A musical ranting

[Der Nister]

While leafing through a recent copy of Real Detoit I spotted a short article about a local DJ. Being bored I glanced it over and became irked when I read this dj described as a "Maestro" and "local music legend".

I thought, "Maestro!? Musical legend!?" I must have missed the memo that stated exactly when spinning and mixing recorded songs made someone a musician. Or maybe I'm just to oldschool or out of touch with this "new" acceptance of what qualifies as a musician. If my memory serves me correctly the defined term of musician is as: " a composer, conductor, or performer of music; especially : INSTRUMENTALIST " and instrumentalist as: " 1 : a player on a musical instrument

2 : an exponent of instrumentalism " And a turn table is not listed as a musical instrument or am I mistaken?

The whole idea of a DJ being a musician really gets under my skin. If this is the case then I ask, why learn a instrument when all one needs to do is spin and mix records? I just wanted to get this off my chest and find out what others think. I don't feel I'm wrong in how I see this but still I'm curious about others opinions on the subject.

[phee]

While leafing through a recent copy of Real Detoit I spotted a short article about a local DJ. Being bored I glanced it over and became irked when I read this dj described as a "Maestro" and "local music legend".

I thought, "Maestro!? Musical legend!?" I must have missed the memo that stated exactly when spinning and mixing recorded songs made someone a musician. Or maybe I'm just to oldschool or out of touch with this "new" acceptance of what qualifies as a musician. If my memory serves me correctly the defined term of musician is as: " a composer, conductor, or performer of music; especially : INSTRUMENTALIST " and instrumentalist as: " 1 : a player on a musical instrument

2 : an exponent of instrumentalism " And a turn table is not listed as a musical instrument or am I mistaken?

The whole idea of a DJ being a musician really gets under my skin. If this is the case then I ask, why learn a instrument when all one needs to do is spin and mix records? I just wanted to get this off my chest and find out what others think. I don't feel I'm wrong in how I see this but still I'm curious about others opinions on the subject.

I am with you 100%

In the days of the artist DJ (Plastik Man) the DJ composed his own beats and synch... put them on vynal and then did his own spinning... When a DJ just simply spins/mixes and such... it may be hard work, it may be "cool"... but it he is not a musician.... he is a skilled DJ... Meastro my butt

[Der Nister]

I am with you 100%

In the days of the artist DJ (Plastik Man) the DJ composed his own beats and synch... put them on vynal and then did his own spinning... When a DJ just simply spins/mixes and such... it may be hard work, it may be "cool"... but it he is not a musician.... he is a skilled DJ... Meastro my butt

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly! Since when did mixing from one pr-recorded song to another qualify as being a musician??

If that's the case - there are thousands of talk show producers that are awesome musicians.

Not!

[phee]

Exactly! Since when did mixing from one pr-recorded song to another qualify as being a musician??

If that's the case - there are thousands of talk show producers that are awesome musicians.

Not!

:woot:

Yeah... it's much more of a producer then a musician

[Scary Guy]

a composer, conductor, or performer.

Doing it live = performance, even if it is just playing other people's songs. Mixing it up and turning it into something all your own (especially if you can do it with three or four decks at the same time) = conductor, even if it is just playing other people's songs. Only the second one though actually makes the person a musician in my eyes, although maybe not a very good one.

Just had a band the other night at I-Rock with their own DJ who came armed with a set of turntables, a RANE mixer, and records. It was pretty good I think and they could go places.

I'd equate bad DJ's though to bad artists doing what look like chidren's paintings and scribbles.