be a musician is "one of those topics", which, like analogue versus digital or pretty much any "x sounds better than y" discussion, everyone has an opinion on and which always ends in tears?

[IamEvil]

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

As a newcomer to this forum, would I be correct in assuming the debate about needing to play an instrument to be a musician is "one of those topics", which, like analogue versus digital or pretty much any "x sounds better than y" discussion, everyone has an opinion on and which always ends in tears?

Wouldn't be much point going on the interweb if everyone hi-5'd each other and agreed though would it ?

[meisenhower]

To all on this forum, it wasn't my intent to go on a crusade in defense of pianists, keyboard players or the like. I was merely responding to the "original" spirit of this thread that "musicians" by both "my personal definition" and obviously, the person who started this thread's definition.

What ensued was a battle for words between two people who come from very different musical experiences (genre, training, style and most importantly, philosophy).

I certainly don't wish to continue a pointless diatribe, particularly when there is absolutely no willingness by the other parties to consider a different view.

I made an effort to clarify my position, and was accused of trying to "rosey up" to the forum. Frankly, I won't lose any sleep over it.

My only reason for joining this forum, was to gain some insight and perspective on my latest gear acquisition (Virus TI Kbd) and not to debate the relative merits of other peoples music and how they create it.

That being said, to Marc (Evil), I have no interest in participating in a "grudge match" to satisfy your juvenile tendencies. Feel free to go on about "how I won't put up, so I have to shut up." If that makes you feel victorious, then enjoy your feeling. My time can be better spent doing virtually anything else than responding to your ridiculous proposition. I've nothing to prove and my music stands on it's own merits (as do the performances, all done in real time, live in the studio).

Like it? Don't like it? Don't care?

Fine with me!

I'll not dignify any further negative commentary on this thread, so happy reading!