Scott, you're being a little "ruff" on the poor old...er...older...guy.

LOL :))

Scott obviously you haven't met DonM. He's big enough to pick you and me up at the same time in each hand and slap our heads together. It's a good thing he's also congenial too.
Bet you guy's didn't know a NO Cajun boy knew a word like "congenial" Eh? I hope I spelled it right!

Boo, nah I'm not worried . . .
I know Kung Fu, Ju Jitsu, Karate, Tae Kwan Do, and a few other maritial arts (words), at least how to spell them!

Yeah, of course I LOVE DonM! I had better, I want to 'live'!
It's all good intentioned fun right Don?

I know a couple of American guys, Smith and Wesson.

Haven't had a fight since I learned how to apologize though.
DonM

most choices don't apply to me....first of all, how do you define a pro?

1. I don't get paid for my music but I consider myself a pro
2. I am self-taught but taught myself formal training off university-level books
3. I am a proficient sight-reader but I also play by ear a lot. It's not that one is better than the other: a pro has to do both.
4. I trained my ear fairly heavily, and so have a trained ear
5. I am a composer and write my own music

and so on....

the only thing I have to keep working at, other than always improving on everything, is my keyboard technique. But I'll get there too, and my technique is by no means bad....basically piano grade 5. Not bad for a self-taught.

however, I am a late bloomer and my learning has been delayed by my own ignorance, but that's another story...

this is a good pro, to me:

1. he can read music and can play by ear, both to an high degree
2. he has a great piano technique
3. he writes his own music
4. he has studied harmony and composition

mmmmh....I think I am still forgetting something. Lol....

oh yes
whether he earns money or not for his music, doesn't change the rest: if he's an hobbyst, he's still an hobbyst, if he's a pro, he's still a pro.

I still intend to earn some money for my skills as a musician, but up to now I preferred to focus on developing my skills, which I keep doing of course.

There you have my 1 cent...

Generally, a professional is one who makes a living doing the task or art involved. Here are definitions:

–adjective
1.
following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.
2.
of, pertaining to, or connected with a profession: professional studies.
3.
appropriate to a profession: professional objectivity.
4.
engaged in one of the learned professions: A lawyer is a professional person.
5.
following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime: a professional golfer.
6.
making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business: “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”
7.
undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain: professional baseball.
8.
of or for a professional person or his or her place of business or work: a professional apartment; professional equipment.
9.
done by a professional; expert: professional car repairs.
–noun
10.
a person who belongs to one of the professions, especially one of the learned professions.
11.
a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional.
12.
an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.
13.
a person who is expert at his or her work: You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional

As you can see, it can be taken in at least two ways.
I am a professional, because I'm good enough, maybe barely, to have made a living playing music for close to 40 years.
I can read music, but I don't anymore. Doesn't make me any less a pro.
I can, or could, play trumpet at a high level. Never made a dime doing it, so NOT a pro.
That's my take.
DonM

"Professional" does not dictate your skill level, but your ability to sustain a income from your skill level...

Many non professional folks have a higher skill level than "Pros"...


Skill does not make a "Pro"..

The title "pro" doesn't bother me one way or the other as long as the check clears.

Being called a DeeJay while playing the keyboard and singing frosts me a bit.

Eddie