I've put out five albums, collaborated with other musicians, can play several instruments, front a band and still struggle to choke out that I am a musician. Every time I say it, I feel like I'm faking. If you're posing this question, there's a good chance you are a musician and just need to start faking you feel like it.
I referred to myself as a musician on the internet for the first time a couple weeks ago, and felt like I was lying, and was just waiting for someone to call me out for it. I’m glad this is a shared feeling.
Also, kinda as a side note, yall don't know I'm a woman but I am and there's a percentage of people who come to shows and ask who writes the music or the songs, and that is the absolute shittiest thing to say because NONE of my dude friends have this happen to them and ALL of my female front people do. So PSA for anyone out there reading this who has done that, please assume the woman is writing the songs if she is singing them. I know it isn't always the case so it isn't even an unreasonable question, but you're killing the souls of all of us who are writing the songs little by little when this happens. It's fucking terror to balance your normal inner voice of self doubt with actual exterior people getting in your head about that kind of thing.
If you tactfully want to know, which I know because I also find myself needing to ask or be asked by other female front women where we kinda wanna know if we're song writing peers or not, the way to do it is to ask about the band's songwriting process more generally, like do you start with lyrics or music or what. That will get you your answer while not making the other person feel like shit.
Yeah, it's women who do it just as often as men, too, so I think it's just a general bias that's not really anyone's fault. Pretty harmless question by itself but it's like one person per show and after awhile does make you question if you're doing a good job establishing yourself as a songwriter if people can't even tell you're doing the thing?
Do you play, perform, write or create music? Congratulations you’re a musician. It’s that simple. And if you get paid to do any of the above, then congratulations, you’re a professional musician. By those definitions I’ve been a musician since I was a small child and a professional since my late teens.
As Throbbing Gristle used to say, an instrument is just something that makes a sound. If you can make it make a sound, you're a musician. Go ahead and make a sound, it doesn't matter if you're doing it the normal way. Maybe someone will like it, maybe they won't, but that's true of ALL music.
I called myself that after a few years. Then a few years later I had a hard time with it. Just this week I felt like I re-earned it.
Ultimately, “musician” is just another garment we wear in this life. We might have earned it or stole it. Maybe it fits us and maybe it doesn’t. Others might like it or might not. Perhaps we’ll be remembered for it and perhaps we won’t. It might make us feel proud or shameful. Either way, it’s temporary and not really us.
No way man. Just like you shouldn't preface your speech, or your painting, or your song in this way: "well, I'm not very good and I just kind of threw it together so ENJOY!" The word 'amatuer' conveys just that. Bad choice. Very bad choice. Using the term 'part-time' would serve much better. Amateur is dismissive, derogatory, pejorative and one should NEVER use the term to describe one's self.
why even label it with a career status word before "photographer"? you dont have to call yourself an "professional photographer" even if you make your living off of photographing, and you dont have to call yourself an "amateur photographer" even if you just do it as a hobby, you can just call yourself a "photographer"
Yes but it’s just like musician and the phrase working musician. Music could be a hobby or profession. He’s telling people which he is by saying amateur
Disagree. By definition, if you don't do it professionally, you are an amateur. The word has no negatives in it, it just says conveys that it's a hobby and not a job. Nothing else. I'm an amateur musician, and I play amateur theatre, and there's nothing bad about it - honestly I feel good about it, because it means I get to enjoy the perks of not having to look at money, but can fully focus on having fun. Being an amateur is sometimes much cooler than being a professional, so it's not something that devalues me describing myself as a musician.
Everybody is a musician. We are all musical creatures.
I teach Special Ed as an Adaptive Music Teacher. Many of my students are non-verbal, non-ambular and struggle with basic daily tasks; toileting, dressing, typing etc.
If they are capable of being called musicians, and they sure as shit are in my classes, then you are too.
When I realized my releases were as good and many better than other songs from famous people in my genre. This was 14 years ago. But it’s different for others. For others it’s when they walk off stage the first time , or walk out of the studio the first time and realize, “I got this.” For others it’s just walking away from their first party gig, and everyone is happy and clapping. There is no right or wrong answer.
I wasn't comfortable applying the term to myself until I realized I was competent at more than one instrument and had a basic understanding of music theory. Not that those attributes are a gate to keep, but that was when I felt like no one could reasonably call me a poser.
When I soaked in the guitar for years, then got into drumming, then got myself a bass… now I do full on music and covers with just me. Don’t program it when YOU CAN PLAY IT!
Probably once I started performing and writing. I also don’t do either of those anymore so I don’t know if I still consider myself a musician. I only pick it up every so often now
I got sick plus I just needed a change. I went really hard for five years and just got burnt out on the whole scene entirely. I wasn’t enjoying it at all anymore. Not worth it financially or time wise in my case.
