What do you define as being good at a particular instrument?

What do you think makes a person good at the piano, or violin, etc..? Is it the ability to play a certain piece or pieces? Tell me what do you think defines being good at the piano, violin, guitar, or other popular instruments.

This question is of course subjective in that it depends on what your definition of "good" is...for some people being good depends on how others perceive the playing/how much it is enjoyed. Of course there are others who think you are good if you "feel" the music (which is nice and all but realistically not the truth...that would mean that ANYONE would be good...there has to be some kind "quasi-scientific" method in measuring people's musical abilities)

If you aren't speaking in a philosophical sense...then I'd say that being good at an instrument means that you are technically proficient (meaning that you have basically mastered the "physical aspect of playing the instrument") and also you have an good understanding of the music that you are playing (the stylistic elements, phrasing, sound quality/tone/timbre, etc.) It can also be said that a theoretical understanding of your music would aid in you being better at your instrument.

Once again...it is subjective....and it also largely depends on the standards of the genre (sorry pop people....but the standards for playing an instrument well are much higher in classical and jazz, etc) It also largely depends on age. For ex. if an 9 yr. old can play a chopin nocturne - that's really good. But for an older pianist, it's not as big of a deal. You get the idea...

when you can play at your level nicly. u don thave to be the most advanced, you can be on level one but play nicly

when you can play any piece at first sight :)

I think in Classical it's the ability to play everything. In rock it's the ability to come up with new stuff.

Basically as long as you can keep even a semi beat I think your good.

Good is being able to take a piece of music and playing it your instrument well enough that people enjoy listening to you. Great is being able to take a piece of music and interpret it in a way that makes it your own and stands out from others who play the same piece

when you can play while seducing Someone and talking to friends all at the same time

If you can play until you can feel this piece, you are good, doesn't matter what the sound is, it's about how you feel it

When the piece of music that's played evokes emotion, when the piece is played according to every rule indicated by the composer, when it sounds smooth, when it follows count(as in waltz it's 1-2-3, 1-2-3 with the accent on the 1, for example).

You can also be 'good' at an instrument if you can compose something yourself that others like.

To be good you also have to look good playing the instrument, like you are controlling it, not the instrument controlling you. I've seen someone play the piano and they looked like they just got released from a mental institution; they played well, but it was sore to the eyes.

Beeing good also means that you can hear the music in your head first--either by reading sheet music or by hearing a piace played and then beeing able to reproduce it without the aid of written material.

basically being able to pick up the instrument and not having to stretch or squeeze ur fingers to fit the jiont or to hold a bow, etc. or if when u blow into it or finger it it feels natural and not like u have to keep placing ur fingers.

Violin :1. you can execute all the different bow strokes.
2.shifting positions is smooth and flawless
3.vibrato sounds wonderful
4.bowing produces a beautiful sound from frog to tip
5.left hand intonation is spot on...absolutely perfect.

When you play the violin and manage to convey to the audience what the composer had in mind, then you are a good violinist.

good is when YOU are happy with what you can do or just did no matter what instrument