I notice very often that people stereotype musicians based on the instrument they play. There are so many guitarists out there, and it's so popular, that many people think that that's one of the only cool instruments. Fiddlers on the other hand, not everyone pays attention to. How many fiddlers, bagpipers, etc. have you seen in the top 5 of the mainstream music charts? I haven't seen any. I don't like the biased views that are going around the world today, especially ones like this. I don't have anything against talented guitarists, but other musicians need attention. I want to help bring unconventional music into the mainstream music industry. The fact that lots of the stuff you hear on "hit music stations" are the same genre and practically sound the same is something that needs to be overcome. We need more originality.
i know what you mean. i'm in high school, and when people hear that i play hihland pipes, or whistle, or accordion they automatically think it's weird. personally, i like fiddle and bodhran.
Locally, I haven't noticed it with violin/fiddle, but that's probably 'cause the lead violinists in the school orchestra are really good...I definitely know what you mean about the pipes and accordion especially.
It's actually a bit of a problem, since these views discourage people from taking up those instruments--my local Irish group consists of one guitarist, one pianist, a violist, a violinist (myself), and two flutes (regular kind, not whistle or Irish flute). If anyone played bodhran or pipes or accordion, it would fill out the group so much better.
I am in High School also and I feel your pain. Although, atleast you don't have to explain to them what your instrument is. Nobody knows what an Irish Flute is, until I get out to sessions. I live a double life.
Still, at least with you unseen, people don't have stereotypes or misconceptions about your instrument; they don't know anything about it. I say I play accordion and people think of a hundred-kilo moster with a million basses playing slappy-slappy german polka music. That's hard to overcome.
Ironically, people seem to think it's awesome that I play the accordion. I have no idea why.
Seriously, quit whining. If you want to climb to the top of the charts, you have to play music for the masses. Irish music, or indeed any music that isn't comprised of electric guitar, bass, drum set and keyboards (or, for that matter, people scratching on records or talking about biatches in da hood) is not going to be at the top of the charts.
Sure, people are going to think 'hick' when they hear 'fiddle'-most people's only exposure to fiddling, sorry to say, is being forced to square dance in elementary school. As kjay said, people's reaction to accordion is German polkas. Few know what whistles are, or Irish flutes, and the word 'bodhran' just gets quizzical looks.
We are a minority, and we have two choices: puff up in self-righteous indignation and sanctimoniously complain about the less educated masses... or patiently explain to the masses what the music is, and demonstrate.
Zazzaliss has a point, but still, when you do explain, people just don't care. they think of the luck charms leprechaun, and don't listen to what you have to say. i was at a fall out boy concert in albany, NY, a couple of months ago, and in the free cd's they gave out was a song by the Tossers, an irish rock band. although they're a far cry from trad, they do have a fiddler, whistle, and mandolin player in the band. people like celtic rock, but forget that w/o trad., it never would have come about.
it is annoying that all the music on the top of the charts is the same. however, dont think irish will get anywhere up there! our culture believes that anything without a rock drumbeat is uncool. i would love to see some classical music gain more popularity, but that wont happen either.
the problem is that people dont want to think. modern rock music and pop turns your brain off (which isnt a bad thing in and of itself). sometimes you just want to relax! i prefer movies that are interesting or have meaning, but sometimes i rent a stupid comedy and laugh at the fart jokes. how aobut we promote participation in popular music?
if you want to learn irish music, you can go to a workshop. hunt down a teacher and drive an hour or two to take lessons. or, the easiest, go to a session to listen, learn and participate. rock music has none of these forums. the legends dont give workshops or classes. you cant go to an "american" themed bar, sit down with your instrumentand play with the lead guitarist of your favorite band, never mind regular people. the mentality is that music is a product, which is made by forming a band. this model works because there is no place for people to participate.
'crazy young fiddler', no one wants to hear unconventional music! just face it, just like you dont want to hear their conventional music. there is nothing wrong with liking a minority genre. we dont need originality. there are original bands. what we need is participation from the masses. musicians are more likely to appreciate unique music, people who grow up enjoing singers who sing out of tune (and dont know what in tune means) will not understand different genres. i know for myself, the more i get into musicianship, the more i can appreciate all other genres of music that i used to think were boring (yes, even rock and pop).
why dont you try to join these people that you are so against? join a rock guitar band, or even better... ask them to jam with you (because music is not a product, but an experience.. it does not need to be marketed to be enjoyed by you and the other musicians). show them that other sounds are interesting. you'll learn from eachother.
When I am asked, "oh, you play mandolin, do you play bluegrass or oldtime?" I think of the Blues Brothers movie quote: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080455/quotes
Elwood: "What kind of music do you usually have here?
Claire: "Oh, we got BOTH kinds. We got country AND western."
It doesn't bother me though.
