I keep getting this repsonse...

[kenjari]

As I'm sure everyone has figured out by now, I'm a composer. Over the years, whenever I've told people this, I have frequently gotten a somewhat odd response. One of the first things non-musicians often do after I tell them I'm a composer is to reveal or even describe their own lack of musical aptitude or knowledge. "Oh, well, I can't carry a tune in a bucket". "The only thing I can play is the radio." "I was never any good at the (insert name of instrument here)." It's never resentful or negative in any way. In fact, these statements are more like disclaimers, or even confessions. I find this a little puzzling. I can't ever recall reacting in a similar way when meeting people of other professions. I don't respond to artists by immediately blurting out "I can't even draw a decent stick figure", or to programmers by admitting that I never could find sufficient patience for code. I wonder if other composers or musicians with other specialities (performance, musicology) get this response as much as I do. And I wonder if there is something in particular about music, or even about me specifically, that elicits this response. I don't really mind - it's a lot better than the people who immediately inform me that I'm not going to make much money from my chosen profession (thanks, tell me something I didn't figure out 10 years ago). It's just odd.

Comments

[hca.livejournal.com]

I think for some of us, at least, it's giving you fair warning that "you talking about your ruling passion and career" = "you talking to me in a foreign language." :) That's not to say that you shouldn't discuss it (particularly to me) but that all I can do is nod and smile.

When I say I write, a good chunk of people chime in with the kind of books they like to read. When somebody says they're in software, I can ask for specifics, explain I do software quality assurance and have designed databases, and even if we don't speak the same dialect (I'm a on-the-sidelines-of-geekiness, not a real geek) we have some similar vocabulary in said foreign language. When ladybird describes her dissertation to me, I can't intelligently respond, but I can ask curious questions, since I'm curious about medieval history.

But when jendavis77 talks about what she does all day, I must confess to the "language barrier." I don't understand mechanical engineering at all. Not even a little bit. I'm glad someone is doing it, but they're speaking a foreign language when they tell me about it. Ditto gee_tar and Monsieur Ubiquitous re astrophysics. Ditto Jason W., re art and animation. Ditto resonance, re medicine.

And when you, epiliminon (I just misspelled that, I'm sure) and foldedfish talk about composition or other aspects of music... I nod and smile, because I don't "get" it. Unlike mechanical engineer, astrophysics, animination, and medicine, I really wish I *did* get it--but when I listen to music, I listen to the lyrics, and really don't process the music at all. (And that's something I do sort of feel the need to apologize for, to a composer. Sorry. :) )

On the other hand, when you and your sister talk to each other, or to zfarcher, well now, that's the same language all right, and I enjoy listening even when I can't follow it all. :)