Musician

Instrumentalist redirects here. For followers of the philosophy, see instrumentalism. For the popular-music magazine, see Musician (magazine).

A musician is a person who plays or composes music. Musicians can be classified by their role in creating or performing music:

• A singer (or vocalist) uses his or her voice as an instrument.
• An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.
• Both singer and instrumentalist can be improvisers, who create real time music.
• Composers and songwriters write music.
• A conductor coordinates a musical ensemble.

Musicians may also dance or produce choreography. The concept of the musician and the status of the musician in society varies from culture to culture.

Musicians can be distinguished as amateur or professional. Professional musicians are paid musicians. They may work freelance, enter into a contract with a studio or record label, be employed by a professional ensemble such as a symphony orchestra, or be employed by an institution such as a church or business (such as a bar). An amateur musician is one for which music is a pastime and not an occupation.

Types of musicians

• Singer (vocalist)
• Composer
• Conductor
• improviser
• Instrumentalist
  • A Collective of
  • Bassist (Double bassist)
  • Bassoonist
  • Bouzouki player
  • Cellist
  • Clarinetist
  • Drummer
  • Electronic musician
  • Flutist (Flautist)
  • Guitarist
  • Hornist (Horn player)
  • Keyboardist (Keyboard player)
  • Oboist
  • Organ grinder
  • Organist
  • Pianist
  • Percussionist
  • Recorder player
  • Saxophonist
  • Sitarist
  • Timpanist
  • Trombonist
  • Trumpeter (also Trumpet player)
  • Tubist (Tuba player)
  • Turntablist (DJ)
  • Uillean piper
  • Violinist
  • Violist (Viola player)
• Arranger
• Orchestrator
• Record producer

Usage note

Many times a musician can be named according to his or her instrument (a violinist, for example, is one who plays violin.) The "-ist" suffix is most common, though not universal (e.g. "trumpeter," not "trumpetist.")

Suggested reading

• A. P. Merriam, Anthropology of Music, 1964
• John Blacking, How Musical is Man?, 1973
• Sheila Whiteley, Music, Identity & Sexuality, London: Routledge 2000

External links

• Lyrics and Chords for Musicians by Vaga-Lume
• God's Pocket Forums
• NINJAM Music Collaboration
• Recording Artistes

See also

• List of musicians by genre
• Performer