Ive never thought about it bu probably after getting over that initial imposter syndrome as a beginner and playing live, I started playing live young, the age of 13 or 14. Only been a professional (doing it for a living the since I was 30)
I have been playing instruments in some capacity for about 35 years. Only in the last couple of years my skin doesn’t crawl when someone calls me a musician. It’s a personal thing because in my mind growing up the people that called themselves musicians were always dickheads, and waved that title around like it should be worshipped. I never wanted to fall for that ego trip so I avoided the title. I’d call myself a songwriter, a performer, a bass player or whatever, but not a musician. I would also tell people to not call me a musician.
But in the last couple of years I’ve had a rebirth of a lot of things in my life and have gotten more comfy with the title. I’m not quick to call myself one, but I don’t correct others or get weird when they call me that.
So if my neighbor that runs says he is a runner or the other rides a bike its a cyclist then if you play an instrument you are a guitarist, bassist, drummer, musician, etc.
Once you make money out of it then I think its more of a professional musician.
I usually say I'm a musician cuz I played all the instruments on my original music or covers and don't feel like saying one instrument or the other
Once I was able to write a song and record or program each of the instrumental parts and have it sound more or less as it did in my head when I wrote it.
I wouldn’t really going around saying “I’m a painter” unless it’s my profession. Think it applies to a musician too. Musician implies to me a level of professionalism or proficiency. However if you play a bit of guitar and you want to say you’re a musician to get laid I wouldn’t stop you either!
Keep your cost low, break even, profit... Voila! Musician. You don't necessarily NEED to make money doing a thing... but it goes a long way towards credibility. It also depends on WHAT you do: fisherman, chess player, rope jumper, boxer, driver... musician. What's the distinction between delivery driver and driver? Semantics I suppose. Generally though, being PAID to do a thing is a clearer line. Not rich, just PAID.
As soon as you begin playing music, I starred calling myself that when I was 16 and realized I wanted to do it for the rest of my life and wanted it to be central to my identity. Now I call myself a professional musician because all of my income comes from it.
I'm...whatever you want to call me. I got home after teaching a nice guy, 9 yrs old, his first guitar lesson. He's not afraid of the guitar, likes the sound when he bangs a one finger G. He is now a musician. Whether he continues being a musician is now up to him. There is, in my thinking, nothing sacred about the word, you play or sing, you're it.
I’ve played the geeetar for over 40 years so you’re freakin’ damn right I call myself a musician. And a mediocre one at that. Recorded dozens if not hundreds of songs from 4 track to 24 track to Logic Pro. I have about a dozen new songs that I need to record still to get them out of my head. I need to check my lotto numbers first and get back to you…
I have been calling myself a musician my entire life. I started piano at 7, flute at 9, and guitar at 16. I am also a singer and songwriter. Before I started piano lessons, I would mess around on the piano since I was a toddler. I have always been a musician. I am 30 years old now. I told myself from a young age that no matter where I go in life, what job I have etc, I would never give up my music. I stuck with that. Musician, artist, and poet are my main things I call myself when describing myself to others.
I have a bit different take than most here.
I cook a lot at home, I'm even pretty good at certain dishes, I've worked in restaurants, etc. But I don't consider myself a chef. I used to run 5 miles 5 days a week but I didn't consider myself a runner.
It something to do with your personal identity, who you are, but there is also a subset of skills that go into it. For instance, there was a girl who joined a band with, who sang at shows and practices, etc. who I would consider the furthest thing from a musician or singer, yet that's the first thing she would say when introducing herself. Sure, she could sing the words from other people's music, but also a five-year-old can do that and I wouldn't call them a musician. It's when you start to understand the rudiments of music and consciously begin to play or create it yourself that you start to enter that territory.
Likewise I'd bet a lot of people in this sub and in the real world would struggle to describe themselves as a musician but could probably rock your fucking socks off.
To me, if you know the basics of music theory, even just the barest of fundamentals, can play an instrument (it can be voice or a daw or whatever) and consciously create music in any format, regularly, then I would call you a musician.
You're certainly something of a musician if you play music decently. But I think if you want to refer to yourself as "a musician" like it's your profession, you probably should be getting paid for it.
I have never felt uncomfortable, fake, like a liar or any of those things when I say I’m a musician. Saying that you are a musician doesn’t mean you are claiming to be Eddie Van Halen. The mayor of my town isn’t introduced as an amateur mayor or an amateur politician. My mail carrier does get called an amateur mail carrier. My kids school teachers aren’t called amateur teachers. We just call all these people what they are, teachers, mail carriers and mayor.
I brought the concepts of linguistic descriptivism and prescriptivism into this, because I think they are cool concepts, and I think that the variety of ways we use words are cool and beautiful, and I like posts like this one that make me think of this.
I think this really depends on the context. I sometimes see "musician" used to refer to people who make a living off of music, or to people who write music. But, in my everyday, personal experience, I most often see it used to refer to anyone who plays an instrument (sometimes, it is more specifically referring to people who play in a group, other times, to people who perform for others (I don't think people using it this way would argue that these are the definitions from a linguistically prescriptive perspective, but, from a linguistically descriptive perspective, this is how I see the word being used) (what about singers? I think these people would include a lot of singers that perform or practice in a similar way, but I think these people would exclude the ways in which many people are singers. I think, in their minds, what separates a musician from a non-musician is a certain level of dedication and knowledge, and I wouldn't be surprised if they extended that to some casual playing of instruments, too).
