Chris Whitten
Platinum Member
This is going the same confused route lots of similar 'pro' discussions seem to end up going - sigh.
I will attempt to explain.
I went to music college at 16. Most of the other students were 18 and more advanced in their playing than me. I was lucky enough to end up in a couple of student bands and I learned so much by having to keep up with the better players than me. I mean musically, creatively keep up. I'm not talking about how fast you can play or how complex the material can be.
You think (for example) there is no difference playing a blues gig at a local bar, or finding yourself backing BB King at Monterey jazz festival?
Of course it's a different experience, the expectations are much higher, usually set by the band leader and you don't want to be the one looking lame.
There are incredibly skilled, musical amateurs and incredibly lazy and slack professionals. If I'm playing with whoever, and they don't think it's important to play for the song, or play with dynamics, or listen to each other - in the end I'm just wasting my energy and I would rather play with people who do all those (very musical) things.
I am totally happy to play cover songs in front of five people for $20, but I don't want to waste my time if no one else in the band can be bothered to be 'professional', treat the music with respect.
It is really zero to do with credentials, or pros vs amateurs - it's just about spending your energy playing worthwhile music with good players.
Why that implies I sometimes don't put in 1000% is a mystery to me.
When you are learning you think you are playing to your best ability, until someone more experienced points out what you could do better - that's what I'm talking about. As I'm always learning, I always prefer to play with people better than me. They can be a plumber by day who just happens to know more about funk, or latin music than me.
I will attempt to explain.
I went to music college at 16. Most of the other students were 18 and more advanced in their playing than me. I was lucky enough to end up in a couple of student bands and I learned so much by having to keep up with the better players than me. I mean musically, creatively keep up. I'm not talking about how fast you can play or how complex the material can be.
You think (for example) there is no difference playing a blues gig at a local bar, or finding yourself backing BB King at Monterey jazz festival?
Of course it's a different experience, the expectations are much higher, usually set by the band leader and you don't want to be the one looking lame.
There are incredibly skilled, musical amateurs and incredibly lazy and slack professionals. If I'm playing with whoever, and they don't think it's important to play for the song, or play with dynamics, or listen to each other - in the end I'm just wasting my energy and I would rather play with people who do all those (very musical) things.
I am totally happy to play cover songs in front of five people for $20, but I don't want to waste my time if no one else in the band can be bothered to be 'professional', treat the music with respect.
It is really zero to do with credentials, or pros vs amateurs - it's just about spending your energy playing worthwhile music with good players.
Why that implies I sometimes don't put in 1000% is a mystery to me.
When you are learning you think you are playing to your best ability, until someone more experienced points out what you could do better - that's what I'm talking about. As I'm always learning, I always prefer to play with people better than me. They can be a plumber by day who just happens to know more about funk, or latin music than me.