Is Prog For Musicians Only?

Oh I think jazz is far, far more popular than prog was or ever will be.









Edited by Atavachron - March 08 2007 at 21:24

I think jazz is and has been more widely accepted - it's been around in different forms for much longer, of course. That doesn't mean it's any better understood. But there's little doubt to my way of thinking that prog/prog related music is growing quite rapidly in popularity, irrespective of whether it helps to be a musician or to have a deeper appreciation of music to fully 'get it'.

Top prog acts are touring widely and many are selling out , mounting a real challenge to the popularity of jazz. It augurs well for the future - all these teenagers learning their instruments and knowing very well Pink Floyd music, for example. It's all good.

Sasquamo wrote:   And about jazz, the majority of jazz fans are people who play and/or understand jazz themselves. In prog, the majority of fans are people who don't play music or people who don't really do anything but play prog tabs and will never get beyond the average prog skill level (way below jazz), but call themselves musicians anyways.

Firstly, I doubt that the majority of jazz fans play jazz. Second, that's a really ignorant and condescending statement about people who "call themselves musicians".

Atavachron wrote: Sasquamo wrote:   And about jazz, the majority of jazz fans are people who play and/or understand jazz themselves. In prog, the majority of fans are people who don't play music or people who don't really do anything but play prog tabs and will never get beyond the average prog skill level (way below jazz), but call themselves musicians anyways. Firstly, I doubt that the majority of jazz fans play jazz. Second, that's a really ignorant and condescending statement about people who "call themselves musicians".

Floydian42 wrote: MusicForSpeedin wrote: Atavachron wrote: Sasquamo wrote:   And about jazz, the majority of jazz fans are people who play and/or understand jazz themselves. In prog, the majority of fans are people who don't play music or people who don't really do anything but play prog tabs and will never get beyond the average prog skill level (way below jazz), but call themselves musicians anyways. Firstly, I doubt that the majority of jazz fans play jazz. Second, that's a really ignorant and condescending statement about people who "call themselves musicians".   Most of the jazz fans I know play music (about 2 don't)...and they are really good musicians. They can play just about all styles.   I play both jazz and progressive music. Prog. is a lot easier. You don't have to listen as much because nothing is improvised. In jazz you have to adjust to the soloist.   I thought the whole point was for the soloist to adjust to the rhythm? But yeah, I agree, Jazz is far more difficult to play then Prog, not better IMO, but harder. If you play the guitar then your more skilled in music then the non player, even if from tabs. There, my two cents.

To address the flip side of this issue, I go to music school and the students here have more narrow minded listening habits than most non-musicians I know. I was really surprised, and have still not been able to fiigure out why this is. Any theories would be appreciate.

People who play instruments are more attracted to Prog because they can see the skill the musicians have  

Trickster F. wrote: I am still surprised why most are not only absolutely sure, but even insist that skill of playing an instrument is the main aspect of playing prog. Surely there must be something more important to it, don't you think?

Yes, like creativiy and song writing ability. What tends to bug me about alot of prog fans is that they put musical technicality above those things. They tend to judge music on how complex or fast it is. In fact, you don't have to be a musician to appreciate good music, you don't even have to much of a musician to make music - some of the simplest music is the most effective.

As for musicians being close minded - i see it alot too, i think its the "if i can play it its not very good" mentality. .

I'd rather a band practice some degree of subtlety rather than just bashing you over the head with complexity and fast playing (See: Dream Theater )

Atavachron wrote: Sasquamo wrote:   And about jazz, the majority of jazz fans are people who play and/or understand jazz themselves. In prog, the majority of fans are people who don't play music or people who don't really do anything but play prog tabs and will never get beyond the average prog skill level (way below jazz), but call themselves musicians anyways. Firstly, I doubt that the majority of jazz fans play jazz. Second, that's a really ignorant and condescending statement about people who "call themselves musicians".

If you go and play a Pink Floyd guitar part for 10 minutes every few days when you aren't posting here, than no, I wouldn't call you a musician.  I pick up a guitar every couple of months and try to play a bit, but I don't call myself a guitarist.

con safo wrote: Sasquamo wrote: Atavachron wrote: Sasquamo wrote:   And about jazz, the majority of jazz fans are people who play and/or understand jazz themselves. In prog, the majority of fans are people who don't play music or people who don't really do anything but play prog tabs and will never get beyond the average prog skill level (way below jazz), but call themselves musicians anyways. Firstly, I doubt that the majority of jazz fans play jazz. Second, that's a really ignorant and condescending statement about people who "call themselves musicians". If you go and play a Pink Floyd guitar part for 10 minutes every few days when you aren't posting here, than no, I wouldn't call you a musician.  I pick up a guitar every couple of months and try to play a bit, but I don't call myself a guitarist. So in order to be considered a musician you must meet the technical abilities of prog? What if you just enjoy playing? Does that make you less a musician? And personally i've never met anyone who plays 10 minutes of pink floyd every few days as a ritual. .