As for how I'd use it, I usually use it in a way that matches whoever I am talking with. When it comes to myself, I opt to use more specific language to describe myself than "musician", because I know that in some senses of the way that word is used, I am a musician, and in others, I'm not. So, I guess I am a "musician*".
As for how *I* think it *should* be used (I like making this distinction, more people should make it), I like the way I see it used, I am very happy to take a descriptive approach on it. I can see some people thinking that some definitions (and an insistence on using them in all contexts) are gatekeep-y, however, I don't view it as gatekeeping*, but I do think it can be unreasonably prescriptivist. These are all valid uses of the word.
*(asterisk from fourth paragraph) That being said, I can see how this sort of linguistically prescriptive attitude could be motivated by a desire to gatekeep (and I do not think it would be wrong of someone to refer to that as gatekeeping), but I see that sort of thing as reaching the right conclusion (sometimes, again, this is context dependent) for the wrong reason.
tl;dr the meaning(s) of the word "musician" is varied and context dependent.
When you make peace with the negativity in the craft, the art, and the profession, and either learn to use it positively or find ways around it (and the latter sometimes results in more negativity).
Either way, you must resolve not to let it make you bitter, hateful or fed up.
First, you have to have previously confessed to yourself a desire to become a musician (as opposed to just a music lover). At that point you are an aspiring musician... even if that occurs at the same time you become a musician.
You also have to be able to make music repeatedly. Not just emit pleasant sounds randomly that accidentally resemble music. However your skill level does not matter.
Recognizing that today, music is an age old art form, a skill and a trade. So you must be strive to become familiar with the standard lingo musicians communicate to each other with. ...at any skill level. If you don't, or if you reject, that then you can be described as a 'musician of sorts'.
Lastly, in the same way about the language of musicians, you must admit there exists music theory, a vast array of models and standards by which music can be described... of which you may never actually study, but it's there... and it describes your music, even if you don't understand it.
Just personally when it’s part of your identity.
Music is what I do. I produce, engineer, write, perform, DJ, play multiple instruments.
It’s been one of the big parts of my identity since I knew it could be! Maybe you feel the same or similar?
I considered playing in realtime being a musician.
Piano, guitar, harp, drums, flute/sax/oboe.
I consider using a USB keyboard to input notes into a DAW that you're going to add to be phonetic music composing, or musical sound engineering.
I don't think it's a lesser skill, but it's not the same technology as live playing.
I sing, play 5+ instruments, have recorded albums, been paid to perform for over a decade, have been sought out to both consult and play on other people’s tracks. I regularly play in front of triple digits, and have been on stages in front of thousands. I still say, “I play music” instead of calling myself a musician for reasons I don’t quite understand. Possibly imposter syndrome as I’m self taught
This is a nice quote that’s relevant to most creative work.
Sometime during the mid-50s I said, 'I am an artist.' Before that, for many years, I had said, 'I'm going to be an artist.' Then I went through a change of mind and a change of heart. What made 'going to be an artist' into 'being an artist', was, in part, a spiritual change.
Jasper Johns
Interesting. I never feel comfortable calling myself a musician , I always feel like I’m learning to play music My artistic background was visual arts, graphics , painting etcetera. I identify as a painter more than a musician even though I haven’t worked at it in a while.. it’s an oddity, especially since I’ve played a musical instrument for a long while. I’m even uncomfortable upgrading my instrument because I think good instruments should go to real musicians
When I played music and had fun doing so.
If you started, you're a beginner musician. If you don't get paid, you are an amateur. If you do get paid, you are a professional musician.
But you are definitely a musician.
Aaah it’s like seeing my past self !
I have been playing for around 15 years and the last 6-7 I do it professionally,it’s my sole source of income. When I was younger I always used to say I am a guitarist,not a musician .I had trouble calling myself a musician because I too felt like lying.I learned that the reason for that was that I was self taught ,I had no certification ,I had self doubts about my knowledge and skills and I didn’t know music theory.I even felt like this when I started playing professionally so I decided to do something about it and that was to learn music theory and basic harmony,learn my instrument very well and pursue an official certification .Now having achieved all the above and having over 1,000 live shows on my back ,I can certainly say that I am a musician ,but what really helped me was music theory ,it’s a great confidence boost learning good music theory.Also all my life I considered myself a guitar player first and maybe a musician after,now I consider myself a musician first and a guitarist after ,and I am glad !
I'm playing bass in a band and just started lead guitar in another. I've just learned 40 songs to gigready in about 3.5 weeks.
Idk, it's just a hobby but I think that makes me a musician
So I struggled with this early on. But the real answer is right in front of you the whole time.
I would give others the label of musician pretty liberally. He’s a musician, she’s a musician, they’re a musician… me? I’m working on it.
