People who play instruments deserve more hype, amirite?

Once sound recording became a thing musician's status dropped off a cliff. We're spoiled by music everywhere so we don't value it much anymore. Imagine living in the days when the only way *anyone* could hear music was if they were in earshot of humans on instruments playing it. People would demand it much more because of it's relative rarity.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

That's such an incredible point. Thanks for sharing, really expanded my perspective.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

The printing press of sound.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You should look into the famous essay, "Art in the age of mechanical reproduction", which essentially argues that famous paintings once had an aura about them that contemporary people are no longer able to experience due to the fact that most in the 1st world have seen endless reproductions of everything from the Mona Lisa, to the Eiffel Tower, and even that famous Japanese wave on every college girls wall.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You can't just get people to clap and say you're amazing over something they don't find that impressive. That's just how it is, and a lot of people do things other than instruments that take hours to do and get 0 recognition when they get great at it. Especially when it's something involving things that aren't art. Either way, it doesn't and shouldn't matter if there's recognition or not from others as long as you are hyped and impressed at yourself.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Honestly this. I'm also a band kid and I really understand it's special to the people inside it. It still doesn't need to be the biggest thing in the world though

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Exactly, I have no clue who the greatest brick layer alive is.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

This plus I can live without music in my life at all so I just don't value musicians all that much to begin with.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Isn't music its own reward?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

while i get the frustration, nobody should get into a hobby with the expectation of getting recognized by anyone other than themselves. few people will ever see or understand how much work you personally put into a skill. and even fewer people really care that much because they're focusing on their own hobbies, skills, careers, etc. the average person will hear your extraordinary playing that you've perfected over years and go "neat, nice music." that being said i hope you do find the appreciation you deserve.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I totally agree, it's seeen as a ‘party trick' but no one recognises how long it takes to get good at an instrument

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I remember one talent show at school, a kid played the violin. The first piece he played was a nice classical piece, that he played really well. Everyone clapped respectfully. Then he played despacito, and everyone went crazy. It was pretty sad, because I know he must have put hours and hours of work into the first piece, but the only one the other kids cared about was the funny meme song.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Why is that sad? People want to hear things they relate to. I can appreciate some classical music, but it's not my favourite style so I'll applaud for it politely. If they then play something like Somebody to Love by Queen I'll applaud much louder because I had a much better experience as I love that song. Performing music isn't about technical work, but about what your audience wants to hear and see. I can spend thousands of hours becoming the fastest blast beat drummer in the world, but performing that at a classical music performance won't impress the audience.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

As with most hobbies: the people who are into it tend to care about it, other people are not obliged to do as well.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Expanding on that, people don't realize how long it takes to get really good at most things. Whether you are a great pianist, golfer or whatever, people practically assume you were born with the skill are just lucky to have a talent for it.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's a self defense mechanism. People who lack the skill and discipline like to blow off other people skills. They will say things like "wow he has big hands which helps him play". And I'm sitting here being like "bro have you seem 5 year olds playing impressively? Yeah its not my hand that make me good, it's not my talent, it's just hard work". People want to project that they don't have that skill due to no fault of their own.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Very true. And I think it's strengthened by the fact that very few people have watched someone go from beginner to expert in anything. For example, they only see an awesome guitarist playing Cliffs of Dover, but they didn't see them struggling to learn Jingle Bells after their first lesson. So it seems more innate than it is.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Fr

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Honestly I see playing an instrument like all hobbies that require some skill, whilst yes your friends, loved ones should be supportive and congratulate you when you make an achievement and those in that hobby community should be supportive too expecting anyone beyond people who already care about you to hype you up is unrealistic. After all how often does that happen for other hobbies.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I think people have a bad impression of musicians who play instruments due to how obnoxious most band kids are in high school.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Even then, I don't feel like most band kids are that obnoxious. It's usually a loud select few that ruin it for everyone.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Former band kid (sax) and current metalhead, i learned about 11 or 12 instruments over the last 14 years (im 24) stuck with guitar and bass recently and the only people who ever really cared were definitely just gfs, family, and my band teacher lol.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You're confused, life is not a meritocracy. If you want a bigger reward do something people want.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

We do tho

by Anonymous 1 year ago

What do you play ?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Piano but that's outside of school, but baritone and bass clarinet

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I played baritone and it definitely never got me any babes. Guitar did a couple times though.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Those are not the most popular instruments.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Mans said baritone 😂😂

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Piano is a pretty popular instrument I would say

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Its a beautifull instrument. A comolicated one to learn yet à very polyvalent one. But name one famous pianist. Though you can name at least 3 guitarist's im sure or at least their band. Or 3 dj's. Name one famous piano concert you would love to go if young and single to have real fun. You cant.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

May i ask, what's a popular instrument in your opinion?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Any instrument in popular music. Or slightly sort of underground. A good old fashioned guitar solo is understood by everyone for example. A dj mixing table too although some might not consider it an instrument. Its just à perception i'll give it you happily but thats how it is.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I'm talking abt school band not actual bands😭

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I understand that. Its not as cool in the public perception imo. Its unfair but "normal" to not get hyped for school band.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

As a trumpet player, the only people who care about band are former band kids. Because apparently being able to throw a ball good is super important. (Sports people i know you are really skilled but you all definitely get a lot more attention than us music people. In the US at least.)

