How long until you can call your self NOT a begginer?

[swede_peter]

Ive been thinking about how long it takes until you can call yourself a "player" :? . I mean, ive been playing for 2 yrs, can sight read at reasonable speed up to 4-5 sharps and flats, but when can you call your self a player instead of beginner? Is there any hidden, unspoken rules about that? I Guess im just asking you guys in a philosophic way, but i think its an interesting question, at least perhaps for the ego? ;)

/Pete.

[Saxmusiclover]

How about at least five years of continuous playing and improvement, preferably 10? IMHO the important thing is not whether you or others call you a beginner or a player but that you're always humble enough to learn new things and improve yourself.
I know an amateur musician (he's not a pro only in the sense that he does not play for money and has another non-music related career). He's been playing continuously for 25-30 years and is really great and talented (better than many pros). But he still considers himself an amateur.

[gary]

When the moment comes that you realize you are a "player", you will know it...until some 16 year old kid gets on the bandstand and smokes you. :shock:

[Greelmo]

When you can play professionaly with any players and can sight read in any key and improvise in any key and have performed and mastered all the staple repetoire (classical and jazz). I guess that's all I can think of. If you still fumble with key signatures and things, you're still beginner. To be a player is to be about music, not technique. In order to do this, you have to learn every technique and scale passage imaginable and be able to execute them at 2 in the morning cold.

[JL]

I don't think you need to know everything to be a "player," but you do need to know a reasonable amount of the standard repertoire in whatever genre you are performing and, most importantly, be able to play together with other musicians. But the line between "beginner" and "player" is shifty. The fact is, everyone, including top pros, is a beginner in the sense that no one knows it all. As long as there is something more to learn, then when you start to learn something new, you are a beginner at that moment. I think this is a good approach to use, mentally, to keep things fresh and to keep progressing.

[swede_peter]

I don't think you need to know everything to be a "player," but you do need to know a reasonable amount of the standard repertoire in whatever genre you are performing and, most importantly, be able to play together with other musicians. But the line between "beginner" and "player" is shifty. The fact is, everyone, including top pros, is a beginner in the sense that no one knows it all. As long as there is something more to learn, then when you start to learn something new, you are a beginner at that moment. I think this is a good approach to use, mentally, to keep things fresh and to keep progressing.


I thank you all for your input. Im glad :) i found Sotw, and i am amazed :shock: about how many people in here share. Info, opinions, humour, criticism, you name it. You are great guys and girls.

Have a nice day, and THANK YOU!

/Pete the beginner ;)

[Brendan Muse]

You stop being a beginner when you feel confident that you can play and sightread comfortably and easily the music you come in contact with on a regular basis.

This means, of course, that you should be a beginner again every six months or so if you know what's good for you. The further you push yourself, the greater your comfort zone becomes.