This is the text under Bardic performances:
1st level - Starting a bardic performance is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action...
At 7th level, a bard can start a bardic performance as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, a bard can start a bardic performance as a swift action.
If I am a Bard of 13th level or higher may I chose to expend a move action instead of a swift action to start my performance? The reason I may want to do this is if I have another swift action I want to use in the round (like cast a quickened spell), but the rules prohibit the use of two swift actions in one round. It seems odd that as written I could do this from levels 7-12 (start a performance as a move action, then quick cast as a swift, and still have a standard action left). But then at 13th level I lose that option because now I must use up my swift action to start my performance and thus can no longer quick cast? That doesn't make sense. I would rule that a high level Bard has the choice to use the options available to them at the lower levels if they want to. Agree or disagree?
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The use of "can" does not remove the abilities that you gained at lower level. So at level 13, a bard can start a performance as a standard action, as a move action, or as a swift action.
James Jacobs (Creative Director at Paizo) agrees.
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2l7ns&page=1299?Ask-James-Jacobs-ALL-your-Q uestions-Here#64912