You need both abilities, I think its safe to say that for any serious musician, we go to far lengths to feel complete. Sure there are alot of musicians to feel they can build their confidence on getting that "re-action" from others, but whats most important is how we provoke ourselves, because that feeling lasts much longer. Its important to know how to improvise, and for most musicians, they don't wan't to be held back, or stick to one particular style, they wan't to be given the opportunity to play their hearts out bringing their personality to its highest level of completeness at all costs. But with criticism all around the world, we tend to forget about whats really important, (allowing the fickle fascinations of others guide us in our on going musical quest.)

When we're first starting out as musicians, the question we often ask ourselves is "what is it that don't necessarily need to cover"? , because we wan't to feel satisfied very quickly. But I don't think that any serious musician is ever quite satisfied, because in some ways that means they're done being creative. In finding new ways to satisfy ourselves to move to a much higher level, and that means covering everything, we should learn to have just enough patience.. The first time we hear something (a particular style) thats unfamiliar, we tend to denounce it from the beginning instead of realizing how the musician felt during its creation, its important to try and underatand how some of the top musicians felt when creating their compositions. As we create our own interpretations to describe their work, it kind of helps us get a better hold of what we're all about. Ever sit back, (with someone special),and just absorb the music of Satriani, or Yngwie..It doesnt doesn't matter whewther or not your significant other understands it completely, but either way you're both getting something out of it...

-Joseph

[Edited by Joseph on 03-15-2001 at 11:02 PM]