Lord Chesterfield’s Advice to His Son, On Men and Manners: or, A New System of Education, Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, 1815

I cannot likewise avoid calling playing upon any musical instrument illiberal in a gentleman.

Music is usually reconed one of the liberal arts, and not unjustly; but a man of fashion who is seen piping or fiddling at a concert degrades his own dignity.

If you love music, hear it; pay fiddlers to play to you, but never fiddle yourself.