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I have played guitar for 8 years and played football (soccer) for 5 years but why should playing a instrument be better than being good at sports?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

neither are inherently better than the other. schools sure don't think that though - most way overfund the sports and underfund arts. That's the infuriating part, especially when musical instruments can be damn expensive (our poor beaten up tubas get no funding to replace them, but the football team can take a coach bus to meets, for example)

by Anonymous 1 year ago

YES

by Anonymous 1 year ago

More hype if the music is good and people like it, outside of friends and family it's often more about results than effort

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Aww, ty. I play piano, guitar, drums and Clarinet, but only a couple people think it's cool, and those are people who also play them so it's more like, "yeah, that's cool ig"

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Very true! It takes a lot of practice and work to learn and master a musical instrument.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Sorry people don't think your hobby is cool enough 🤷‍♂️

by Anonymous 1 year ago

According to this most hyped people should be those workers who work on electrical towers at like 2000ft

by Anonymous 1 year ago

People give "hype" to people who can do things that they wish they could do. "Play the clarinet well" is not on most people's bingo card.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Funny how you want whatever you do to have more 'hype', no offense but it makes you sound bitter or jealous. I'm sure people who are really good at video games wish that skilled video game players had more hype too.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I hope we're not talking about guitar… guitar is the most over rated over hyped instrument to ever exist, everyone and there cousin plays guitar

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I hate it hate it HATE IT when people just randomly show up to a social gathering with a guitar. It's always "yuh, imma just mess around, quietly" turning into two hours of being held captive listening to some friend-of-a-friend-of-a-narcissist's mediocre, half-learned riffs of old 70s classics. If someone takes out an amp, I am searching for a gun, some rope, or as many pill-shaped items that look remotely ingestible as possible.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

YESSS IM SO TIRED OF HEARING LED ZEPPELIN. Congrats you can play the same 8 riffs. I am also a guitarist. I just play whatever I want. I learn to respect all genres and not just play classic rock

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I think it's more concert/jazz band specific instruments such as saxophones, flutes, trumpets, trombones, etc.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Thats just life my guy. Wait till its a career or a family and your still completely unappreciated.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

People value computer generated tik tok music these days, sadly.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I think all hobbies should receive less hype

by Anonymous 1 year ago

fair

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I think it's the opposite. I think people who play musical instruments get way more hype than they deserve.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I think only the people who are worth having hype from are the ones that normally give you hype

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I would hype you up anytime OP. Same for any skilled person who put years into their 'thing'. I play a bit of guitar and its hella hard lol. Tremolo picking? sheesh!

by Anonymous 1 year ago

If you're hot, you'll get recognized holding anything.  the truth is that the reward is the experience itself. You can't go back to band camp ;)

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I played Instruments too. Most people actually learn at least one Instrument. Its annoying for a lot of people because theyre forced to learn it. Besides a lot of hobbies take a lot of time to become really good. You only get appreciation if youre really good at your Hobby. I for example played professional soccer for a while in my youth. Nobody really cared tho until i got into the junior national Team of germany. And even then people werent really hyped.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Hopefully you are doing it for you because literally no one cares. I don't even like that kind of music, hype for what?

by Anonymous 1 year ago

you've chosen to do something and are angry other people don't acknowledge you. Check

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I think there are just so many talented people that, its not a special thing anymore if you have musical skills.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Spoken like someone playing an instrument for others, not for yourself

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I play Guitar. Now give me my hype!

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's the same with performing and visual artists, they're treated as nobodies in mainstream culture. Then of course there are the celebrity artists, in which case the musicians take all the spotlight.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

A good drummer knows it's the hardest to be good at. Not to say others aren't hard. It's just more of a mental game than a technique game.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I totally agree, playing an instrument requires a lot of time and effort, it's a real flex. And as someone that sings, in bands in general, I wish that people give as much attention to the main vocalist and the other members(musicians, backup vocalist etc…) because they are as important.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Our high school music program does a good job of hyping the musicians and they are quite good. And yeah they work their asses off. Great program.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Most talents nowadays are no seen as more than party tricks because people can see the best in the world just by opening their phones, even with the few things i am one if the best at globally I don't really get much recognition outside if fan mail beyond a "wow thats cool"