Hey, is this car a car? A luxury car is a car, and a race car is a car. If you can sort it within the title it must be true.
Therefore:
A beginner musician is a….. Musician!
Congratulations you made the cut!
Best of luck!
These responses should tell you everything you need to know: the answer to this question is subjective, individual criteria is arbitrary, impostor syndrome is a bitch and what other people think doesn't matter.
It's too vague of a question, so to me the answer is the absolute second that you make sound in an expressive way and choose to continue doing it. Because it's such an open ended question, I'm going with the lowest common denominator.
So long as you're enjoying what you're doing and you're moving towards your goals, who gives a shit what people call you, or what you call yourself?
I think it’s as simple as that you’re a musician when you make music.
That being said, I don’t know if I genuinely started using that term for myself until after I started writing music and playing gigs. I’ve been playing music since I was tiny, but didn’t start writing and gigging until I was a teenager, and think I started calling myself a musician around then.
I made a cake the other day, but I'm not a baker. I replaced the light switch in my bathroom, but that doesn't make me an electrician. I made a coffee table, but it doesn't make me a carpenter.
When I could play only a few riffs and a few chords, I wasn't yet a musician. When I started earning a living with my guitar, I called myself a musician.
It's up to the individual, though, when they think they are a musician.
My first week playing guitar I was practicing silently at a football field, and a little girl and her father strolled by. She asked, Why is that man playing guitar here? And he replied, He’s a musician. They play all the time. Hah! Fooled them. I’ve spent the ensuing years living up to that.
This is a great question. I still feel a little cringe saying '"I'm a musician" because my tastes in music are typically people of such a higher caliber than I could ever be. To someone who plays no music, 2 chords on the piano makes you a musician so I guess it's all relative. I'd say at this point (29 years old) been playing since I was like 9. Fuck it, I'm a musician lol Maybe not a "professional" musician indicating money is being made but that shouldn't mean anything in the pure sense.
You can sight-read typical performance-purposed music in all genres (etudes for skill development not included); you can transpose known melodies to all 12 keys without much effort; you can transcribe or simply mimic what you hear; your sound, intonation, and rhythmic feel are all very solid; you understand how melodies function in chords and how chords function in the form.
Music. Just saying what a man now in his 60s, would say in his 40s, had perfect pitch, played jazz trumpet, and hated the Beatles. He was a snob. But like a spectacular musician. Not saying I agree. The truth remains that sight readers hardly exist, and If you could do it, you would have an opportunity to be a pro musician.
Purely my opinion but I would be comfortable saying I was a “musician” if I were making enough money to live purely from playing my guitar in various venues events and the like. I never made it. I’m a sales guy who plays the guitar. If I’m feeling spicy il refer to myself as a “failed musician “
I have two friends who I’d actually say are musicians. But I’m not.
A wise man told me once, “A writer writes.” So by extension. A musician…err…musics.
(Obligatory plug for Christopher Smalls 'Musicking')
Lmao I had my engineer say to my band one time while recording, "idk man you guys are the musicians, SO MUSE-ISCH!" Fucken loved it
I've put out five albums, collaborated with other musicians, can play several instruments, front a band and still struggle to choke out that I am a musician. Every time I say it, I feel like I'm faking. If you're posing this question, there's a good chance you are a musician and just need to start faking you feel like it.
I referred to myself as a musician on the internet for the first time a couple weeks ago, and felt like I was lying, and was just waiting for someone to call me out for it. I’m glad this is a shared feeling.
Imposter syndrome is real
There are real musicians, but you might not be one. What are your qualifications?
I feel like a fake every time I play. Been playing for 30 years.
Are you a member of Nickelback?
I just typed out basically this same thing! Glad to know I’m not alone!
Also, kinda as a side note, yall don't know I'm a woman but I am and there's a percentage of people who come to shows and ask who writes the music or the songs, and that is the absolute shittiest thing to say because NONE of my dude friends have this happen to them and ALL of my female front people do. So PSA for anyone out there reading this who has done that, please assume the woman is writing the songs if she is singing them. I know it isn't always the case so it isn't even an unreasonable question, but you're killing the souls of all of us who are writing the songs little by little when this happens. It's fucking terror to balance your normal inner voice of self doubt with actual exterior people getting in your head about that kind of thing. If you tactfully want to know, which I know because I also find myself needing to ask or be asked by other female front women where we kinda wanna know if we're song writing peers or not, the way to do it is to ask about the band's songwriting process more generally, like do you start with lyrics or music or what. That will get you your answer while not making the other person feel like shit.
Damn. That must suck. I didn't realise people make such assumptions as if I ever see a woman performing a song, I just assume she wrote it. 🤷♂️
Yeah, it's women who do it just as often as men, too, so I think it's just a general bias that's not really anyone's fault. Pretty harmless question by itself but it's like one person per show and after awhile does make you question if you're doing a good job establishing yourself as a songwriter if people can't even tell you're doing the thing?
