can one ever really master an instrument...?

jon boy · 02.28.2009, 02:47 AM

or is there always something new to learn?

cars_willkillyou · 02.28.2009, 02:57 AM

depends on the definition of "mastery." It's not about what you know though, its about what you play.

pbradley · 02.28.2009, 03:57 AM

I believe in always being the student.

acousticrock87 · 02.28.2009, 04:23 AM

I think one can "master" something (or else it would be a useless word), but never run out of things to learn.

pbradley · 02.28.2009, 04:28 AM

I am the master, my instrument is my slave! It shall obey!

acousticrock87 · 02.28.2009, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbradley

I am the master, my instrument is my slave! It shall obey!

Watch for signs of discontent, and don't let it near the pitchforks.

phoenix · 02.28.2009, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon boy

can one ever really master an instrument..? or is there always something new to learn?

of course. It is entirely possible to master the capabilities of an inanimate object. Just not necessarily master the potential of yourself as a musician?

Glice · 02.28.2009, 04:58 AM

Sort of. I think Oistrakh did. Glenn Gould as well. Tommy Potts mastered, and redefined, a style. Munir Bashir, likewise (I'm thinking of the 'Flamenco roots' stuff). Past a point of tactile proficiency it becomes about taste and artistry. The grand litany of rock players don't cut that particular mustard, for me.

It's like chess players. Kasparov might be a grand master, but that doesn't mean he never gets beat.

nicfit · 02.28.2009, 05:00 AM

I think you can master the technique, but inventivity can lead to totally different ways to express yourself with an instrument (with endless "tweaks" to it, if needed). I think the limit is not in the intrument itself.

So, the answer is yeah. But no. and so on.

!@#$%! · 02.28.2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cars_willkillyou

depends on the definition of "mastery." It's not about what you know though, its about what you play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbradley

I am the master, my instrument is my slave! It shall obey!

o'connor · 02.28.2009, 01:16 PM

yes, yes you can. i've mastered the "skin flute"

atsonicpark · 02.28.2009, 01:40 PM

teach a person a song and they'll play a song. teach a person how to play an instrument and they'll play many songs!...

...er.

The answer is: No.

jon boy · 02.28.2009, 03:39 PM

i dont think you can either, you can learn all there is to know about one and be able to play real well but i dont think there is ever a limit to what can be done. there is always something to learn etc.

acousticrock87 · 02.28.2009, 03:41 PM

master: a person with the ability or power to use, control, or dispose of something; a person eminently skilled in something, as an occupation, art, or science

eminent: high in station, rank, or repute; prominent; distinguished
---
Yes. You can.

Nevermind · 02.28.2009, 03:46 PM

You only need the ability to play chords to write songs so who gives a shit how well you can play.

joe11121 · 02.28.2009, 03:56 PM

I think there are very few who can actually "master an instrument". People can get very good at one, or many, but to master one you need to be very skilled and there are only a select few who have ever been able to do so.

The Lung · 02.28.2009, 04:49 PM

I'd consider Hendrix and Fahey masters of the guitar; totally different in what they did but both masters.

Toilet & Bowels · 02.28.2009, 05:19 PM

depends what you mean by "master", i don't know where this idea that mastery means nothing left to learn though

Magic Wheel Memory · 02.28.2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon boy

or is there always something new to learn?

I don't know about mastery, but there's always something new to learn on an instrument.

Magic Wheel Memory · 02.28.2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o'connor

yes, yes you can. i've mastered the "skin flute"

Unless you've played a wide variety of skin flutes, with various tonal qualities and pitches (alto, tenor, etc.), I doubt you can call yourself a master. How many have you played?

02.28.2009, 02:47 AM	#1
jon boy invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: psycho battery Posts: 12,161	or is there always something new to learn? __________________ Sarcasm[A] is stating the opposite of an intended meaning especially in order to sneeringly, slyly, jest or mock a person, situation or thing \|@ <------- Euphoric brain cell just moments before expiration V _ \ / _ PING <-------- moments later / \ http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljhxq...isruo1_500.gif
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02.28.2009, 02:57 AM	#2
cars_willkillyou stalker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 520	depends on the definition of "mastery." It's not about what you know though, its about what you play. __________________
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02.28.2009, 03:57 AM	#3
pbradley invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoKo Posts: 10,621	I believe in always being the student.
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02.28.2009, 04:23 AM	#4
acousticrock87 invito al cielo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,515	I think one can "master" something (or else it would be a useless word), but never run out of things to learn.
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02.28.2009, 04:28 AM	#5
pbradley invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: SoKo Posts: 10,621	I am the master, my instrument is my slave! It shall obey!
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02.28.2009, 05:00 AM	#9
nicfit invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: banana boat Posts: 15,570	I think you can master the technique, but inventivity can lead to totally different ways to express yourself with an instrument (with endless "tweaks" to it, if needed). I think the limit is not in the intrument itself. So, the answer is yeah. But no. and so on. __________________ 11:11 11-11-11 I Ascended.
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02.28.2009, 01:16 PM	#11
o'connor expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Tx. Posts: 1,365	yes, yes you can. i've mastered the "skin flute" __________________ My name is Jonathon http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001798646886 - Personal http://soundcloud.com/j-o-c-o - JoCo (Music) http://soundcloud.com/driftera - Drift Era (Music)
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02.28.2009, 01:40 PM	#12
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	teach a person a song and they'll play a song. teach a person how to play an instrument and they'll play many songs!... ...er. The answer is: No. __________________
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02.28.2009, 03:39 PM	#13
jon boy invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: psycho battery Posts: 12,161	i dont think you can either, you can learn all there is to know about one and be able to play real well but i dont think there is ever a limit to what can be done. there is always something to learn etc. __________________ Sarcasm[A] is stating the opposite of an intended meaning especially in order to sneeringly, slyly, jest or mock a person, situation or thing \|@ <------- Euphoric brain cell just moments before expiration V _ \ / _ PING <-------- moments later / \ http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljhxq...isruo1_500.gif
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02.28.2009, 03:41 PM	#14
acousticrock87 invito al cielo Join Date: May 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,515	master: a person with the ability or power to use, control, or dispose of something; a person eminently skilled in something, as an occupation, art, or science eminent: high in station, rank, or repute; prominent; distinguished --- Yes. You can.
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02.28.2009, 03:46 PM	#15
Nevermind little trouble girl Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 64	You only need the ability to play chords to write songs so who gives a shit how well you can play.
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02.28.2009, 03:56 PM	#16
joe11121 expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brantford, Canada Posts: 1,843	I think there are very few who can actually "master an instrument". People can get very good at one, or many, but to master one you need to be very skilled and there are only a select few who have ever been able to do so.
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02.28.2009, 04:49 PM	#17
The Lung stalker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leeds Posts: 299	I'd consider Hendrix and Fahey masters of the guitar; totally different in what they did but both masters.
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02.28.2009, 05:19 PM	#18
Toilet & Bowels invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Europe Posts: 12,282	depends what you mean by "master", i don't know where this idea that mastery means nothing left to learn though
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