Hey try being a middle aged bohranii who has been known to pick up a whistle and now a mandolin! My kids like heavy metal and they just think Dad is past it! On reflection ... maybe they are right
You're not alone abuteague, I get the same thing when I tell people that I play mandolin. When people find out that I play Irish music, it seems to confuse them.
kjay, I notice you are a year younger than I. Now, I don't know if this is true where you are, but Flute has the steryotype of being a giry instrument. Of course, the fact ath I am over 6'1" and weigh around 200 lbs I am rarely the butt of those jokes. Of course I als play Galcian Bagpipes, try explaing what those are to an uneducated.
I played silver flute for a while (not Irish), so I know how that is. I can't imagine trying to explain to anyone how galacian pipes are not scottish bagpipes.
I wish I had a dollar every time I had to explain why uilleann pipes are different from Scottish highland pipes.
Last night, someone said, "Oh, you play bagpipes!" I pointed to the guy I am dating, who is a trumpet player, and said, "I play Scottish pipes like Anthony plays French horn."
Have you ever noticed in Braveheart you see Highland Pipes..but they are Uilleann Pipes that are playing?
I'm from Mississippi, I play fiddle and mandolin...So i get requests for Uncle Penn, Devil Went Down to Georgia and "Man of Constant Sorrow"
I quote Burt Reynold's From "Smokey and The Bandit"..."It's according to where you're standing in the world that determines how dumb or smart you are!"
Stereotyping instruments
Stereotyping instruments
I notice very often that people stereotype musicians based on the instrument they play. There are so many guitarists out there, and it's so popular, that many people think that that's one of the only cool instruments. Fiddlers on the other hand, not everyone pays attention to. How many fiddlers, bagpipers, etc. have you seen in the top 5 of the mainstream music charts? I haven't seen any. I don't like the biased views that are going around the world today, especially ones like this. I don't have anything against talented guitarists, but other musicians need attention. I want to help bring unconventional music into the mainstream music industry. The fact that lots of the stuff you hear on "hit music stations" are the same genre and practically sound the same is something that needs to be overcome. We need more originality.
# Posted on June 11th 2006 by Aldivalloch14
Re: Stereotyping instruments
Try being a bodhranii if you want to know how it feels to be stereotyped lol. I get the most offended looks sometimes until they hear me play.
# Posted on June 11th 2006 by newfie percussionist
Re: Stereotyping instruments
i know what you mean. i'm in high school, and when people hear that i play hihland pipes, or whistle, or accordion they automatically think it's weird. personally, i like fiddle and bodhran.
# Posted on June 11th 2006 by rob_handel
Re: Stereotyping instruments
Locally, I haven't noticed it with violin/fiddle, but that's probably 'cause the lead violinists in the school orchestra are really good...I definitely know what you mean about the pipes and accordion especially.
It's actually a bit of a problem, since these views discourage people from taking up those instruments--my local Irish group consists of one guitarist, one pianist, a violist, a violinist (myself), and two flutes (regular kind, not whistle or Irish flute). If anyone played bodhran or pipes or accordion, it would fill out the group so much better.
# Posted on June 11th 2006 by Vil-hatarn
Re: Stereotyping instruments
sharron shannon and riverdance have made it into the charts... and goodness gracious me, there was even a gadulka involved.
mt.
# Posted on June 11th 2006 by martin t
Re: Stereotyping instruments
Hey Crazy - its you that needs attention
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Newty
Re: Stereotyping instruments
I am in High School also and I feel your pain. Although, atleast you don't have to explain to them what your instrument is. Nobody knows what an Irish Flute is, until I get out to sessions. I live a double life.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Why Bother?
Re: Stereotyping instruments
Still, at least with you unseen, people don't have stereotypes or misconceptions about your instrument; they don't know anything about it. I say I play accordion and people think of a hundred-kilo moster with a million basses playing slappy-slappy german polka music. That's hard to overcome.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by kjay_bc_box
Re: Stereotyping instruments
Ironically, people seem to think it's awesome that I play the accordion. I have no idea why.
Seriously, quit whining. If you want to climb to the top of the charts, you have to play music for the masses. Irish music, or indeed any music that isn't comprised of electric guitar, bass, drum set and keyboards (or, for that matter, people scratching on records or talking about biatches in da hood) is not going to be at the top of the charts.
Sure, people are going to think 'hick' when they hear 'fiddle'-most people's only exposure to fiddling, sorry to say, is being forced to square dance in elementary school. As kjay said, people's reaction to accordion is German polkas. Few know what whistles are, or Irish flutes, and the word 'bodhran' just gets quizzical looks.
We are a minority, and we have two choices: puff up in self-righteous indignation and sanctimoniously complain about the less educated masses... or patiently explain to the masses what the music is, and demonstrate.
