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Is a DJ a musician
- Thread starter WarriorJoe7
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DJ's = Musicians... It about makes me puke to think that someone who spins a record/computer/cd could even be closely thought of as a musician. That would be like I put keys into my car, so therefore I am a mechanic.
This reminds me of my overweight buddy arguing that he is an athlete because he bowls.
Same arguments I am hearing from the djs are musicians crowd.
Bowlers are not athletes.
Djs are not musicians.
Same arguments I am hearing from the djs are musicians crowd.
Bowlers are not athletes.
Djs are not musicians.
Is your conclusion based on the fact that you do not consider a computer a musical instrument?
And I would argue that your comparison with the game is a little off base. When you ask, "...does it make me an athlete...???" I don't think there's enough evidence in the scenario to make that conclusion.
If you asked, "...does it make you a football player...???" then the answer is clearly, "No".
But one could argue that the instincts and ability to physically execute the moves needed to be proficient at that particular game do make you an athlete.
In other words, a novice to the game could try to play, but not be physically or mentally able to be competitive. Because you, the Madden Football expert, developed your hands and mind through practice and study, to a certain level of expertise, one could make a case that you did what other athletes do - trained, practiced, built up your muscles and mind toward to goal of being competitive at a game.
This is an interesting opinion and I totally respect it. So by your definition an instrument has to have a non-electric powered analogue for the person playing the instrument to be considered a musician.
Why not just play the acoustic equivalent then? Why play electric guitar and not bass? What about sounds not capable of being played by acoustic instruments?
Many synths use a keyboard interface because it's familiar to everyone. It's easier for people to see where the notes are played. It doesn't necessarily make them pianos despite the fact that they can cop one and people who play piano can play them. There's also untraditional interfaces like touchpads that easily allow for pitch modulation. I've seen people make songs with KAOSS pads. It's pretty neat.
I'm glad you brought up that point Lon. I think that since DJ is a blanket term a lot of people are misinterpreting each other. I use turntablist a lot, but didn't really use it for this thread because I interpreted WarriorJoe's post to encompass all DJ techniques (mixing, sampling, scratching, cutting, juggling, etc.).
And just to let people know, I'm not trying to be confrontational and pound into someone's head that they are wrong. I just find some of the arguments against a a DJ being a musician bring up questions of my own.
So by your definition a musician is someone who has "bleeding fingers from all the practice"? Are you saying that DJs don't practice? A lot of them do. Just as there are lots of instrument virtuosos who don't practice at all. Again, like many posts this seems like a limited perspective on what a DJ is, does, or can do.
Infernal Affair,
I found your post to be very useful, interesting and well stated. I just couldn't resist the opportunity to pull RAP and rap musicians into this discussion!
Same here. That's why I even mentioned it in the first place, as OT as it sounded.
- May 9, 2006
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- Warehouse/Shop Asst. & endorsing artist of Warwick Basses
I guess you think i was looking for a laugh as opposed to proving a point. Lame or not, i'm right.
How does some one scratching a polyrhythm in a Bikutzi differ from a bass player playing it? It's the same mindset. which is a musical mindset, which makes them a musician.
Why is it so hard to realize the possibility that music can be performed differently than it has been done in the past century? Get with the times. They do what you do but in a different way, that is all. Think outside of the box.
Lame...
And I could argue that when I play my home movies on my tv I am a movie and tv star...LOL
Scraping the bottom of the barrel there bud
And I could argue that when I play my home movies on my tv I am a movie and tv star...LOL
Scraping the bottom of the barrel there bud
- Dec 15, 2007
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- Endorsing Artist: Ashdown/ESP/Dunlop/Line 6/Normandy.
Being a DJ is ABSOLUTELY being a musician. Anyone that thinks that they are not is grossly misinformed, and incredibly ignorant. I know. I used to be among the misinformed ignorant, until...
Just for fun, I took a class at Scratch DJ Academy, here in Los Angeles. Not what I was expecting. There is a tremendous amount of skill involved with being a DJ. It is not JUST about slapping down a record and pressing play.
Expand your minds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ28nICqiGk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kWRFwZPRuw
Invalid Link Removed
Just for fun, I took a class at Scratch DJ Academy, here in Los Angeles. Not what I was expecting. There is a tremendous amount of skill involved with being a DJ. It is not JUST about slapping down a record and pressing play.
Expand your minds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ28nICqiGk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kWRFwZPRuw
Invalid Link Removed
Your argument that being good at Madden could give one the argument that they are an athlete told me exactly where you are at.
I'm still shaking my head in the absolute depth of crap that statement dug into.
Later.
I'm still shaking my head in the absolute depth of crap that statement dug into.
Later.
Lame...
And I could argue that when I play my home movies on my tv I am a movie and tv star...LOL
Scraping the bottom of the barrel there bud
OK - enough with analogical thinking. The abstract nature of it seems to be rather ineffective here.
You made a statement earlier that bowlers are not athletes. What do you feel makes a person an athlete? Running? Jumping? Hitting things with a stick? Kicking?
You may not like or respect it, but I would argue that the physical and mental demands to become a proficient bowler - hand-eye coordination, physical control over the body, the ability to strategically and expertly execute plays - easily qualify bowlers as athletes.
What criteria to you use to define a musical instrument?
The athlete comparison is tough to make clear. The term "athlete" is very vague, opening a whole new can of worms. What are your definitions for someone being an athlete? All I know is that you think that someone who bowls isn't an athlete. What about golfers? Track and field participants? Curlers? Gymnasts? Define the boundaries as to what you believe an athlete is first, as tZer has in his post, and then a reasonable discussion can be had.
I could easily say that I don't consider a linebacker in football an athlete since all he does is push against another guy, a repetitive task that generally takes no skill whatsoever. Anybody can be a linebacker. (Note that I didn't say anybody could be a GOOD linebacker.)
Phew, sick stuff there, man. I can't see how anybody could think those performances didn't require an enormous amount of musicality.
- May 9, 2006
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- Warehouse/Shop Asst. & endorsing artist of Warwick Basses
I think there needs to be a distinction drawn actually between "DJ" (short for disc jockey), and turntabalist. There really is a complex musical craft at work when you're a turntabalist, not just a disc jockey. Saying otherwise because of a ****tty turtabalist in Slipknot is like saying bassists aren't great musicians because of Pete Wentz. Utter lunacy.
Wow man, I really can't understand how people don't recoginze this as music coming from a musician. Even worse yet, how some post earlier on damanded DJs to practice and get tendonitis from playing overweight basses to be considered musicians. These guys have incredible skills and tons of imagination to create this stuff. Thanks for the post!!!
as much as i respect your opinion your still talking crap.i know it takes a lot of skill to be a dj and it is an art form but dj's are not musicians.full stop,perhaps they are wanna be musicians.i know norman cook is a musician but when i see the hero worship he recieves for mixing and manipulating sounds it makes me sick to my stomach.what he does should be played by a band.
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