music snobs

[lilypiano]

What do you think of people that think they know everything about music because they know  a bunch of music history?  or they know all of the underground indie bands?  They judge other people by what bands they know about, what music they like, how critical they are, etc.  Those people drive me crazy.  I think musicians tend to be less  snobby about hearing music or being familiar with it.  There's just too much interesting music out there to think you know it all. 

[Kassaa]

I'm sorry but I just do know everything .

[stevie]

randomly hilarious, snobbery is actualy one of the basises of humour in one of my favourite tv shows - frasier, randomly.

[quantum]

I'm sorry but I just do know everything .

Prove it.  Tell us your bank account number, your pin number and any other pertinent info to help us confirm it is your account. 

Some still may not believe so it may be good to also include info about at least one major credit card. 

[prometheus]

Yes, I also know a lot of punk and hard rock bands.

So can I be a musical snob now?

[johnny-boy]

I always think of a music snob as a person that thinks any music other than classical is rubbish. And that just ain't so.

Best, John

[Kassaa]

Prove it.  Tell us your bank account number, your pin number and any other pertinent info to help us confirm it is your account. 

Some still may not believe so it may be good to also include info about at least one major credit card. 

Heh under the 18 you don't have a credit card.

[lilypiano]

i think music snobs are people that think people with different tastes in music or knowledge of it are inferior.  Knowing alot of punk and hard rock bands wouldn't make you a snob unless you thought you were better than people that didn't. 

[Tash]

i am a music snob in the sense that i think that people who tell me they think non-popular music is boring because you can't dance to it- if they're going to be ignorant about it, then yes i am better than you

[gorbee natcase]

i am a music snob in the sense that i think that people who tell me they think non-popular music is boring because you can't dance to it- if they're going to be ignorant about it, then yes i am better than you

[lilypiano]

have you ever met anyone with a very limited appreciation of music that really thinks they know what's best?  someone that's pretentious about it? someone that thinks their  favorite genres and bands within  them are the only music worth listening to?   like what Johnny-Boy said " always think of a music snob as a person that thinks any music other than classical is rubbish. And that just ain't so."   

[contrapunctus]

i think music snobs are people that think people with different tastes in music or knowledge of it are inferior.  Knowing alot of punk and hard rock bands wouldn't make you a snob unless you thought you were better than people that didn't. 

I think non classical music is inferior to classical because it really is: both musically and technically.
That is a general statement however.

[johnny-boy]

"I think non classical music is inferior to classical because it really is: both musically and technically"-Contrapunctus

I disagree.

John

[rimv2]

What do you think of people that think they know everything about music because they know  a bunch of music history?  or they know all of the underground indie bands?  They judge other people by what bands they know about, what music they like, how critical they are, etc.  Those people drive me crazy.  I think musicians tend to be less  snobby about hearing music or being familiar with it.  There's just too much interesting music out there to think you know it all. 

Hmph.

Another one of these threads.

[quantum]

I've met people who think of music only in terms of "bands".  I know this indie band, band that plays in church, I play all these songs with my band in my garadge, etc.  Like the only music that is improtant is made up from a band.  I tell them I am a musician and they ask what band do I play in. 

I mean I have nothing against bands or their music, but some people just have to expand a bit more.

[johnny-boy]

I've met people who think of music only in terms of "bands".  I know this indie band, band that plays in church, I play all these songs with my band in my garadge, etc.  Like the only music that is improtant is made up from a band.  I tell them I am a musician and they ask what band do I play in. 

I mean I have nothing against bands or their music, but some people just have to expand a bit more.

Hey Quantum,

Unless you're a Horowitz, Cliburn, or a Rubinstein you better expand yourself into the popular music field if you want to make a living at music. Very few musicians can make a living playing classical music.

Of course one can always teach, but again, I find so many students want to play popular music – so one way or another you’ll be turning to “pop” music to earn a living. Unless of course you have a job in another field and music is only a hobby.