They'll be impressed.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Zazzaliss
Re: Stereotyping instruments
Zazzaliss has a point, but still, when you do explain, people just don't care. they think of the luck charms leprechaun, and don't listen to what you have to say. i was at a fall out boy concert in albany, NY, a couple of months ago, and in the free cd's they gave out was a song by the Tossers, an irish rock band. although they're a far cry from trad, they do have a fiddler, whistle, and mandolin player in the band. people like celtic rock, but forget that w/o trad., it never would have come about.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by rob_handel
Re: Stereotyping instruments
it is annoying that all the music on the top of the charts is the same. however, dont think irish will get anywhere up there! our culture believes that anything without a rock drumbeat is uncool. i would love to see some classical music gain more popularity, but that wont happen either.
the problem is that people dont want to think. modern rock music and pop turns your brain off (which isnt a bad thing in and of itself). sometimes you just want to relax! i prefer movies that are interesting or have meaning, but sometimes i rent a stupid comedy and laugh at the fart jokes. how aobut we promote participation in popular music?
if you want to learn irish music, you can go to a workshop. hunt down a teacher and drive an hour or two to take lessons. or, the easiest, go to a session to listen, learn and participate. rock music has none of these forums. the legends dont give workshops or classes. you cant go to an "american" themed bar, sit down with your instrumentand play with the lead guitarist of your favorite band, never mind regular people. the mentality is that music is a product, which is made by forming a band. this model works because there is no place for people to participate.
'crazy young fiddler', no one wants to hear unconventional music! just face it, just like you dont want to hear their conventional music. there is nothing wrong with liking a minority genre. we dont need originality. there are original bands. what we need is participation from the masses. musicians are more likely to appreciate unique music, people who grow up enjoing singers who sing out of tune (and dont know what in tune means) will not understand different genres. i know for myself, the more i get into musicianship, the more i can appreciate all other genres of music that i used to think were boring (yes, even rock and pop).
why dont you try to join these people that you are so against? join a rock guitar band, or even better... ask them to jam with you (because music is not a product, but an experience.. it does not need to be marketed to be enjoyed by you and the other musicians). show them that other sounds are interesting. you'll learn from eachother.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by daiv
Re: Stereotyping instruments
bloody banjos
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by Ripthecalico
Re: Stereotyping instruments
The Josh Graban video with Joey the piper played wellhere
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by I_Fel
Re: Stereotyping instruments
When I am asked, "oh, you play mandolin, do you play bluegrass or oldtime?" I think of the Blues Brothers movie quote:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080455/quotes
Elwood: "What kind of music do you usually have here?
Claire: "Oh, we got BOTH kinds. We got country AND western."
It doesn't bother me though.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by abuteague
Re: Stereotyping instruments
Hey try being a middle aged bohranii who has been known to pick up a whistle and now a mandolin! My kids like heavy metal and they just think Dad is past it! On reflection ... maybe they are right
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by WelshGuy
Re: Stereotyping instruments
You're not alone abuteague, I get the same thing when I tell people that I play mandolin. When people find out that I play Irish music, it seems to confuse them.
# Posted on June 12th 2006 by locrian
Re: Stereotyping instruments
kjay, I notice you are a year younger than I. Now, I don't know if this is true where you are, but Flute has the steryotype of being a giry instrument. Of course, the fact ath I am over 6'1" and weigh around 200 lbs I am rarely the butt of those jokes. Of course I als play Galcian Bagpipes, try explaing what those are to an uneducated.
# Posted on June 13th 2006 by Why Bother?
Re: Stereotyping instruments
I played silver flute for a while (not Irish), so I know how that is. I can't imagine trying to explain to anyone how galacian pipes are not scottish bagpipes.
# Posted on June 13th 2006 by kjay_bc_box
Re: Stereotyping instruments
You just tell'em "You're ignorant, there are dozens of different types of bagpipes !", then DUCK.
# Posted on June 13th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Stereotyping instruments
I wish I had a dollar every time I had to explain why uilleann pipes are different from Scottish highland pipes.
Last night, someone said, "Oh, you play bagpipes!" I pointed to the guy I am dating, who is a trumpet player, and said, "I play Scottish pipes like Anthony plays French horn."
# Posted on June 14th 2006 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Stereotyping instruments
no one knows what a uilleann pipe is until you make an exaggerated pumping motion and mention Titanic.- at least thats my observation
# Posted on June 15th 2006 by rob_handel
Re: Stereotyping instruments
Have you ever noticed in Braveheart you see Highland Pipes..but they are Uilleann Pipes that are playing?
I'm from Mississippi, I play fiddle and mandolin...So i get requests for Uncle Penn, Devil Went Down to Georgia and "Man of Constant Sorrow"
I quote Burt Reynold's From "Smokey and The Bandit"..."It's according to where you're standing in the world that determines how dumb or smart you are!"
# Posted on June 22nd 2006 by BoldCaptainFreeny
Re: Stereotyping instruments
“Have you ever noticed in Braveheart you see Highland Pipes..but they are Uilleann Pipes that are playing?”
Also, aren’t they wearing 19th century kilts?
# Posted on June 22nd 2006 by Bob himself