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Are DJs Musicians?

Are DJs Musicians?

  • Yes, a DJ is a musician.

    Votes: 130 20.5%
  • Hell no, what qualifies a DJ to call him/herself a musician?

    Votes: 433 68.4%
  • Carrots...

    Votes: 70 11.1%

  • Total voters
    633
Yes, a dj is a musician. Case in point is Val Jeanty, who for example teaches at Berklee, and is dj/turntablist in the band of Terri Lyne Carrington. I've informally played with Val, and heard her play multiple times, and she is a monster musician who holds her own in sound collage, dj-ing, turntables and percussion in any top-level musical situation.

yes, most djs play rather lame stuff. So? Not sure how that makes them different from most bass players.....

Sure, she is a very talented musician, and she studied drums, and contrary to Talkbass beliefs, drummers can be musicians.
 
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That cake must taste like what the younger generations new definition of musician is, to uphold a new dumbed down version of what your elders once held in high regard as a professional musician who dedicates their life to their musical craft, through the reading and writing of musical notation, a language that is spoken by musicians transcending beyond sampling other musicians actual work.

...Enjoy you're cake (I bet it's poopie flavored)
Pro turntablists in hip hop, EDM, etc. spend a ton of time on their craft, too. And musical notation? I think it's safe to say that a lot of the icons from the 60s and 70s that elder generations hold in high regard have never read it or written it.
 
Regardless of whether or not some DJs can legitimately be called "musicians", I have to say that I think the people who re-imagined what a turntable could do were ingenious and I love that kind of creative spirit. From Grand Wizzard Theodore and Grandmaster Flash through to Jazzy Jeff, Qbert and a host of others - what they were able to do with a couple of turntables, a mixer and a collection of records is just cool.
 
Pro turntablists in hip hop, EDM, etc. spend a ton of time on their craft, too. And musical notation? I think it's safe to say that a lot of the icons from the 60s and 70s that elder generations hold in high regard have never read it or written it.
Have you ever seen the documentary Scratch? One of the people interviewed discusses the notation system he came up with for turntable performance. I don't think it ever caught on but it was neat to see someone do that. Anyway, I'd recommend the film to anyone interested in the topic of DJing and turntablism.

 
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Hi Jazzdogg,:)

"Dad, you're such an old fart" look and grumpily replied, "He's a DJ; DJ's are musicians."

Does your daughter know the basics about music? :D

county & west.gif


:laugh:

are DJs now considered musicians?

Yes! They are considered musicians! Because...

i know some "DJs" who are musicians. i know some 'bass players' who aren't.

Guys like me? :laugh::roflmao:

Those who claim all DJs can be considered musicians are as wrong as those who throw the baby out with the bathwater, ignoring a lot of interesting, musical work.

DJs who "flip" records have replaced keyboarders with "rythm machines" singing

Engelbert Humperdinck covers on wedding gigs! (what a surprise! :roflmao:)

But I don't think the thread is about these guys! :D


Some musicians call themselves DJs.

They don't call themselves musicians! (a lot of them could! Not all of them!!)


They use samples: Every keyboarder does that.

I don't want a keyboarder with a piano, a Fender Rhodes, a Hammond, a Moog…. in my band!

I don't want a brass section and a string section either! (is a keyboarder a musician?)


They use dubs: Producers do that. Some of the best Jazz albums were mixed using dubs!

e.g. Bitches Brew (Miles Davis) Of course Jazz producers are hacks so that doesn't count!


They use DJ gear: That's why they call themselves rather DJs than musicians.


They do their thing! I don't have a problem with that!

Carrots forever! Because the world is not just black or white!


greetings

Wise(b)ass
 
Right, and what doofuses like you don't get is that Cage explicitly stated that the sounds the audience made; coughs, sniffles, rustling, mumbles, etc. were the sounds that made up the music. Therefore, any listener who chooses to put such sounds into a rhythm in their mind creates their own music. That's what made the piece so groundbreaking, not the fact that it was 4:33 of 'silence'. :D
Really, I'm a doofus? :rollno:

I'll have you know, sonny boy, that I watched, enthralled, as John Cage performed an evening of wonderful soundscapes for a Merce Cunningham performance in the early '80s. He was sitting right in front of me; I could have had a nice chat with him but I did not want to interrupt the event. Probably the most amazing musical experience I'd ever witnessed.

I know, exactly, what 4'33" is all about, son.

You?
 
guys like you have too much fun! :laugh:

That's why I voted 'expert poser' on your poll! :laugh:

back on topic: New music is always based on influences from the past combined with new ideas.

Electric guitar rock & roll was the devil's music (just after jazz had been the devil"s music)

Djs do their stuff and the "good" ones don't have huge gigs. (IMO)

They do their underground gigs in places that are known to support artists.

There is a lot of mainstream bs (gotta play to survive :D) but there is and was always crazy stuff

worth to explore!

Wise
 
So that means when I go to Starbucks and buy a cup of coffee, I shouldn't worry if the guy who picked the beans got paid a fair wage?

DJs and karaoke were a factor in wiping out music as a livelihood. I think the emo's that worry about their coffee beans should reflect on that.

By adapt, I mean adapt to your situation, or migrate to somewhere that is more suits your skill set, otherwise you're expletive deleted. Unfortunately, art as a profession is almost viewed as an extravagent choice, whereas it really should be commended, anyway........

DJs, Karaoke, Open mic night, etc are killing grass roots live music. Live music gigs at many clubs doesn't pay enough if you're trying to making a living from music, so you have to be resourceful and adapt if you can.
 
Ya know, it's almost starting to feel like this thread is more about whether or not a person likes EDM (or electronic music in general) that determines how they feel about the musicianship (or lack thereof) of DJs.

Which is completely different from previous generations talking trash about whatever the kids were playing.


I personally do not like any Punk, Speed Metal, or anything that has bagpipes in it, but these three genres have musicians (although how skilled could be questioned in Punk) and it is because they create music with instruments that I consider them musicians. If I do not like a certain genre, I just avoid listening to it. My answer is not based on whether or not I like DJ's and EDM...it is based on whether I consider them musicians by what they do.

But this started as a thread asking a question and 550+ posts later, we are still discussing it.

I do think the answer is subjective based upon ones own definition of a musician.
 
Really, I'm a doofus? :rollno:

I'll have you know, sonny boy, that I watched, enthralled, as John Cage performed an evening of wonderful soundscapes for a Merce Cunningham performance in the early '80s. He was sitting right in front of me; I could have had a nice chat with him but I did not want to interrupt the event. Probably the most amazing musical experience I'd ever witnessed.

I know, exactly, what 4'33" is all about, son.

You?
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