Most skilled genre of music?

Of these genres, which do you think generally has or requires the most skill to play well?  By classical I mean the baroque period, classical period, romantic period--all that stuff.  I picked these ones because I think they are broadly the most "skilled" types of music.

As for me, it really comes down to jazz and classical.  It's sort of hard to compare them, seeing as jazz is focused on improvisation, but I think I'll go with classical.  Both genres have amazing virtuosos, but I think the standard skill-wise is a little higher in classical.  You have to be amazingly good to be notable in classical music, but you don't have to be incredibly skilled to be a good jazz musician (you still have to be pretty good of course).  It's a whole other set of skills that aren't related to technical ability.  Just look at Miles Davis.  He really was no virtuoso on trumpet.  But he rocked at jazz.  Anyway, although I voted for classical, it's my least favorite genre of the choices.

Oh yeah, and jazz fusion and jazz-rock count as jazz, not prog, in this poll.


Edited by Sasquamo - December 18 2006 at 23:07

Impossible to determine.

Australian wrote: Impossible to determine.

True, you can't tell for sure, but you still have an opinion, right?  You don't need proof to form an opinion.

In the instrument/performing department, probably classical.... jazz doesn't reach the level of a Rachmaninov Third Piano Concerto.... there are professionals that can't play it! But jazz would be second.

Definitely classical.. 

Well, there's really no competition here.... but I don't dismiss a good Jazz improv or even a good prog improv....

Prog!

Hardcore punk.

Classical - a lot to remember, no errors or you'll be hanged.
Jazz
Prog

Classical, no doubt.