What is a real musician?

<p>From Wikipedia -</p><p>"A <strong>musician</strong> usually plays a musical instrument, especially (although not necessarily) as a profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music. It's also a person who makes music a profession, anyone (professional or not) who's skilled in making music or performing music creatively, or one who composes, conducts, or performs music (especially instrumental music).</p><p>Musicians can be of any music style not limited to classical, orchestral or choral, and musicians can have skills in many different styles outside of their professional experience. Examples of musicians' skills are the orchestration of music, improvisation, conducting, singing, composing, arranging, and/or being an instrumentalist."</p><p>Music is constantly evolving. Styles and genres have come, had their Hayday, and gone. There has been so much music created and recorded over the past century, it really is unfathomable.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Ok, so lets break down the definition here a bit:</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">"A <strong>musician</strong> usually plays a musical instrument, especially (although not necessarily) as a profession. "</span></p><p>We are well into the 21st century here, and the newest (ok, not so new) emerging musical instrument is the computer.</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">"Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music. It's also a person who makes music a profession, anyone (professional or not) who's skilled in making music or performing music creatively, or one who composes, conducts, or performs music (especially instrumental music)."</span></p><p>By this definition, Live performing Djs and composing Djs<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> are</strong></span> musicians.</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">"Musicians can be of any music style not limited to classical, orchestral or choral, and musicians can have skills in many different styles outside of their professional experience. Examples of musicians' skills are the orchestration of music, improvisation, conducting, singing, composing, arranging, and/or being an instrumentalist."</span></p><p>By this definition, Home studio enthusyists, or&nbsp;ANYONE&nbsp;who:<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">&nbsp;orchestrates</span></strong> loops and samples of music&nbsp;in <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>arrangment</strong></span>, and&nbsp;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">creates</span></strong> sounds electronically or otherwise for musical<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> composition&nbsp; </span></strong>ARE real musicians.</p><p>I think its high time we all accept this. Traditional musicians that play traditional instruments and sing, have their talent and skillset. As do those who create music by any means necessary have their talent and skillset as well. There is not much difference between one who strums a string or blows on a reed, bangs on something, or presses a trigger button.</p><p>Granted, their are levels of musicianship; varying from beginners to the professional. That is not&nbsp;my point&nbsp;here though. I'm just tired of most all electronic media artists who dont play a keyboard or guitar or a 'traditional' instrument saying they are not "real musicians". &nbsp;</p><p>I will even go as far as saying my spouse Deb, who is most certainly tone deaf, and I forbid to hum around me, is a musician. She invents her own song in her head and it just comes out naturally. If there was only a way she could capture her ideas.......maybe someone will invent the mind link to the computer someday! Can you imagine creating the music exactly as you hear it in your head for all to hear?</p><p>I write this opinion from both sides of the isle. I started as a vocalist in high school, taught myself how to play the piano by ear, (Still can't really read music) and a little guitar too. I was in a couple really good bands when I&nbsp;was younger, ranging from TOP 40 bar bands playing 5 hours every night, to progressive rock bands opening for major names back in the 80s and 90's. After a period stepping away from music altogether, having no instruments to play for almost 8 years, I started learning about computer DAWs and samples and loops. I found I had a talent for creating loops and samples, and after putting them out for the public to have and use, I have found a whole new world of satisfaction! When I hear a composition someone used my loops in, its actually a better feeling to me then creating a whole song of my own. The 'collab' aspect of hearing what someone else creates by the inspiration they get from a little piece of melody or sound I created is mind blowing and tickles me inside to no end.</p><p>So, if you create something that sounds good to you, and hopefully to someone else too.....no matter how you made it.....you are a "Real Musician"</p>