musicians
Players of instruments
Musicians are people who play musical instruments or sing, especially as a profession or serious pursuit.
The term emphasizes skill and practice rather than casual involvement—someone strumming a guitar at a campfire might not be called a musician, but a session player or orchestra member would be.
The musicians tuned their instruments before the concert.
One who directs musicians
- symphonyExtended composition for orchestra
- philharmonicLarge orchestra organization
- stringsThin flexible lines
- brassCopper-zinc metal mixture
woodwinds · percussion · violin · cello · bassoon · trumpet · trombone · timpani
Unaccompanied performer
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- vocalistOne who sings professionally
- guitaristOne who plays six strings
- pianistOne who plays piano
drummer · singer · cellist · violinist · bassist · saxophonist · trumpeter · flutist
Unified group or outfit
- gigShort-term paid work
- tourPlanned multi-destination journey
- groupieObsessive celebrity follower
- roadieConcert equipment handler
setlist · soundcheck · backstage · headliner · album · label · rehearsal · festival
Creator of musical works
- scoreNumerical standing in competition
- opusNumbered artistic creation
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
concerto · fugue · motif · nocturne · cantata · overture · requiem · serenade
Patterned stress and silence
- tempoRate of musical performance
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
improvisation · vibrato · fingering · bowing · phrasing · dynamics · articulation · sight-reading
Improvisational American music genre
- classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
- rockSolid earthen material
- bluesMournful American music genre
- folkRegular common people
hip-hop · country · reggae · metal · punk · soul · R&B · electronic
Educator, often pedantic
- conservatoryGlass-enclosed plant room
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- ear trainingDeveloping musical listening ability
- masterclassExpert-led intensive lesson
tenure · ethnomusicology · curriculum · recital · jury · doctorate · faculty
conductor
One who directs musicians
- symphonyExtended composition for orchestra
- philharmonicLarge orchestra organization
- stringsThin flexible lines
brass · woodwinds · percussion · violin · cello · bassoon · trumpet · trombone · timpani · concertmaster
soloist
Unaccompanied performer
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- vocalistOne who sings professionally
- guitaristOne who plays six strings
pianist · drummer · singer · cellist · violinist · bassist · saxophonist · trumpeter · flutist · clarinetist
ensemble
Unified group or outfit
roadie · setlist · soundcheck · backstage · headliner · album · label · rehearsal · festival · concert
composer
Creator of musical works
- scoreNumerical standing in competition
- opusNumbered artistic creation
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
sonata · concerto · fugue · motif · nocturne · cantata · overture · requiem · serenade · symphony
rhythm
Patterned stress and silence
- tempoRate of musical performance
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
polyrhythm · improvisation · vibrato · fingering · bowing · phrasing · dynamics · articulation · sight-reading · scales
jazz
Improvisational American music genre
folk · hip-hop · country · reggae · metal · punk · soul · R&B · electronic · mariachi
pedagogue
Educator, often pedantic
- conservatoryGlass-enclosed plant room
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- ear trainingDeveloping musical listening ability
masterclass · tenure · ethnomusicology · curriculum · recital · jury · doctorate · faculty
- Americanspresidents, senators, governors, generals, authors
- arts worldartists, galleries, museums, studios, painters
- entertainerssingers, actor, dancers, actress, singer
- musicsong, songs, singing, singer, singers
- performing artsacting, dance, drama, theater, theatre
- show businessactors, actresses, directors, producers, entertainers
musiciansaudience
Gathered viewers collectively
listeners · spectators · concertgoers · fans · attendees
musicianssound engineers
Recording and mixing specialists
music producers · roadies · managers · promoters · music critics
- street musicianOutdoor performer seeking donations
- jazz musicianImprovising instrumental performer
- folk musicianTraditional song performer
- blues musiciansPerformers of melancholic American folk
- session musicianHired studio performer
- pop musiciansCommercial music performers