I regard topics as this, as an English exercise and reading comprehension test. It is a difficult task, and that is where its "learn value" is, to distinguish what everyone here is saying, and then to try to realise if the poster has understood the concept of the thread, or what the others have been saying.

IMHO, Joe Ayala nailed in the head.

Also, a phrase Diki said, "...if you can't blow WITHOUT an arranger, you can't blow WITH one..." points to an important truth: That a poor player (like myself) will sound equally poor on a Steinway recorded inside a million dollar studio, as well as in a cheap Casio, recorded in my home.

In my opinion, a professional (musician or otherwise) is someone who is relying on a skill or a combination of skills, to deliver results that get positively accepted by others, who in turn PAY him/her, and that PAY is a part, or the whole, if his/her annual income.

To put it this way, if I had to name the pros here, it would be easy. Take everyone, strip him of all financial assets, give him 100 dollars for food and a Casio and see if he can live off that and prosper. THAT is what a pro is. Diki can play my Casio, I cannot play his G-70.

To lighen the tone, it seems that since this is an arranger forum, and consequently WS players do not frequent here, so no arranger vs WS wars exist, that musicians are constantly finding ways to fight each other, over other excuses.... Mp3 vs midi files, midi files vs accompaniment, accompaniment vs left hand bass, all of the above vs karaoke vs B3 vs jazz etc.

As much as I like these threads, I think that I would like to see you pros cooperate and learn from each other, post music, critique etc. But, on the other hand, if this forum gets "too pro", I will have to leave. Cause I am not a pro.

Now, did I understand the meaning of the thread myself or not?

[This message has been edited by trident (edited 04-15-2008).]