I sort of know M. Kimmelman -- we studied with the same teacher for a long time, and met many times -- and I think he's brilliant.

But I think he has this thing exactly backwards. I think more and more non-professionals are dabbling seriously (if that's not an oxymoron) ....dabbling seriously, in all the arts -- music (both classical and non), visual arts, writing, photography, whatnot -- and doing remarkably well.

I would say that maybe there was a trend such as he described for a few decades before the internet took hold -- but not any more. And I think that with the help of what you can find online and apps for doing this-and-that, not only are more and more non-professionals becoming capable with music and other arts, but they're able to do it quicker and more readily than ever before. I've been astonished at how well some people have learned to play intermediate level piano pieces after just a few weeks or months, often completely on their own (and with the computer).

And BTW I still play in baseball pick-up games.

I'm afraid that's your age showing Cheryl - the rules changed! Boxing and wrestling are the only ones still required to be amateur by Olympic rules. Some countries and/or sports associations may impose additional requirements of course.