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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Earned his chops
In another group there is some discussion about the etymology of "earned his chops" as a measure of musical instrument ability. It appears to have been derived from the much older use of the noun "chop":
chop (chp) n.
1. An official stamp or permit in the Far East.
2.
1. A mark stamped on goods or coins to indicate theiridentity or quality.
2. Quality; class: first chop.
Can anyone here tell me when this term was first applied to musical instrument ability?
Thanks!
jc
chop (chp) n.
1. An official stamp or permit in the Far East.
2.
1. A mark stamped on goods or coins to indicate theiridentity or quality.
2. Quality; class: first chop.
Can anyone here tell me when this term was first applied to musical instrument ability?
Thanks!
jc
Top answer
[nq:1]In another group there is some discussion about the etymology of "earned his chops" as a measure of musical instrument ... 2. Quality; class: first chop.
- [nq:1]In another group there is some discussion about the etymology of "earned his chops" as a measure of musical instrument ...
- 2.
- Quality; class: first chop.
- [/nq] It should be in the group archives, since I know we've discussed it.
- Do you actually have some new piece of evidence tying this to the musical "chop," or is this just someone's speculation?
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23 Answers
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[nq:1]In another group there is some discussion about the etymology of "earned his chops" as a measure of musical instrument ... 2. Quality; class: first chop. Can anyone here tell me when this term was first applied to musical instrument ability?[/nq]
It should be in the group archives, since I know we've discussed it.
Do you actually have some new piece of evidence tying this to the
It should be in the group archives, since I know we've discussed it.
Do you actually have some new piece of evidence tying this to the
00
[nq:1]In another group there is some discussion about the etymology of "earned his chops" as a measure of musical instrument ... 2. Quality; class: first chop. Can anyone here tell me when this term was first applied to musical instrument ability?[/nq]
Hmmm. In my experience as an instrumentalist and choral singer for
40 years or more, it was first used on 13th May 2005 by somebodycalled J
Hmmm. In my experience as an instrumentalist and choral singer for
40 years or more, it was first used on 13th May 2005 by somebodycalled J
00
[nq:2]In another group there is some discussion about the etymology ... when this term was first applied to musical instrument ability?[/nq]
[nq:1]Hmmm. In my experience as an instrumentalist and choral singer for 40 years or more, it was first used on 13th May 2005 by somebody called JC Dill.[/nq]
"Musical chops" is a pretty standard expression denoting technical skill. It resides more in
[nq:1]Hmmm. In my experience as an instrumentalist and choral singer for 40 years or more, it was first used on 13th May 2005 by somebody called JC Dill.[/nq]
"Musical chops" is a pretty standard expression denoting technical skill. It resides more in
00
[nq:2]In another group there is some discussion about the etymology ... when this term was first applied to musical instrument ability?[/nq]
[nq:1]Hmmm. In my experience as an instrumentalist and choral singer for 40 years or more, it was first used on 13th May 2005 by somebody called JC Dill.[/nq]
FWIW, I sang in my school's chorus and madrigal group as a tenor back in 1962 and 1963, but
[nq:1]Hmmm. In my experience as an instrumentalist and choral singer for 40 years or more, it was first used on 13th May 2005 by somebody called JC Dill.[/nq]
FWIW, I sang in my school's chorus and madrigal group as a tenor back in 1962 and 1963, but
00
[nq:2]Hmmm. In my experience as an instrumentalist and choral singer ... used on 13th May 2005 by somebody called JC Dill.[/nq]
[nq:1]FWIW, I sang in my school's chorus and madrigal group as a tenor back in 1962 and 1963, but that was some 470,000 cigarettes ago, so I wouldn't be fit for the job today.[/nq]
That's an excellent reason not to smoke. I would be bereft if I couldn't sing in a
[nq:1]FWIW, I sang in my school's chorus and madrigal group as a tenor back in 1962 and 1963, but that was some 470,000 cigarettes ago, so I wouldn't be fit for the job today.[/nq]
That's an excellent reason not to smoke. I would be bereft if I couldn't sing in a
00
[nq:2]Hmmm. In my experience as an instrumentalist and choral singer ... used on 13th May 2005 by somebody called JC Dill.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Musical chops" is a pretty standard expression denoting technical skill. It resides more in the world of "pop" and "rock" music, where technical ability is seldom taken for granted, unlike the world of academic music, where sans "chops" you're doomed.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Musical chops" is a pretty standard expression denoting technical skill. It resides more in the world of "pop" and "rock" music, where technical ability is seldom taken for granted, unlike the world of academic music, where sans "chops" you're doomed.[/nq]
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[nq:1]It's older than pop/rock, going back at least as far as swing and bebop. So stick it in the same ... idea, but I somehow doubt Lester Young and the lads would have been especially familiar with Far Eastern customs practices.[/nq]
Someone reportedly called bebop "Chinese music" some sources claim that it was Louis Armstrong, others say Cab Calloway. (Google results are about evenly divide
Someone reportedly called bebop "Chinese music" some sources claim that it was Louis Armstrong, others say Cab Calloway. (Google results are about evenly divide
00
[nq:2]In another group there is some discussion about the etymology ... when this term was first applied to musical instrument ability?[/nq]
[nq:1]It should be in the group archives, since I know we've discussed it. Do you actually have some new piece ... which would be no great surprise, since there are hundreds of similar but essentially unrelated slang words in the dictionaries.[/nq]
Th
[nq:1]It should be in the group archives, since I know we've discussed it. Do you actually have some new piece ... which would be no great surprise, since there are hundreds of similar but essentially unrelated slang words in the dictionaries.[/nq]
Th
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Areff filted:
[nq:1]Someone reportedly called bebop "Chinese music" some sources claim that it was Louis Armstrong, others say Cab Calloway. (Google results are about evenly divided, but Satchmo wins by a bit.)[/nq]
For about a month, the actual Chinese music that's been most in my mind is rockabilly, of the Commander Cody/George Thorogood variety...just when I think the market has explore
[nq:1]Someone reportedly called bebop "Chinese music" some sources claim that it was Louis Armstrong, others say Cab Calloway. (Google results are about evenly divided, but Satchmo wins by a bit.)[/nq]
For about a month, the actual Chinese music that's been most in my mind is rockabilly, of the Commander Cody/George Thorogood variety...just when I think the market has explore
00
[nq:2]In another group there is some discussion about the etymology ... when this term was first applied to musical instrument ability?[/nq]
[nq:1]My recollection is that this could be traced back to slang for "mouth," then to the abilities of the facial ... which would be no great surprise, since there are hundreds of similar but essentially unrelated slang words in the dictionaries.[/nq]
[nq:1]My recollection is that this could be traced back to slang for "mouth," then to the abilities of the facial ... which would be no great surprise, since there are hundreds of similar but essentially unrelated slang words in the dictionaries.[/nq]
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