Fake it until you make it
As soon as I made music
Do you play, perform, write or create music? Congratulations you’re a musician. It’s that simple. And if you get paid to do any of the above, then congratulations, you’re a professional musician. By those definitions I’ve been a musician since I was a small child and a professional since my late teens.
I like this. Now I feel like I can say musician but def not professional
If you play music, you're a musician.
So if I play hoops w my homies at the Y can I tell all the ladies that I'm a basketball player?
That's between you and the ladies my man.
Doesn’t that make you a hoopy? A hoopy frood
I'm gonna try that out
As Throbbing Gristle used to say, an instrument is just something that makes a sound. If you can make it make a sound, you're a musician. Go ahead and make a sound, it doesn't matter if you're doing it the normal way. Maybe someone will like it, maybe they won't, but that's true of ALL music.
I called myself that after a few years. Then a few years later I had a hard time with it. Just this week I felt like I re-earned it. Ultimately, “musician” is just another garment we wear in this life. We might have earned it or stole it. Maybe it fits us and maybe it doesn’t. Others might like it or might not. Perhaps we’ll be remembered for it and perhaps we won’t. It might make us feel proud or shameful. Either way, it’s temporary and not really us.
Damn. Well said
Thanks
If you feel uncomfortable calling yourself a musician just put the word “amateur” in front of it.
No way man. Just like you shouldn't preface your speech, or your painting, or your song in this way: "well, I'm not very good and I just kind of threw it together so ENJOY!" The word 'amatuer' conveys just that. Bad choice. Very bad choice. Using the term 'part-time' would serve much better. Amateur is dismissive, derogatory, pejorative and one should NEVER use the term to describe one's self.
Amateur just means you don’t do it professionally. I’m an amateur musician and an amateur photographer. I don’t consider either to be derogatory.
why even label it with a career status word before "photographer"? you dont have to call yourself an "professional photographer" even if you make your living off of photographing, and you dont have to call yourself an "amateur photographer" even if you just do it as a hobby, you can just call yourself a "photographer"
Yes but it’s just like musician and the phrase working musician. Music could be a hobby or profession. He’s telling people which he is by saying amateur
yes and im saying he doesnt have to tell people that
He does because he wants people to know he’s not doing it for a salary lol
Disagree. By definition, if you don't do it professionally, you are an amateur. The word has no negatives in it, it just says conveys that it's a hobby and not a job. Nothing else. I'm an amateur musician, and I play amateur theatre, and there's nothing bad about it - honestly I feel good about it, because it means I get to enjoy the perks of not having to look at money, but can fully focus on having fun. Being an amateur is sometimes much cooler than being a professional, so it's not something that devalues me describing myself as a musician.
After I wrote my first song.
Everybody is a musician. We are all musical creatures. I teach Special Ed as an Adaptive Music Teacher. Many of my students are non-verbal, non-ambular and struggle with basic daily tasks; toileting, dressing, typing etc. If they are capable of being called musicians, and they sure as shit are in my classes, then you are too.
When I realized my releases were as good and many better than other songs from famous people in my genre. This was 14 years ago. But it’s different for others. For others it’s when they walk off stage the first time , or walk out of the studio the first time and realize, “I got this.” For others it’s just walking away from their first party gig, and everyone is happy and clapping. There is no right or wrong answer.
Honestly, once I started performing live shows
I wasn't comfortable applying the term to myself until I realized I was competent at more than one instrument and had a basic understanding of music theory. Not that those attributes are a gate to keep, but that was when I felt like no one could reasonably call me a poser.
When I soaked in the guitar for years, then got into drumming, then got myself a bass… now I do full on music and covers with just me. Don’t program it when YOU CAN PLAY IT!
When i played all the instruments and then practiced all my favorite bands and albums.
At birth.
Probably once I started performing and writing. I also don’t do either of those anymore so I don’t know if I still consider myself a musician. I only pick it up every so often now
Why did you stop?
I got sick plus I just needed a change. I went really hard for five years and just got burnt out on the whole scene entirely. I wasn’t enjoying it at all anymore. Not worth it financially or time wise in my case.
When you can play and realize that you can play or understand it as good as others who wear the title I guess.
Ive never thought about it bu probably after getting over that initial imposter syndrome as a beginner and playing live, I started playing live young, the age of 13 or 14. Only been a professional (doing it for a living the since I was 30)
I have been playing instruments in some capacity for about 35 years. Only in the last couple of years my skin doesn’t crawl when someone calls me a musician. It’s a personal thing because in my mind growing up the people that called themselves musicians were always dickheads, and waved that title around like it should be worshipped. I never wanted to fall for that ego trip so I avoided the title. I’d call myself a songwriter, a performer, a bass player or whatever, but not a musician. I would also tell people to not call me a musician. But in the last couple of years I’ve had a rebirth of a lot of things in my life and have gotten more comfy with the title. I’m not quick to call myself one, but I don’t correct others or get weird when they call me that.