When I was studying classical music (and many years afterwards) I played in a house band at a large resort. Along with the other members of the “band” we had to back all the acts coming in.

A lot of times the vocalist would hand me music 15 minutes before Showtime. If you think that isn’t expanding one’s musical skills then I don’t know what is. Backing acts in a nightclub was much more difficult than preparing a classical recital – at least one can prepare for the latter.

Anyway, to all aspiring classical performers; learn to play popular as well – it will be a lifesaver.

Best, John

[zheer]

Anyway, to all aspiring classical performers; learn to play popular as well – it will be a lifesaver.

Best, John

     As a pianist i love to accompany singers if i get the chance, music by Cilian Diaon, whitny huston, Maria, Lionel , bla bla bla. Have you accompanied singers? ( sorry about the spelling)

[lilypiano]

what is another one of "these" threads, rimv?  i'm just surprised with how many people think they have music figured out or think they own it in some way.   I've met  people that think they have the perfect tastes in music and don't even listen to classical, or much other than their favorite genre.  They reallly think they know everything worth knowing about it , and it's just not true.  They think they know so much and can't even do well in the basic theory class.  maybe you haven't met anyone like this.

[johnny-boy]

     As a pianist i love to accompany singers if i get the chance, music by Cilian Diaon, whitny huston, Maria, Lionel , bla bla bla. Have you accompanied singers? ( sorry about the spelling)

Hey zheer,

Every week I'd meet new singers. Also strippers, exotic dancers, comedians (don't think their shows are easy ones – there are a lot of cues), illusionists, hypnotists, magicians, etc.

I remember the first show I played when I was 16. This male vocalist that spent most of his time performing on cruise ships handed me music a half hour before Showtime. The music was very difficult to play. I knew I was in trouble. Somehow I managed to get through the show. I'm sure it wasn't very good (thanks to me).

After that I committed myself to sight-reading and learning how to fake it in difficult shows. I'd recommend the experience to every musician.

Thanks for the trip down “Memory Lane” zheer.

Best, John

[lilypiano]

I think this illlustrates what i'm talking about fairly well....

