I like the new skill system but the alpha document did not fix the perform skill.
According to the SRD, There is actually nine (9) perform skills:
Act (comedy, drama, mime)
Comedy (buffoonery, limericks, joke-telling)
Dance (ballet, waltz, jig)
Keyboard instruments (harpsichord, piano, pipe organ)
Oratory (epic, ode, storytelling)
Percussion instruments (bells, chimes, drums, gong)
String instruments (fiddle, harp, lute, mandolin)
Wind instruments (flute, pan pipes, recorder, shawm, trumpet)
Sing (ballad, chant, melody)
I think the list could be reformed & simplified. The PF’s perform skill could be reduced to three skill instead of nine :
- Music (folk) : You have learn by ear how to dance, play & sing the popular music of your culture. You can play simple folk melodies on various instruments such as fiddles, pipes, horns, plucked strings & percussions.
This skill can be used untrained.
- Music (academic) : You have learn how to read & write music. You can play polyphonic music on complex instruments such as harpsichord, violins, woodwinds, brass, organ & lute.
This is a class skill for bards, cleric, expert & noble.
This skill can’t be used untrained.
- Comedy : You can entertain & influence an audience with your comedy, drama, mime, Comedy buffoonery, limericks & joke-telling skills.
This skill can be used untrained.
Period instruments from middle age were easy to learn & to play, they did not support the kind of complexity expected from modern symphonic orchestral music.
Playing & singing was a common activity : Every body was expected to be able to sing, dance & play some musical instrument. There were no other ways to listen music or to make a good party!
I have assumed that the most complex music would be religious by nature, such as choral singing. Also, I have assumed that the Chelaxian Empire developed some kind of polyphonic (hence academic) music (the Foxglove have an harpsichord in their manor).