Eddie i seldom take the time to disagree with you my friend, but here i have to. By definition a musician is one who makes music. If one can play the chords, and or notes of a song he is making music. and practicing his musician ship. If one writes and composes music he is simply taking notes that have been around since the dawn of time and constructing them in a different arrangement. He plays a part. some write others play, and many of those same player do so with a lot of expression and skill. Some take a basic composition and enhance/augment/improve it, through skill and musicianship.

Using your architect/contractor illustration. Sure a good architect can design a building, but it takes a good skilled builder to make it come to life. I have been in construction for 40 years, and guess what many times the architects drawing would never work if the builder did not know how to interpret them and make up for the fact the architect knows paper, and design, but very little about practical building skills.

Music is the same in my mind many composers/writer design great music "plans" but it takes a skilled musician to interpret that to an audience.

As far as playing others material. I have heard really bad cover bands, but i have heard people interpret someones material and knock it out of the park! I have heard covers that were better than the original, and interpreted covers that left me amazed. While i understand your feeling, and to some degree agree with some of it. I think to round up every one in a box defeats the whole purpose of what music is all about, expression!

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