How broad are your musical interests? (lyric, classic, player, genre)

[jtaustin]

I've been accused of being snobbish by merely stating this, but I don't know how to present my perspective without sharing the following: I'm a classically trained violinist with two degrees in violin performance and conducting. I've played in orchestras, chamber music groups and string quartets my entire career, which started over 50 years ago (I'm "retired," and am currently a private teacher with only occasional gigs).

But I like (love, actually) all kinds of music besides classical: Cajun, Blues, Celtic (fiddle music of all kinds), jazz, pop, rock. When I play fiddle I'm told, by some fiddlers, that I sort of sound like a classically trained violinist playing fiddle, but I play it anyway, I just read music--there are tons of books with the notes ("the dots") written down. Cajun, especially, and I've got a pretty authentic sound, I believe. Even my blues is not that bad and I play occasionally with a blues guitar player whose sound is authentic.

What I've noticed, however, is that players from these various categories often (but not always, of course) dislike or have disdain for, players in other genres: fiddlers typically dislike or accuse of snobbishness, the classically trained/music reading players; classical players may consider themselves too trained to stoop to playing pop or country music. I think this is a shame.

This dichotomy may have originated in class distinctions but it no longer really holds true, in my experience. You have lots of solidly middle-class or upper, studying and playing fiddle, and alternatively, lots of children from disadvantaged homes studying classical. I'm one of the later, but have been obsessed with playing the violin since I found my mother's violin in a closet when I was seven, I think. I've made huge sacrifices and taken huge chances in order to study with top teachers all over the country. And yet I love fiddle music: it touches my heart at a very deep level.

How broad are your interests, and what are your feelings about this distinction?

[Michael Way]

Originally Posted by jtaustin

I've been accused of being snobbish by merely stating this, but I don't know how to present my perspective without sharing the following: I'm a classically trained violinist with two degrees in violin performance and conducting. I've played in orchestras, chamber music groups and string quartets my entire career, which started over 50 years ago (I'm "retired," and am currently a private teacher with only occasional gigs).

But I like (love, actually) all kinds of music besides classical: Cajun, Blues, Celtic (fiddle music of all kinds), jazz, pop, rock. When I play fiddle I'm told, by some fiddlers, that I sort of sound like a classically trained violinist playing fiddle, but I play it anyway, I just read music--there are tons of books with the notes ("the dots") written down. Cajun, especially, and I've got a pretty authentic sound, I believe. Even my blues is not that bad and I play occasionally with a blues guitar player whose sound is authentic.

What I've noticed, however, is that players from these various categories often (but not always, of course) dislike or have disdain for, players in other genres: fiddlers typically dislike or accuse of snobbishness, the classically trained/music reading players; classical players may consider themselves too trained to stoop to playing pop or country music. I think this is a shame.

This dichotomy may have originated in class distinctions but it no longer really holds true, in my experience. You have lots of solidly middle-class or upper, studying and playing fiddle, and alternatively, lots of children from disadvantaged homes studying classical. I'm one of the later, but have been obsessed with playing the violin since I found my mother's violin in a closet when I was seven, I think. I've made huge sacrifices and taken huge chances in order to study with top teachers all over the country. And yet I love fiddle music: it touches my heart at a very deep level.

How broad are your interests, and what are your feelings about this distinction?

There's nothing snobbish about stating your training and education in music if being snobbish is not your intention in stating it. That's great.

Smooth jazz, easy listening, and Exotica are my three favorite kinds of music. I like certain classical, certain country, certain folk, certain pop, and even certain rock music. I absolutely do not like rap which I do not consider to be music in any way, shape or form.

[jtaustin]

Originally Posted by Mike555

There's nothing snobbish about stating your training and education in music if being snobbish is not your intention in stating it. That's great.

Smooth jazz and easy listening are my two favorite kinds of music. I like certain classical, certain country, certain folk, certain pop, and even certain rock music. I absolutely do not like rap which I do not consider to be music in any way, shape or form.

I understand, in theory, that rap is an art form, significant for inner city populations, but I'm not okay with the "b" word or violence against police. However, rap is not bad combined with, say, the lyricism of Bruno Mars.

Most art forms are in a continual state of evolution.

At the Grammys, this white fellow was rapping. I thought it was nonsense. I'm not interested in that, though I don't support censorship. Any art form which objectifies women, loses me. I look for a broader, human context: kindness, intelligence, creativity, talent. Mars is a good example, though I wonder what he would have done had he had classical training. He has a very high intelligence level, coupled with a profoundly competent memory. Great sense of rhythm, pitch accuracy, sense of phrasing.

Young people are remarkable when they achieve this sort of success, and I'm not about to denigrate their accomplishments. But call me the "b" word, and see what happens.