John, 25, is a classical musician. Billy, whom John and I just met, is a hipster and a self-described 'musicologist.' John, a violinist, was educated at Juliard. I rarely ever get a chance to see him, but he happened to be free this night, and we happened to find ourselves at this house party, which was relatively hipster-free until we got to the roof. John's smart and handsome, but he's definitely not a hipster, and he doesn't like to tell people he's a violinist because he thinks it makes him seem dorky. Billy turns to us, his feeble little mop-head swinging languidly on his pale Midwestern neck, and slurps from his beercan. "You guys listen to music?" The tone is one of classic hipster faux-nonchalance, think James Dean thumbing his sideburns (gag), burping, smiling about something we don't know about, shaking his head. And this is chit-chat, this is back and forth, at least one would think so. But it's not, and I can already tell this isn't a question. This is a monologue; this is Billy's monologue, dressed up like a question. But John isn't a hipster. He doesn't have the pop culture burden that I have inexplicably gathered, one that allows me — that forces me — to differentiate between these 'types' of people. John's not cynical like me. Whereas I would have answered "No, I don't listen to music at all," John answers, enthused, "Yeah man, definitely!"
Billy's head swings again toward us, "Good, music's cool."
Billy's wearing a black T-shirt with a tear near the bottom, on the front it says "Dragons '86" in crumbling white silkscreen. He's wearing blue jeans and expensive diesel sneakers. He's got a 'tribal' tattoo on his right arm, which he's holding himself up with.
"Yeah, definitely," John says.
"So, what kinda music do you guys like?" Billy asks.
"Oh, I dunno," John says. "Rock I guess."
Billy sneers. He's getting warmed up.
"Cool man. Very cool," he says smiling. "So, ah, what kinda rock do you guys listen to?"
"Well, it's not just rock," John says. "I mean, I listen to all kinds of stuff. You know, a little of this, a little of that."
Billy switches arms. He's closing in on us, he's smiling.
"That's totally cool man, totally cool," Billy says.
"I guess so." John says, and looks at me, questioning. I shrug.
"So, like, what bands do you guys like?" Billy asks.
"Oh, uh, I like… well, hmm. I've been listening to all kinds of stuff lately. I like Radiohead."
Billy tries to look respectfully at John, but he can't. He's like dog taking a sh*t, once he's started, he can't stop. "Yeah, Kid A was alright," Billy says, his eyebrows raised in simulated empathy. "I mean, it was kind of a rip-off of Aphex Twin, but whatever."
"Um-hm," John says. But he's never heard of Aphex Twin, he's never heard of Kid A either, but he gathers it's some Radiohead song. "I dunno, I mostly hear them on the radio, so I don't really know any song names or anything. I like the guy's voice though."
"Oh yeah?" Billy asks. "Tom York, what a pud. I didn't know they put out any singles for that, since it was kind of avant. ***, I don’t listen to the radio, so I wouldn't know. I don't even have a TV."
"Oh yeah?" John asks.
"Yeah man," Billy says. "I'm kind of a musicologist."
"Oh, great!" John says. "So, uh, what kind of music do YOU listen to?"
"sh*t man, I listen to everything. You guys listen to Emocore?"
"I dunno," John says. "What is that?"
"You ever hear of the Get Up Kids?"
"I don't know" John says.
"Oh, how about Death Cab For Cutie?"
"Nope." John says.
"Oh," Billy says. "Well, Emo is like, it's like Emotional, you know?"
"Like how do you mean?"
"Like, have you guys ever heard of Sunny Day Real Estate?"
"Don't think so," John says.
"Oh. Well Emo is like pretty hard stuff, with emotional lyrics."
"Oh." John says.
"Yeah, it's cool. You guys ever heard Jimmy Eat World?"
"I don't think so." John says.
"sh*t man, what about At The Drive-In?"
"Nope" John says.
"Minor Threat?"
"Umm, I've heard of them."
"Embrace?"
"Nope."
"Hot Water Music?"
"No"
"Weezer?"
"Oh yeah!" John says. "Didn't they have that one video with the Happy Days thing?"
"I dunno." Billy says. "I don't watch TV."
"Oh yeah."
"Well, Emo is like pretty dynamic and sh*t. It's kinda like Indy rock, but it's more like Post-Punk, like Progressive and stuff."
"Hmm." John says.
"What about Rites of Spring?"
"Nope." John says.
"Yeah," Billy says. "Weezer's like the most commercial of the Emo bands, they're new album kinda sucks."
"Oh yeah?"
"Totally."
"They got that dude from that one group, you know that 80s band, The Cars?"
"Yeah," John says. "The Cars."
"Well they got that singer to produce this album and it totally sucks."
"Oh, too bad." John says.
"Yeah, but they sold out anyhow."
"Oh." John says.
There's a break in the conversation now; the three of us stare up at the sky. Billy's looking contented and ready to continue educating us about music.
"So sh*t man, you should check out some Emo dude," Billy says. "I guess you don't listen to music much huh?"
"Yeah. Maybe." John says.
"So like, what do you do anyway?"
"Oh," says John. "I'm a professional musician."


https://hipstersareannoying.blogspot.com/2002_09_15_hipstersareannoying_archive.html

[juliax]

That last post about the music snob conversation really brought back memories.  Here's my music snob story from about a year ago. 
Brian is a bass player for a country music-ish band and Ryan is a guitarist for a heavy metal band.  I was at a party with these two where only a couple of people knew I was a piano teacher.  The conversation began with Ryan claiming there are "millions of Stevie Ray Vaughns out there" and blah blah blah.  Why every guitarist who can't read music thinks they are Stevie Ray Vaughn is beyond me, but I hear it a lot.  In my head all I think is "No, you are not Stevie Ray Vaughn, you are too lazy to learn how to read music."  But I've never said that (it would be rude.)
The conversation I finally had to bust in on was this:
Ryan:  I can play guitar really well, I found these patterns.
Brian:  Yes, there are bass patterns too!
Ryan:  I've always wanted to play bass.  My friend can, I am just good at guitar though.  My girlfriend can play bass pretty well.
Brian:  Yes, bass is something you have to feel man.  You can either do it, or you can't.
Ryan:  What do you mean?
Brian:  You know, you can either do it, or you can't.
Ryan:  Yeah, that's how guitar is too, man.  Do you think you could help me learn bass?
Brian:  Nah, bass really isn't something you can teach.  It's just something you have.

