So you're an audiophile - are you also a musician?


I was wondering if a "typical" audiophile is or has been a musician (air band not included). If so, what instrument(s) do you play now or have played?

Thanks for taking my very unsophisticated pole.

Kevinzoe
kevinzoe
I can't sing or dance, despite a fairly talanted family background, same for my wife. When I waited tables the waiters were reluctantly rounded up to sing "Happy Birthday", the management gave me specific orders to "mouth" the words! As a child I tried to study guitar, I always got headaches from practicing. Those dots on the bars were painfull. I gave it up. Turned out I needed glasses.
I regret not getting in this thread sooner. I had an idea that many a-gonners were musicians, but I am surprised at the overwhealming majority, or what seems to me to be.
I have played, but never made the jump, I have always stopped just short. I cannot really answer why I haven't played for enjoyment besides. I have a recent thread I answered on this recently that might explain my confusion, if anyone cares to get that deep.
What is of interest to me in this thread, is this question for those who play or have played- what is the connection between audiophilism and musicianship? I always have thought of audiophiles who do not play, or have not played, to be musical much the same way as a musician. I have thought of a non-playing audiophile as closer to a non-playing or unpractised musician than say, an "average" person who listens to music more like the general public with less of a passion and more for casual enjoyment. This is the connection I feel.
Thank you for this insightful, thoughtful poll.
Trumpet. Graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Sadly, I no longer play, but as Bishopwill points out, it dramatically alters the way that I experience and listen to music. Those who are not formally trained could not possibly listen the same way, IMHO.
been a guitar player and song writer for 30 some years. Played hard rock in the 70's, alternative in the 80s and after moving to New Orleans in the the 80's and Austin Tx in 90 turned into a blues player...go figure. Played professionally on and off for about 20 of those years but the high travel day gig gets in the way these days. You want to talk money sink...get into high end audio and collecting high end guitars and amps.
Dan, I'm curious about how/in what way people without formal training can't listen in the same way as those with formal training. Do you mean that those with formal training can analyze the technical details of music, like "So and so is playing the Mixolydian mode for the first two bars of the solo, then switches to the straight major scale? (Aeolian Mode? I forget my theory; been a while)", or something like that?