You and music: a poll for the discerning individual.

[Rain Man]

Don't think too much about the thread title. I'm working on my personal branding.

A conversation in another thread got me wondering about this.

When we think about music, I think there are three main things that one can do.

One can perform music without instruments, which I like to call singing.

One can perform music by playing an instrument, which I like to call playing an instrument.

One can create music, which I like to call composing.

Which one of these do you think is the hardest to do well? Which would you most want to be able to do well?

By "well", let's assume a definition that you're good enough to make an upper middle class living doing it. Not rich and no mansions, but you're comfortable.

Poll forthcoming in a one anna two anna ...

[Katipan]

Like those Chinese dudes that can ride a unicycle on a trapeeze while balancing a flaming Chinese dude on his head?

Who really wants to do that?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

My hypothesis when I started this poll was that composing would be the most difficult, but would also be the least desired, probably since it's the least public. It's an interesting perversion of supply and demand, because I would normally expect the most difficult and rare skill to be the most valued.

Composing, whether it's for Nashville, Pop, Urban, R&B along with Film & TV also gives the individual(s) an opportunity to live a fairly normal life. There are no press junkets, no touring, no demands by the studios or record companies to put a face on the product.

When composing for Film, TV and even advertising, it's generally an 8-5 gig unless you're under an enormous deadline, in which you may have to put in extra hours. Some of the guys I know that score network TV shows are sometimes working almost up until a few hours before air time but those gigs also offer enormous financial rewards.

[Baby Lee]

I picked hardest singing and and most likely good at playing an instrument.

Singing is a talent

Playing an instrument is a skill.

I'd compare it to the difference between being able to throw a 100 MPH strike and being able to play great at shortstop.

Some things you'll just never be able to do, and some you can be great with with tons and tons of practice.

I see a lot are scared of composing. But some of the best songs are the simplest, I think it draws on inspiration and experience more than innate talent.

[alpha_omega]

Composing

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

In before the poll to say that the answer to which is hardest is "composing" by a vast margin.

I would personally like to sing well. I think I'd get more daily, private satisfaction out of meager singing talent to just have fun with.

Agreed. I think most people can sing well within their range. I wish my range was larger. I can't hit the high notes on guys like Jason DeRulo but am more than competent at the rest of those songs. To go in a completely different direction, I do fairly well with Luke Bryan songs. If my range was just a tad bigger, I would've went for it.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The most difficult is composing music for the masses.

Anyone can learn to sing or play an instrument (or multiple instruments for that matter).

Not many can write music, whether it's film, television, jingles, pop songs, love songs, sad song, angry songs, etc. that can touch millions upon millions of people.

Absolutely.

[stevieray]

Beethoven.

'nuff said.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Agreed. I think most people can sing well within their range.

I must have a one note range, then. I can't sing at all but i sure wish I could.

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I must have a one note range, then. I can't sing at all but i sure wish I could.

It would be such a nice thing to be able to do. I would use the ability randomly all the time. It would add so much flavor and pizazz to life.

Whereas I have little desire to carry a guitar around although I'll happily fastball a pair of panties at a guy on stage doing it.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I must have a one note range, then. I can't sing at all but i sure wish I could.

My wife is the same way. I used to think everyone could, but realized some just can't at all. My wife couldn't care less. I wish you could too because for some of us, music touches our soul, and I'd like for everyone to be able to connect as much as possibly with it that has the desire. I'm not great, but I'm competent and it enriches my experience on the daily.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Katipan

It would be such a nice thing to be able to do. I would use the ability randomly all the time. It would add so much flavor and pizazz to life.

Whereas I have little desire to carry a guitar around although I'll happily fastball a pair of panties at a guy on stage doing it.

It really does. Small example, my dog goes bananas whenever I start singing and it melts my heart every day. Shit. Did I say that out loud? My man card is in the mail. Sorry.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

For me, music is a non physically addictive mood altering drug.

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

It really does. Small example, my dog goes bananas whenever I start singing and it melts my heart every day. Shit. Did I say that out loud? My man card is in the mail. Sorry.

No its cool, my little girl curls in my lap to listen to me sing anything. And that feels amazing.

Luckily for everyone in the room she's okay with me singing quietly.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Katipan

No its cool, my little girl curls in my lap to listen to me sing anything. And that feels amazing.

Luckily for everyone in the room she's okay with me singing quietly.

I feel bad because when my wife does it he runs away. She laughs it off though so I shouldn't worry too much. I'm far too shy or I'd post a video. It's hilarious how his back end gets to wiggling almost like he's dancing.

[cdcox]

Anything musical is very difficult to me. I struggle to find the rhythm to even the simplist of songs. I don't have a very good ear for key or specific notes. So I have never had the first inclination to have a music career.

For the second part of the poll, I marked to play a musical instrument. Most frequently I think of playing the guitar or piano. But it would just be for me. It seems like it would be a good way to unwind and I would enjoy the physical connection to the music. If I was really good at it and people enjoyed my playing, I would derive additional satisfaction from that, but I still don't think I would have a burning desire to make music my career. It's just not in my DNA.