That is when I stepped it.
Me:   Actually it is definately something you can teach  There are plenty of teachers out there, and books you can read.  You can't teach something you don't know well, though.
Brian:  No, it's about patterns.  You have to feel it.
Me:   No, it's about CHORDS.  They are called CHORDS not patterns. 
   (At this point I was really holding back.)
Brian:  (stared blankly)
Ryan:  What is your music experience?  I mean, how do you even know?
Me:   I'm a piano teacher.
Both of them:  oh.


This, of course, wasn't the exact story (it was a long time ago) but you get the jist.  These guys were both being arrogant pricks to the people around them and to each other trying to out-wit the other with music knowledge.  It was the saddest thing I have ever witnessed.  I talked to them a little longer and told them about miniature guitars made for 6 year olds who can read music (Hey, someone's got to burst their bubble.)  What amazes me is these guys get payed to play music, but won't even take the extra time and effort to learn how to read it.  Ryan, for example, claims guitar is his life and his passion, but he won't even pick up a lesson book?  That's when it hit me.  Ryan wasn't playing music because he loved music.  He was playing music because he loved the attention it got him.  That is what I think a music snob is.  Someone who uses their music knowledge (or lack of) to try and trick people into respecting them. 
Anyway, there's my story.  More later!
Thanks,
cj

[lilypiano]

"He was playing music because he loved the attention it got him.  That is what I think a music snob is.  Someone who uses their music knowledge (or lack of) to try and trick people into respecting them.  "


Oh, I think they agree.   It's like music is a trend people latch onto to be cool.  I'm sure some of them genuinely enjoy it, but developing a superiority complex just because you think you have the best tastes in your favorite genre is just a little sad.

[rimv2]

what is another one of "these" threads, rimv?

Hmph.

Another one of these threads.

 

*in a snobbish tone*

Hmph not another one of these threads?

 

[lilypiano]

oh, jaja   

[quantum]

Hey Quantum,

Unless you're a Horowitz, Cliburn, or a Rubinstein you better expand yourself into the popular music field if you want to make a living at music. Very few musicians can make a living playing classical music.

Of course one can always teach, but again, I find so many students want to play popular music – so one way or another you’ll be turning to “pop” music to earn a living. Unless of course you have a job in another field and music is only a hobby.

When I was studying classical music (and many years afterwards) I played in a house band at a large resort. Along with the other members of the “band” we had to back all the acts coming in.

A lot of times the vocalist would hand me music 15 minutes before Showtime. If you think that isn’t expanding one’s musical skills then I don’t know what is. Backing acts in a nightclub was much more difficult than preparing a classical recital – at least one can prepare for the latter.

Anyway, to all aspiring classical performers; learn to play popular as well – it will be a lifesaver.

Best, John

I was merely stating particular experiences i've had.  You have good points but loose some sense of cridibility with the content of your first paragraph.  These are only stereotypes. 

Do I play stuff other than classical: on many occasions.  I've been in the pit orchestra for two musicals, one of which I was also conductor; I've played sax in a jazz band; I've performed and arranged numerous pop songs; I've also MIDI programmed several arrangements of pop songs; I've organized and performed the (non classical) music for Roman Catholic Church services; I've played Zhonghu in a traditional Chinese music orchestra. 

Classical music does make up the bulk of what I play because I simply get more enjoyment out of it.  However when I do decide to play some pop, I do so in a manner that set's me as far from possible from the pop music industry - I like to seperate the music from the corporations that slobber over their profits.