Musical Opinions

[Master Baiter]

Does formal training and/or technical expertise matter when intelligently critiquing music and forming opinions?

I'm not talking about the social significance or any of the other tangents like fashion, production ... etc, but the actual execution and prowess.

Or does owning a stereo and an opinion all that really matters?

 

[TonyInMyThroat]

I was under the impression that owning an iPod was the only credential needed for expertise.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

Does formal training and/or technical expertise matter when intelligently critiquing music and forming opinions?

I'm not talking about the social significance or any of the other tangents like fashion, production ... etc, but the actual execution and prowess.

Or does owning a stereo and an opinion all that really matters?

I'm sure there are respectable music critics out there with no formal training whatsoever - just as there are musicians. Just a good ear, a good-enough understanding of technique, composition and as you said, execution suffices.

Besides, it's mostly how you express those opinions.

It's art, after all. Same as film, food (in a sense), and paintings, etc. Most critics in these fields probably don't know the first thing about how to make a movie, how to paint a picture or properly cook a lobster, but have enough sense to be able to break it all down.

 

[taptoematt]

As far as determining whether you like it or not , or if its a good tune or artist by your standards ? ...yeah no musical expertise needed. But as far as prowess and execution, If you can't PLAY then you can't SAY

 

[Bohemianne]

It will all depend on the kind of delivery of opinion and the kind of audience who will read or hear it.

It will have levels. Music is after all the language of soul. And having the critical "ear" matters a lot.

Laymen critique can take it by impact or how they hear and feel it, which is also important. Without any technical knowledge in it, they can take it from another mindset, which can be surprising. At times innocent but intelligent opinions are very valuable too.

But you specifically mentioned: "intelligently critiquing music and forming opinions.......actual execution and prowess." In that case, the person giving opinion must know how to play musical instruments first with expertise, or has been trained, otherwise, he/she won't be able to come up with any in depth explanation of the magic, pitfalls and twirls behind it.

And I take it like this even with anything in life: being at the landing always offer a wider perspective than being at the first step of a stair.

 

[Master Baiter]

Great replies!

Some very thought-provoking ....um, thoughts.
No wait, some really deep shit.

Bah!

Great replies!

 

[DeBris]

Or does owning a stereo and an opinion all that really matters?

lol. let us add headphone to the stereo, i'm sure it will help. No one can beat a musical expert when it comes to giving opinion on music.

 

[red indian]

Everyone has an opinion on music, and everyone has a right to express it. If you can hear, you are going to have an opinion on music. The other side of the coin, you could say, is that if you have teeth, you have an opinion on dentistry. I have strong opinions on dentistry, but would you let me take one of your teeth out?

 

[Bugman]

I'm sure there are respectable music critics out there with no formal training whatsoever - just as there are musicians. Just a good ear, a good-enough understanding of technique, composition and as you said, execution suffices.

Besides, it's mostly how you express those opinions.

It's art, after all. Same as film, food (in a sense), and paintings, etc. Most critics in these fields probably don't know the first thing about how to make a movie, how to paint a picture or properly cook a lobster, but have enough sense to be able to break it all down.

I think Marquis summed it up pretty well. As for me, I've never paid much attention to the critics in any field of art, movies, music etc.. I like what I like, and that's good enough for me. 🙂