 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SuzyQ
Date: 2004-09-13 00:39
Ok, my question... Do you all get tired or annoyed of being "labeled" a music person? I ask because my sister, who is a very fine student pianist will often get annoyed by people who think that all she ever enjoys is the piano. They automatically assume that piano and music is all she ever thinks about and thus that is all they ever ask and talk to her about.
Do ya'll get what I'm saying here? Do you desire others (non-musicians) to look at you for other things besides your music, or are you just fine with people thinking that you are "all" music?
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-09-13 01:17
Maybe I don't get what you are saying. Maybe I do.
I can think of no higher praise than to be called a "music person."
On the other hand, I have sometimes felt weary when yet another person comments on my unusual (big, bright, blue) eyes. I understand that they are a striking feature, but I didn't do anything to deserve them, other than being born with a certain genetic set, and observing their presence tells you nothing about *me* at all.
So, perhaps this is where your sister is. It's nice to have a distinctive personal attribute (outstanding musical ability, pretty eyes), but there are times when you just wish everyone would see the rest of you, as well.
Sounds like your sister is struggling with identity issues. As for me, the older I get, the happier I am that I have *any* attribute that others appreciate -- although I would probably rather it had been overwhelming musical talent than big blue eyes. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
Susan
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-09-13 02:44
As a double-major in computer science and music composition, I've come to warmly embrace my extreme double-geekdom.
If people want me to talk about music, all the better... it's something I know about and can keep a conversation going for hours on end. The label is more often than not a compliment... here's a person who does something unusual and fascinating that takes lots of time and skill to do well, let's talk to them!
Perhaps your sister could try steering the conversation toward something the other people do, or alternatively mention something else they have done lately. You can't expect people to present you with a questionnaire, after all... give some openings
If one associates oneself with enough other "music persons", the label begins to grow on you. You are, after all, one of a certain breed of persons that have a great deal in common.
In any case, at parties and such it's better than the label of computer person... numerous requests for "play something," though sometimes a bit embarrassing, are considerably less unwelcome than "can you fix my computer?"
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-09-13 03:02
Music IS what I think about mostly, so I suppose the shoe fits! Of course, I have other interests too, but those are mostly just so that I have something to do while my iPod recharges! j/k
DH
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Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2004-09-13 04:04
MUSIC IS LIFE!!!!! Don't ya know? Although, here lately I have been ignoring it, but it's not so much fun to talk about music with someone who knows nothing about it.... It's much more fun to get advice, like on this Bboard for instance...
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-09-13 12:21
YES this annoys me! Actually, it doesn't annoy me THAT much. I have many friends outside of college, mostly my age to older, and I catch up with them most often, and I have things in common with them.
What really DOES annoy me is what you go out for drinks or whatever after a concert, and all everyone talks about is music, the next concert, that last concert, who screwed up, who played well, etc. etc. and feel left out because I don't wanna talk about that stuff, and I wonder what I could talk about with my college buddies, but then realise that if it weren't for music, I probably wouldn't even speak to them. So that's why I avoid social outings with these people: because they're not social outings. If I wanted to talk about music I'd go to lectures.
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! ![[down]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley23.gif) Buffet
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Author: SuzyQ
Date: 2004-09-13 12:47
I think that my sister mostly gets annoyed by NON-musicians doing this. What I don't understand is that music is indeed her life, so I wonder why...
Most of the time when someone non musician aproaches her with "I bet all you did was practice piano today," "Will you play us something?" or "How was the piano today?" She trys to answer politely, but you can tell she is struggling not to roll her eyes and is thinking "oh brother! again!"
Hmm...lots of food for thought!
P.S...music is also my life pretty much, but I don't have the problem with people only approaching me only as a musican. So, I don't know how I would respond in the same situations.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-09-13 13:46
Well, just as a follow-up to my previous comment, bottom line, when people make comments to me, or your sister, about something which is totally obvious, they are probably just trying to be nice.
It's kind of like asking about the weather, or asking "How are you?" They don't really want to talk about music, or your health, or whatever. It's just a polite way of opening conversation. So the response needs to be in kind -- as Alex said, she should take it as an opportunity to redirect the conversation. One needn't be quite so literal about the content.
Otherwise, it becomes like what happens when you ask my mother-in-law, "How are you today?" and you get a barrage of updates on her medical status, when all you really intended to do was say "Hi!"
Susan
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Author: William
Date: 2004-09-13 14:40
No. I am proud to be a musician--and lucky to have some people think that I am actually good enough to be paid for playing in public.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-09-13 14:42
No, but I get tired of my wife calling me an 'engineer'......................
(which I am......but I'm really a musician wannabe)
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Author: chicagoclar
Date: 2004-09-14 05:50
I am proud to be a band nerd, an orch dork, or any other phrase that fits. But that's how I identify myself as well as how others do.
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-09-14 10:24
what really annoys me is introducing my "non music" friends to my "music friends" and finding that the the "music friends" have very little curiosity regarding what others do
my ex wife hated this- she always felt that musicians we knew regarded nothing she did (history research and articles etc) as important as the next performance with some famous conductor etc....
i also get sick of my "music friends" saying things like "oh, i don't like to talk about music, it's too boring, it my job etc etc etc" but then demonstrating very little interest in anything else except hanging out at cafes and bars. VERY BORING
donald
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2004-09-14 16:42
Albert Einstein played the violin and from what I've read, fairly well, yet he certainly wasn't defined by that activity. I have a good friend who was one of the top mineral rights lawyers in the country as well as a very well known painter and he also plays a mean banjo. Depending on the company he is either a very good lawyer, an excellent painter or a darn good banjo player; in fact he is all three!
The perception people have of a person are usually defined by that person's public face and activities so your sister may be a victim of her own creation. If she doesn't like that perception, she can simply take every opportunity to change it.
RW
Best
Rick
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-14 17:08
Hey Susan - I hear you have nice eyes 
(I just had to say that - ducking and running now
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Author: Sheila-music_lover
Date: 2004-09-14 20:03
NOPE!! I want ppl to label me a "music person" It makes me feel really good. No, that does not annoy me at all.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-09-14 22:25
David B. sez --
<<Hey Susan - I hear you have nice eyes>>
Yeah, but I close them when I play, so people will think of me as a music person.
![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif)
Susan
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2004-09-15 01:58
Well... I live and breathe music. I'd say that a "music person" is a pretty accurate label for me. And one that I like.
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Author: ken
Date: 2004-09-15 03:12
Everything is relative. If I had a dollar for every person who, when they found out I was a clarinet player confessed if not agonized how they used to play a ________ in high school or college and regret giving it up. Which is usually followed by, those years were the most fulfilling of my life and someday I'm surely going to take it back up again.
However, I have now changed professions and on the other side of life, not sharing the same toothbrush (as it were) with working musicians; banished to the world of aviators and engineers. Man, these folks, although as brilliant as any clarinet Professor or virtuoso, generally have far less personality and colorful. Matter of fact, I think I'd have more fun hanging out at Dunkin' Doughnuts with the Highway Patrol. Now, this website has ultimately become an oasis in a desert, with folks like GBK as that refreshing if not life-saving sip of cool water. v/r Ken
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-09-15 03:40
"Sir, that's a very interesting shade of white........ Did you paint those walls yourself?"
;)
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