# If you could be a master in exactly ONE artistic discipline, what would it be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 5, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954 "2002-04-05T06:39:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/21 "2002-04-05T16:20:06Z")
Music all the way. I often feel that the highest achievement of humans is achingly beautiful music. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/22 "2002-04-05T16:36:42Z")
Writing. Fiction writing to be specific. Actually, I am trying to achieve that, though I’m no master and never will be. I’m a good writer. I can become a very good writer. But I doubt I’ll ever be a great writer. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/23 "2002-04-05T16:47:15Z")
Tough question, if I only get one. I’m already a pretty good writer, but I have absolutely nothing to say worth reading. So would “A writer with some good ideas for stories” count? I’d like to do comics, but that’s writer AND artist, though I guess writer would qualify, though I’d be more interested in artist. I’d like to be able to play guitar, but I’d also want to write music and sing, and that’s two more disciplines. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/24 "2002-04-05T16:56:46Z")
I have several. Um, in order of preference… Dance, particularly Middle Eastern or African; prose writing in the style of Annie Dillard or John Thorne; wirework, particularly in jewelry and chainmail. My SO has repeatedly tried to teach me to do simple chainmail, but it doesn’t seem to stick… ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/25 "2002-04-05T17:09:39Z")
Singing!! I have an excellent ear for pitch (waaaay above average, according to the tests), and I can hold a tune, but my voice is really wimpy. I want to sing really well. One day, I’ll try voice lessons and see if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/26 "2002-04-05T17:16:13Z")
I would want to be a great lounge singer. To be able to inspire to despondent and the drunk is among the greatest of gifts one can have. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/27 "2002-04-05T17:17:32Z")
music ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/28 "2002-04-05T17:19:20Z")
Stone mason, in the classical sense. I would love to overhear someone admiring the gargoyles on a church and be able to thank them for complimenting my work. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/29 "2002-04-05T17:35:41Z")
Exactly what I’m doing here- art for computer games. I LOVE doing this stuff- I can easily see myself doing this into my retirement years. I just wish I was better at it. I’m good, but several people in the industry make me look like an amateur. ---
**Author:** ![Simetra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Simetra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simetra)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/30 "2002-04-05T17:44:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Serendipity \* > \*\*This is patently untrue. **Simetra** has the most beautiful voice that I have ever heard. \*\* Don’t listen to her… she’s silly. 😛 I still wish I could sing. ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/31 "2002-04-05T17:58:01Z")
Pottery. I’ve been taking a ceramics course for a semester and it’s both the most frustrating and the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done. I want to get much better at it so it can be more satisfying than frustrating. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/32 "2002-04-05T18:10:11Z")
Music, specifically the piano. I’d like to have the inventiveness of Brubeck, the proficiency of Liszt, the passion of Chopin, the intensity of Beethoven, and the brilliance of Mozart. Is that too much to ask? ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/33 "2002-04-05T18:20:01Z")
Acting. I would love to be a serious dramatic actor, on both stage and screen. Some mix of the styles of Kevin Spacey, Jimmy Stewart (mostly Hitchcock-era, with a dash of Capra), Jeff Bridges, Laurence Olivier and Cary Grant. After that I would have to pick writing. I don’t know if “investigative journalism” can qualify as an artistic discipline, but I’d love to have an unparalleled sense for wrong-doing and an incredible abilty to write and report on it. At least I picked the right profession for that. But back to acting… one of my dreams has been to win the best actor Oscar for the best portrayal of Hamlet _ever_ on the big screen. Or maybe for some role like Lester Burnham in “American Beauty.” ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/34 "2002-04-05T18:20:32Z")
Dancing ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/35 "2002-04-05T18:20:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shagnasty \* > \*\*I would want to be a great lounge singer. To be able to inspire to despondent and the drunk is among the greatest of gifts one can have. \*\* [genie mode] Free lessons, and a guaranteed drunken audience to boot. Just say the word![/genie mode] Though I can sing, I’ve really always wanted to play the cello. I think it’s the most beautiful, sexy, soulful instrument there is. ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/36 "2002-04-05T18:33:59Z")
Guitar. Specifically, blues guitar. Even more specifically, Delta blues guitar. I listen to someone like Rory Block play and am just blown away. And jealous. I’ve played guitar on and off for 15 years or so, and I’m no good. Probably don’t practice enough. But that would be way cool. I’d also like to play like Leo Kottke, but hey, who wouldn’t? ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/37 "2002-04-05T19:17:07Z")
Music, specifically the ability to play by ear and improvise. I’ve played the clarinet for over half my life, and although I can take a sheet of written music and play it beautifully, I can’t jam or pick up tunes by ear to save my life. I’d wish for the ability to play multiple instruments, but I’ve discovered that once you’ve learned one instrument, it’s easier to learn other ones. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Toaster52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@Toaster52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster52)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/38 "2002-04-05T19:50:46Z")
Poetry; I have this dream of writing something equal to: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways: I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach… Sends shivers down my spine every time I think of that. Failing that, a drunken pool player. ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/39 "2002-04-05T21:03:24Z")
a master pianist ---
**Author:** ![JessEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@JessEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessEnigma)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954/40 "2002-04-05T21:43:31Z")
If I had to pick just one, I’d pick dancing. It’s my absolute favorite. I took lessons for a while when I was younger, but I had to stop. Someday I intend to start again, but I wish I had more natural talent. After that, I’d pick acting, music (instrumental and vocal…I have a secret desire to hit Broadway), and writing. jessica [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-be-a-master-in-exactly-one-artistic-discipline-what-would-it-be/101954.md?page=3)