music

[lilypiano]

Do you think playing an instrument makes you musical on a different level than someone that say, writes computer music and doesn't play an instrument?  I got into an argument with someone last night about music. I said that I think some people latch onto music, think they know everything about it, and make it a part of their identity without really loving it.  I said that I didn't like when people thought they could own music by possessing alot of recordings or just knowing about it. 
  I was  talking about his roommate he was describing that  only enjoyed music superficially, but he took it the wrong way. He thought I was talking about him.  He said that a love of music seems only visceral and goes in opposition to studying it and analyzing it.  He said that maybe you couldn't own music, but you could have opinions about the way it should be written. I  think I can agree that you can own an opinion, but i certainly don't think I have the best opinion or have music figured out. I really doubt that he does either. He said "i also find this fascinating too. because you play a traditional instrument, and I've often butted heads with people that do." 
    He seemed like he was just arguing to argue, because I didn't say music should just be appreciated for the love of it without analyzing or thinking about it.  Maybe mentioning "love" threatened him in some way.  Do you think musicians have a more intimate relationship with music? Musicians  have to live with a pieces  they're learning for a while, and playing the piano(or other instruments) is a very sensual thing to do.  It's very satisfying. I don't know if a nonmusician could understand what it's like.  I think it's okay to enjoy it on a visceral, gut, emotional level.
     I don't even know if he's really that intellectual about it anyway. He said he hadn't taken any theory and had a hard time hearing different chords once. Then last night he said he analyzes it and thinks music should go beyond the basic chords of pop  people claim to "love."  I wasn't even talking about loving pop music.