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Then play more lol most people I know that know how to play instruments never do. I'm just referring to everyday people, not those who are in a band or teach music. I know a good amount of people that have the years of experience but only one or two that play regularly.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Life lesson: difficult doesn't mean valuable. Just look at humanities degrees.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

just wait until you realize about the musicians that weren't ever in band class... they're gonna blow your mind.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Your hobbies are only interesting to you and people with similar hobbies. We gonna start hyping everyone up that has hobbies they spend hours on we'll have no time for our own hobbies. Now I'm gonna go to the retirement home and hype up all the old folks that spend their days knitting.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

As a music teacher and professional clarinetist, I couldn't agree more! I've been studying music for close to 30 years now. It's lifelong commitment and dedication.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Lots of people pour hours into their hobbies and get no recognition for it. Just how the world works. If they don't find it interesting then they just don't. Ideally you should be doing the hobby because you enjoy it, not because you want other people to praise you for it. And people do care about music. Musicians are one of the main types of celebrities (along with actors and athletes). If people didn't care about music, busking wouldn't be a thing. If you're not getting recognition for it then maybe you're doing something wrong. Perhaps the genre you play isn't interesting to your peers (classical vs rock), most people around you have never actually heard you or maybe you're not as good as you think you are. Some guys in my school made a band and played for the whole school. They were pretty famous across the school because of it. (Their original songs were crap tho)

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I agree. I am in band and marching band, and people don't take the time to appreciate the effort and hours of practice that I have to go through

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I gotta say, I went to school in the early 90's. People in band were still band geeks. Band got popular the moment that one line "This one time, at band camp…" came into pop-culture. But I wasn't in band, I had a lot of band geeks friends though because my older brother showed up early for JROTC and I rode in with him to avoid having to take the bus. I would sit and watch you guys rehearsing and even marching to and from the field in unison. It was great!

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I know they hype band in NOLA, but ya most other places not so much

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Depends on the culture. In jazz / classical world an instrumentalist got all the hype. In pop music, just a ‘background musician that nobody cares'.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Please no.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

What I'm sick of is hearing trap everywhere it's the most overused thing everything has to have a 808 bass in it lol

by Anonymous 1 year ago

My 2.5yesr old plays guitar all the time, shredding his ass off, and i still don't think he deserves any recognition. He needs to atleast learn some notes before that. So in my experience, those who show skill with an instrument deserves recognition. Those who not? Meh.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

at this point, i try complimenting anyone who plays any instrument, no matter if they just started or are a god on the instrument, because that's what I'd like as an ignored instrument

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Thanks! I played the piano for 20 years, guitar for 5, and I've been producing and releasing music for a couple years now. It's hard indeed, getting recognition.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Being able to play any instrument is an attractive quality to me. 😅

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I agree, lets not just focus the gutar tho

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No one cares. Get used to it.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I played 2nd flute in band… never got anything except yelled at by the director to practice more. Oh and a pizza party and we got to go to an amusement park… that was cool. Otherwise nothing lol

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I can't speak for others, but I myself am quite impressed by anyone who has put in the work to master an instrument.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I was a band kid, made region and area band every year I did it. Music should be for you, not for anyone else. What good does "hype" do? Learn to do things because they make you happy, not because they make you popular or celebrated.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

as a metal guitarists i can assure you, nobody cares

by Anonymous 1 year ago

People who play instruments well deserve more hype.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

The band kids at my school were assholes so they were bullied relentlessly because they would boo the football and soccer team because no one would pay attention to them at the start of a game or half time show. Some of them would even bring their instruments to different classes and get pissed off when people or teachers told them to leave. Honestly it ruined my respect for people in band. I get the time required to learn in instrument cause I play 3 but man were band kids arguably worse than theater kids.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

No

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Agreed. Along the same lines, the worst is when someone "compliments" you by saying how blessed you are or that God has given you a talent.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

I second this! It takes YEARS to master that... we should hype them up more

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Agreed, but this totally applies for the most underrated instruments specially the cultural ones

by Anonymous 1 year ago

It's just a fact of life unfortunately. Kick a ball into a net then everyone will love you. Learn a complicated instrument and get called a geek. Pharrell Williams was a ‘band geek' if that gives you any comfort.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

You have that perception probably because you don't understand soccer like a soccer player might not understand the trumpet. You're just seeing a surface level. I mean the trumpet looks really easy if you don't understand it. Soccer is an extremely challenging thing to get good at. I've been playing for my whole life, must have kicked a ball a million times and I still can't put it where I want it. Never mind all the other technical, tactical, physical and mental parts of the game.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

Trust me I understand soccer. Or football as it is called in the uk. I have had this sport rammed down my throat my whole life. I understand how skilful it is. OP was talking about being in a band at school. Low level football players get praised far more than low level band members. My opinion still stands.

by Anonymous 1 year ago

WAH WAH WAAAAH !!!! Get good at it and people will care or are you the type that wants to FORCE THEM to care and listen to your Flats and Sharps and off beat drivel? Somewhat like a Torture... punishment? You just WASTED your 15 minutes! G'Bye !

by Anonymous 1 year ago