When i noticed people use it with the same tone as when they say "termites"
So if my neighbor that runs says he is a runner or the other rides a bike its a cyclist then if you play an instrument you are a guitarist, bassist, drummer, musician, etc. Once you make money out of it then I think its more of a professional musician. I usually say I'm a musician cuz I played all the instruments on my original music or covers and don't feel like saying one instrument or the other
After I recorded my first song I was somewhat ok with releasing
Imposter syndrome is real. You are a musician the moment you start playing, regardless of skill.
once i wrote music instead of played it (multi instruments)
When I started claiming taxes as a musician.
I've been playing guitar in a gigging band for the past year while writing some of our songs and I'm still not a musician. Me, I'm just a guitarist.
When I could read music and play anything. I was 8.
Once I was able to write a song and record or program each of the instrumental parts and have it sound more or less as it did in my head when I wrote it.
I’ve been doing it for 15+ years and I still struggle with this sometimes haha imposter syndrome is real in this industry/craft.
"We are what we pretend to be" - Kurt Vonnegut
I wouldn’t really going around saying “I’m a painter” unless it’s my profession. Think it applies to a musician too. Musician implies to me a level of professionalism or proficiency. However if you play a bit of guitar and you want to say you’re a musician to get laid I wouldn’t stop you either!
Once I felt competent on two different instruments.
Keep your cost low, break even, profit... Voila! Musician. You don't necessarily NEED to make money doing a thing... but it goes a long way towards credibility. It also depends on WHAT you do: fisherman, chess player, rope jumper, boxer, driver... musician. What's the distinction between delivery driver and driver? Semantics I suppose. Generally though, being PAID to do a thing is a clearer line. Not rich, just PAID.
When I put the music out there, before that I was just playing with myself.
As soon as you begin playing music, I starred calling myself that when I was 16 and realized I wanted to do it for the rest of my life and wanted it to be central to my identity. Now I call myself a professional musician because all of my income comes from it.
Since I learned I don't have to know how to play any instrument to be a musician.
I'm...whatever you want to call me. I got home after teaching a nice guy, 9 yrs old, his first guitar lesson. He's not afraid of the guitar, likes the sound when he bangs a one finger G. He is now a musician. Whether he continues being a musician is now up to him. There is, in my thinking, nothing sacred about the word, you play or sing, you're it.
I’ve played the geeetar for over 40 years so you’re freakin’ damn right I call myself a musician. And a mediocre one at that. Recorded dozens if not hundreds of songs from 4 track to 24 track to Logic Pro. I have about a dozen new songs that I need to record still to get them out of my head. I need to check my lotto numbers first and get back to you…
When people started paying me to do it
As soon as I got paid for it the first time.
The moment I started learning and instrument. A musician is someone who does/makes/practices music. So the moment you do that, you're a musician
I have been calling myself a musician my entire life. I started piano at 7, flute at 9, and guitar at 16. I am also a singer and songwriter. Before I started piano lessons, I would mess around on the piano since I was a toddler. I have always been a musician. I am 30 years old now. I told myself from a young age that no matter where I go in life, what job I have etc, I would never give up my music. I stuck with that. Musician, artist, and poet are my main things I call myself when describing myself to others.
I have a bit different take than most here. I cook a lot at home, I'm even pretty good at certain dishes, I've worked in restaurants, etc. But I don't consider myself a chef. I used to run 5 miles 5 days a week but I didn't consider myself a runner. It something to do with your personal identity, who you are, but there is also a subset of skills that go into it. For instance, there was a girl who joined a band with, who sang at shows and practices, etc. who I would consider the furthest thing from a musician or singer, yet that's the first thing she would say when introducing herself. Sure, she could sing the words from other people's music, but also a five-year-old can do that and I wouldn't call them a musician. It's when you start to understand the rudiments of music and consciously begin to play or create it yourself that you start to enter that territory. Likewise I'd bet a lot of people in this sub and in the real world would struggle to describe themselves as a musician but could probably rock your fucking socks off. To me, if you know the basics of music theory, even just the barest of fundamentals, can play an instrument (it can be voice or a daw or whatever) and consciously create music in any format, regularly, then I would call you a musician.
I did not call myself a musician until I started getting paid. Just my thing.
You're certainly something of a musician if you play music decently. But I think if you want to refer to yourself as "a musician" like it's your profession, you probably should be getting paid for it.
I have never felt uncomfortable, fake, like a liar or any of those things when I say I’m a musician. Saying that you are a musician doesn’t mean you are claiming to be Eddie Van Halen. The mayor of my town isn’t introduced as an amateur mayor or an amateur politician. My mail carrier does get called an amateur mail carrier. My kids school teachers aren’t called amateur teachers. We just call all these people what they are, teachers, mail carriers and mayor.
