Whatever happened to being a MUSICIAN?

As someone who has spent her entire life in professional music and music education - I agree 150% with Tinpanalley!! That sentiment is even expressed in my Profile. The world- and YA - is full of wannabees - they spend more time HERE asking about shortcuts to fame, than actually putting in the work to get decent. Get off the computer and go PRACTICE!! Many years ago, the self-taught, School of Hard Knocks was a possible pathway for a handful - but now, all your competition has extensive education and training - and college-level programs in popular music are everywhere, so there is no excuse (except laziness of inability to meet the admission standards) to NOT go. Kids here know of TWO good music school - Berklee and Juilliard - and usually cannot spell the name of either one, let alone understand the incredible amount of study, practice, and EFFORT needed for acceptance - and then completion of the programs offered. It seems that the thoughtful, intelligent, educated, experienced musicians have all left popular *music * (and we agree that is is pop showmanship - NOT music anymore) and are working in other genres - jazz, indie music, even opera and classical. I taught public school MS and HS music from1971 to 2008 ( as did my husband, and now my son and DIL do the same) and we are all successful career educators - as well as professional players - and were/are VERY up-front with our students ( who consistently have told us we are among their favorite teacher - maybe because of this). We tell them that we KNOW that there are few school subjects about which kids have such private passions - and strong opinions about their specific favorites - so we will teach them solid, transferable, immutable SKILLS - that they can use to write a jazz tune or analyze a Schutz cantata - but these skills are universal, respected, and necessary. I have said here before - my late Dad was a gifted calligrapher and commercial artist, raised in the Depression. When I turned down National Merit scholarships in math, to go to music school, he told me that college should be a trade school - you learn solid SKILLS, so when you get out, you can use them for a JOB. All the other enrichment is great for your creative imagination - but make sure that you do the HARD work and leave with, as he put it, "something in your hands" - a demonstrable, reliable in-demand skill. I work now mainly as a professional flutist in chamber music. But in my life, I have worked more hours and made more $$$ as a pianist - playing for singers, instrumentalists, choruses, shows, and also doing all the digital work like transpositions, arrangements, etc. These gig were usually built on music SMARTS, rather than gobs of fancy technique - which I certainly have as a flutist - and can now indulge because of a no-debt, sweet PENSION lifestyle - thanks to my busting my butt to get SKILLS. But - kids here do not want to hear that. Three chords and tight clothes - yeah, that's a career in the making, alright.

"Tears before bedtime" is what many of them face - they think that if they declare music to be their PASSION - then all the Barbie-house pieces will fall into place - no work needed!! I am the Top Answerer here because I tell the TRUTH - based not on my opinion, but on 38 professional years (that AFTER college, counting from the beginning of my full-time employment in music) in music, music education, adjudication,and many level of committees and boards that seek to improve our lot in the arts. Betcha I get TDs from some of those little whiner wannabees on THIS response, too - after I have spent the time to compose it, rather than having a second cuppa with the NY Times. Some people - but do not want to hear a real answer - they just want AGREEMENT with their naive stupidity. As Dad (again!) used to say - "You can lead a horse to water - but before you do, think about what a wet horse smells like . . . "

Real musicians lack the credit they deserve (when compared to people like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry etc etc YUCK YUCK YUCK!!!)

Here are a few musicians that I feel are extremely underrated

Muse

Iron Maiden (have been around since the 80's)

An Endless Sporadic [Google them-you will see that acid jazz isn't dead, although not quite on par with Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin ;)]

Prototype

Incubus (Very capable drummer)

Tool

Borislav Mitic' Trio

Dream Theater

If you are an old guy (no offense, it's my experience with my father) you will probably only be able to appreciate Iron Maiden and An Endless Sporadic

AmeriKans have a HUGE appetite for the MEDIOCRE.. and it's not just music.. it permeates all of AmeriKan life... You see it here on Answers all the time.. children who get a $100 guitar, learn 2 chords and then come here asking how to get an agent.. or the people with absolutely NO TALENT or TRAINING who think they should be in a leading role on Broadway...

I have been a professional musician for over 50 years and I have seen a constant race to the lowest level of ability...

I also blame these reality shows for making the people with no talent and no training believe they TOO can become famous by farting a tune or blowing into a mic.

This current crop of young musicians don't want to take the time or make the effort to learn MUSIC THEORY and MUSIC HISTORY.. they just want to get a cheap guitar.. a couple of 'pedals' and become FAMOUS with no effort on their part.. and then they get upset when someone like me tells them how much they suck at being a musician.

I know what you mean, I mean, Miley Cyrus had a POLE in her routine...she was wearing short shorts and looked like a hooker...at the choice awards! YIKES! The oldies have lived their lives, and don't need to revisit the glory days. Back then, they relyed on talent to make the song, not computers and synthesizers and crap. I hope there is at least one good musician soon...most of the people nowadays are singers/strippers who rely on computers to alter their voices!

They all exist they're just not as popular and get very very little to no radio/TV play time. There's good and bad in every genre - stop looking at all the popular stuff.

I realize and I'm looking the Music Awards and it is all pop rand B crap what occurred to rock and roll? even MTV handiest performs rap R&B or extra crap....IT SUCKS I desire I can return to the 70s and 80s

They're still there, just harder to find.