What is "EASIEST" and "WHO IS BEST" (Grrr!)

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Na not really "disingenuous" or "facile". I think you are confusing the art form with artists themselves.

"Music" is art and art itself is not a "competition". However you are correct, humans are very competitive and thus artists can certainly be competitive .

Thank you - a voice of reason.

Tony

[catdaddy]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Na not really "disingenuous" or "facile". I think you are confusing the art form with artists themselves.

"Music" is art and art itself is not a "competition". However you are correct, humans are very competitive and thus artists can certainly be competitive .

As long as the act of making music requires both the art form and an artist it is indeed simplistic to dismiss "competition" in the negative way that the OP characterized it when there are examples of how competition has improved both.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by catdaddy

As long as the act of making music requires both the art form and an artist it is indeed simplistic to dismiss "competition" in the negative way that the OP characterized it when there are examples of how competition has improved both.

Except for the fact that the OP did not say "the act of making music is not a competition" ( that is your phrasing ) He simply said "music is not a competition" Again not dismissive, disingenuous, simplistic, or facile. I don't think any one has dismissed competition as being a factor in "Making music" but simply speaking to the art form itself.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by catdaddy

I disagree that there are no "winners" in that situation, there are, however, no "losers". Which reinforces my point that in some contexts music competition can result in a person experiencing self-improvement that might not have happened otherwise. It's disingenuous and facile to simply state that "music is not a competition" in a completely negative sense when clearly some musicians have benefitted from engaging willingly, if not with great pleasure, in competition.

Hi catdaddy, perhaps I should remind you of the context of this second part:

"This is my new standard response to questions about musicians, e.g. Who is the better guitarist - Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Django Reinhardt, Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Slash, The Edge etc.

(and my reply will be) "Each is best at being themselves. Music is not a competition".

Such questions are rarely asked with any serious consideration, but how may one seriously "judge" one famous guitarist against another, hence my response repeated above.

I hope that in this context, you will see that my response is neither disingenuous nor facile.

[frankmcr]

Sometimes it's quite straightforwardly a competition. There's a long tradition of fiddle contests in the U.S., and a whole circuit* of them still, with prizes, absolutely based on who is "best" in the judges' opinion. Likewise lots of Highland bagpipe competitions in the U.K. There's an All Ireland music competition which I won't attempt to spell (let alone pronounce). Jazz "cutting contests" back in the day (maybe still?) Just a couple examples off the top of my head.

That may not be the kind of thing Mr. M is referring to. But competition in music is a well-established tradition.


* http://www.aaruncarter.com/fiddle-contests.html

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by guitar george

I try to avoid using words in their superlative form such as easiest, hardest, best, worst, cheapest, most expensive, greatest, worst etc. Using these words means there is nothing beyond what you have stated and you have stated the absolute extreme.

Someone needs to have a talk with the marketing group at Fender.

They recently replaced their Elite line with the Ultra line of instruments.....virtually the same, but with even less useful features.....for a higher price.....................

[J Patrick]

...certainly playing music can be a competition...and I don’t reckon there is anything inherently wrong with that...it can help push a player if they are entering a flatpicking contest or some such competition....and when players try to one up each other in a public performance that can lead to some great playing as well...

...but...living in that headspace would be tiresome and likely detrimental to the musical experience for players and listeners alike....

...as far as rating legendary players goes....or any other players really......completely lame excercise...

[Merak]

I’m with you on that SM! Everything is hard until it becomes easy.