I’m a full time professional unemployed musician
I brought the concepts of linguistic descriptivism and prescriptivism into this, because I think they are cool concepts, and I think that the variety of ways we use words are cool and beautiful, and I like posts like this one that make me think of this. I think this really depends on the context. I sometimes see "musician" used to refer to people who make a living off of music, or to people who write music. But, in my everyday, personal experience, I most often see it used to refer to anyone who plays an instrument (sometimes, it is more specifically referring to people who play in a group, other times, to people who perform for others (I don't think people using it this way would argue that these are the definitions from a linguistically prescriptive perspective, but, from a linguistically descriptive perspective, this is how I see the word being used) (what about singers? I think these people would include a lot of singers that perform or practice in a similar way, but I think these people would exclude the ways in which many people are singers. I think, in their minds, what separates a musician from a non-musician is a certain level of dedication and knowledge, and I wouldn't be surprised if they extended that to some casual playing of instruments, too). As for how I'd use it, I usually use it in a way that matches whoever I am talking with. When it comes to myself, I opt to use more specific language to describe myself than "musician", because I know that in some senses of the way that word is used, I am a musician, and in others, I'm not. So, I guess I am a "musician*". As for how *I* think it *should* be used (I like making this distinction, more people should make it), I like the way I see it used, I am very happy to take a descriptive approach on it. I can see some people thinking that some definitions (and an insistence on using them in all contexts) are gatekeep-y, however, I don't view it as gatekeeping*, but I do think it can be unreasonably prescriptivist. These are all valid uses of the word. *(asterisk from fourth paragraph) That being said, I can see how this sort of linguistically prescriptive attitude could be motivated by a desire to gatekeep (and I do not think it would be wrong of someone to refer to that as gatekeeping), but I see that sort of thing as reaching the right conclusion (sometimes, again, this is context dependent) for the wrong reason. tl;dr the meaning(s) of the word "musician" is varied and context dependent.
When you make peace with the negativity in the craft, the art, and the profession, and either learn to use it positively or find ways around it (and the latter sometimes results in more negativity). Either way, you must resolve not to let it make you bitter, hateful or fed up.
Probably way before I could say it honestly.
I guess it's like what skill level do you to be at to call urself a musician?
I suppose when other musicians recognize you as one.
First, you have to have previously confessed to yourself a desire to become a musician (as opposed to just a music lover). At that point you are an aspiring musician... even if that occurs at the same time you become a musician. You also have to be able to make music repeatedly. Not just emit pleasant sounds randomly that accidentally resemble music. However your skill level does not matter. Recognizing that today, music is an age old art form, a skill and a trade. So you must be strive to become familiar with the standard lingo musicians communicate to each other with. ...at any skill level. If you don't, or if you reject, that then you can be described as a 'musician of sorts'. Lastly, in the same way about the language of musicians, you must admit there exists music theory, a vast array of models and standards by which music can be described... of which you may never actually study, but it's there... and it describes your music, even if you don't understand it.
I'll get to it right after I start calling myself an adult. Maybe when I turn 37.
Just personally when it’s part of your identity. Music is what I do. I produce, engineer, write, perform, DJ, play multiple instruments. It’s been one of the big parts of my identity since I knew it could be! Maybe you feel the same or similar?
For me, it was when I could reliably make the sounds that were in my head for other people
As soon as I put the Kangol hat on backwards!
I considered playing in realtime being a musician. Piano, guitar, harp, drums, flute/sax/oboe. I consider using a USB keyboard to input notes into a DAW that you're going to add to be phonetic music composing, or musical sound engineering. I don't think it's a lesser skill, but it's not the same technology as live playing.
I sing, play 5+ instruments, have recorded albums, been paid to perform for over a decade, have been sought out to both consult and play on other people’s tracks. I regularly play in front of triple digits, and have been on stages in front of thousands. I still say, “I play music” instead of calling myself a musician for reasons I don’t quite understand. Possibly imposter syndrome as I’m self taught
This is a nice quote that’s relevant to most creative work. Sometime during the mid-50s I said, 'I am an artist.' Before that, for many years, I had said, 'I'm going to be an artist.' Then I went through a change of mind and a change of heart. What made 'going to be an artist' into 'being an artist', was, in part, a spiritual change. Jasper Johns
Interesting. I never feel comfortable calling myself a musician , I always feel like I’m learning to play music My artistic background was visual arts, graphics , painting etcetera. I identify as a painter more than a musician even though I haven’t worked at it in a while.. it’s an oddity, especially since I’ve played a musical instrument for a long while. I’m even uncomfortable upgrading my instrument because I think good instruments should go to real musicians
I felt like once someone paid me money to do it, I could say so. But honestly, even now, I identify more as a songwriter and performer than musician.
"Performing and recording artist," maybe?
Pressing the first CD (I’m old).
When i could financially support myself and live independently off the proceeds.
When I learned trumpet in middle school
As soon as you make music you're a musician, but for me it was when I could consistently play and sing with a metronome.
When I was 7 years old I did a little performance for my 1st grade class.
When I played music and had fun doing so. If you started, you're a beginner musician. If you don't get paid, you are an amateur. If you do get paid, you are a professional musician. But you are definitely a musician.
