Vera “musician” is actually a broad term. There are different skills or abilities to be one. It is wrongly conceived as a musician has to excel in each of these in order to be considered a good musician. The term “multi-tasking” is obsolete when it comes to high professionalism of the music.
You will notice that a person tends to shine most with certain instruments. This usually manifests in childhood. For example, a child will have a penchant for violin. It can be said that it is his or her job. He or she can not have the same natural fluency for, say, a flute or guitar, even though they may be able to learn any instrument they want. Their passion is violin, let’s say, they have a stellar nursery in it. It would be silly to not consider them fine musician just because they are not good in other devices.
However, this mindset is, unfortunately. Some expect Kari to also compose, arrange, or play other instruments. Sure, they learn a wide range of schools of music. But it does not mean you will be multi-specialized know-it-all. You would not expect ophthalmologist also be an orthopedic surgeon.
It is not just to play other instruments, composing or arranging. There are other abilities as well.
Sight-reading is to read and play music at sight, without the prior knowledge or preparation – reading from notes, basically. Most musicians can do it to some degree. Some are very proficient. Not everyone. There are even world-class performers who are not very good in this area. It does not make them any less of a musician.
It is a must in schools of music to be performed by memory. The memory is part and parcel of every musician, especially for the solo. The simple fact of aging, even reaching middle age, can even affect it. These are famous pianists, for example, is no longer standing with memory. They still play with complete musicality and good technique, but using the score. This does not affect their status as musicians.
Another factor is the perfect pitch, the ability analyze various pitches hearing. It is possible, but it is not really needed. Dogs have been proven to have certain abilities to hear and identify different pitches. It does not make them better musicians. Lots of world-class musicians lack of perfect pitch.
Theoretically, even artistic expression is considered an area where the musician does not have to be proficient in. Unfortunately, this is another misconception, covered in a previous article. However, given the subject under scrutiny, it is theoretically considered “valid”. There are even “prodigies” who have good motor skills or motor skills; they have a perfect brain-manual-visual coordination and can play their instruments very well, technically. They might lack the intuitive, almost spiritual sense of aesthetics and the ability to express it and communicate the uncanny manner expected of a real artist. As a note, they emote, but analytically and not aesthetically. But they are still considered fine musicians.
Any musician can improve every area of capacity or competence certificate, he or she feels sick. A musician of any level can always improve. But the musician should not expect to shine every single one to be considered good.