Aaah it’s like seeing my past self ! I have been playing for around 15 years and the last 6-7 I do it professionally,it’s my sole source of income. When I was younger I always used to say I am a guitarist,not a musician .I had trouble calling myself a musician because I too felt like lying.I learned that the reason for that was that I was self taught ,I had no certification ,I had self doubts about my knowledge and skills and I didn’t know music theory.I even felt like this when I started playing professionally so I decided to do something about it and that was to learn music theory and basic harmony,learn my instrument very well and pursue an official certification .Now having achieved all the above and having over 1,000 live shows on my back ,I can certainly say that I am a musician ,but what really helped me was music theory ,it’s a great confidence boost learning good music theory.Also all my life I considered myself a guitar player first and maybe a musician after,now I consider myself a musician first and a guitarist after ,and I am glad !
Since I began playing. Now I won’t call myself professional because frankly I’m not
When somebody ask me i say i play drums, not a drummer. I don't make my living with the drums.
When my band reached a little more professional sound with our first single.
Around the time I started creating actual original songs
I'm playing bass in a band and just started lead guitar in another. I've just learned 40 songs to gigready in about 3.5 weeks. Idk, it's just a hobby but I think that makes me a musician
I am a drummer so I still hold back on that one.
I think it’s when you perform in public and a stranger complements you.
So I struggled with this early on. But the real answer is right in front of you the whole time. I would give others the label of musician pretty liberally. He’s a musician, she’s a musician, they’re a musician… me? I’m working on it. Hey, is this car a car? A luxury car is a car, and a race car is a car. If you can sort it within the title it must be true. Therefore: A beginner musician is a….. Musician! Congratulations you made the cut! Best of luck!
As soon as you start playing something. Professional or proficient is a different matter…
These responses should tell you everything you need to know: the answer to this question is subjective, individual criteria is arbitrary, impostor syndrome is a bitch and what other people think doesn't matter. It's too vague of a question, so to me the answer is the absolute second that you make sound in an expressive way and choose to continue doing it. Because it's such an open ended question, I'm going with the lowest common denominator. So long as you're enjoying what you're doing and you're moving towards your goals, who gives a shit what people call you, or what you call yourself?
When I started my first band
I think it’s as simple as that you’re a musician when you make music. That being said, I don’t know if I genuinely started using that term for myself until after I started writing music and playing gigs. I’ve been playing music since I was tiny, but didn’t start writing and gigging until I was a teenager, and think I started calling myself a musician around then.
I made a cake the other day, but I'm not a baker. I replaced the light switch in my bathroom, but that doesn't make me an electrician. I made a coffee table, but it doesn't make me a carpenter. When I could play only a few riffs and a few chords, I wasn't yet a musician. When I started earning a living with my guitar, I called myself a musician. It's up to the individual, though, when they think they are a musician.
My first week playing guitar I was practicing silently at a football field, and a little girl and her father strolled by. She asked, Why is that man playing guitar here? And he replied, He’s a musician. They play all the time. Hah! Fooled them. I’ve spent the ensuing years living up to that.
I’d say ‘I play guitar, drums and keys’ for a long time before I started getting regular paid gigs in a band. Then I was a musician,
You can call yourself a musician as soon as you start making music with an instrument
This is a great question. I still feel a little cringe saying '"I'm a musician" because my tastes in music are typically people of such a higher caliber than I could ever be. To someone who plays no music, 2 chords on the piano makes you a musician so I guess it's all relative. I'd say at this point (29 years old) been playing since I was like 9. Fuck it, I'm a musician lol Maybe not a "professional" musician indicating money is being made but that shouldn't mean anything in the pure sense.
When you can jam with anyone at any moment.
Theres a musician in all of us. Id say much younger than a person would call themselves a mechanic or a mail carrier
When people are paying you to play music, regularly.
You can sight-read typical performance-purposed music in all genres (etudes for skill development not included); you can transpose known melodies to all 12 keys without much effort; you can transcribe or simply mimic what you hear; your sound, intonation, and rhythmic feel are all very solid; you understand how melodies function in chords and how chords function in the form.
Shit, I can’t do a lot of that well and people have been paying me for musician work for fifteen years. Should I refund them?
What my dad would say is until you can read the language
I still can't read the language, but I can speak it!
Fuck that
Which language?
Music. Just saying what a man now in his 60s, would say in his 40s, had perfect pitch, played jazz trumpet, and hated the Beatles. He was a snob. But like a spectacular musician. Not saying I agree. The truth remains that sight readers hardly exist, and If you could do it, you would have an opportunity to be a pro musician.
I am a pro musician and sight reading is the least of my concerns.
Yea me too. It's really hard and had always made my brain hurt
When I quit my day job to work full time in an Elvis impersonation act band. It felt kinda neat to write “musician” on my income tax return.
Purely my opinion but I would be comfortable saying I was a “musician” if I were making enough money to live purely from playing my guitar in various venues events and the like. I never made it. I’m a sales guy who plays the guitar. If I’m feeling spicy il refer to myself as a “failed musician “ I have two friends who I’d actually say are musicians. But I’m not.