lol men are much more simple...your attempt at being coy and subtle did not work as well as perhaps a hammer on the head...I empathize...sigh...ha ha ha

You asked him what he noticed. He told you what he noticed in such a way that you know he really was paying attention. What you wanted to know was not what you asked; you wanted to know how it affected him . Maybe ask him that instead? If he's aware of his feelings and able to communicate them well, then you may get the answer. If he is honest, you may not always get the sugary compliment you're hoping for (depends on how it affects him), but honest is good.

I'll translate this for you, from guy speak into English:
"I saw how much you enjoy playing music," = as long as I'm getting laid I can deal with this, it makes her happy and no ones gonna die from it.

"And how difficult it is to play flute." this is trickier and depending upon tone and facial expressions can mean a few different things:

1. Thank god it's not a violin

2. Man that's impressive. It takes a lot of time and effort to master that instrument. I hope that:
   a) she practices a lot before we do this again
   or
   b) I'm glad she's confident enough in our relationship to share this with me, and look forward to watching her improve.

3. Sorry, I wasn't actually listening. Waaaay too distracted by what your lips were doing to focus on anything else.

4. Some very rude thoughts about playing the skin flute that I'm to emberrased to write and he's obviously to emberrased to say.

Hope this helps.

Yeah I’m afraid if you want someone to notice the particular little technicalities of your playing, you’ve just about gotta be talking to someone who plays the same instrument, or at least multiple instruments of their own. I’ve been playing guitar, piano and singing for nearly 20 years now and I’m just now getting settled in to the point that I can work on the really fine nuances. I’ve spent the last 4 months listening at half speed and working on how to sing the single word “warm” in Chris Stapleton’s version of Tennessee whiskey. He fits 16 notes into a one syllable word so effortlessly. I think I’m about 80% of the way there, but the layman would just say “you’re doing fine, very expressive!”

On the topic of singing flat, have you ever recorded your voice to listen back to? It’s really abysmally uncomfortable to listen to recordings of yourself at first usually but it’s very necessary to get better. The voice we hear when we vocalize is not the voice everyone else hears, but if you listen to yourself and go back and forth between listening and singing for yourself you eventually come pretty close to uniting the outside voice and the one you hear in your head. I’m just curious if you’re actually flat or if it’s just the way you hear yourself at the time. Either way, if you can at least tell when you’re off pitch, you can and will see a bunch of improvement if you’re willing to record and review yourself. It’s the tone deaf people that don’t know they’re terrible singers that can’t possibly improve lol.

I kind of thought his compliment was better than you mastered the technical stuff. But then I am more about being with those who speak from the heart.

Should be reassuring. You know he'll give you an honest answer and keep your feelings protected. Sounds like a good guy.

In my experience, men generally don't pick up on subtle hints.
Going "fishing" usually fails miserably.

Actually, I think his comments are insightful. I'd be happy with hearing that from a listener.

Just remembered

Bill said the songs I played were beautiful.

"I'm a lousy singer," I said, handing him the sheet music to When Sunny Gets Blue. "This is my favorite jazz song."

I softly sang the song so he could hear the melody. To me, I sound a bit flat.

"You have a great singing voice," Bill said.

That was sweet.

It is usually our ego that wants to be reinforced ,but is also usually not ready for the type of subtle compliments that come with it and with our perverted minds we can usually turn anything into subtle or not so subtle loving comments I am sure your an excellent flute player all joking aside

If we look for superlatives on every day occurrences, we are likely to be disappointed.

Try living without hints. Try direct communication instead. It's great.

Better than being damned with faint praise.

I'll bet you're an awesome flute player...................................just trying to help...............

One might wonder why that specific bit of praise was not just "nice to have" but a "big expectation". If dear old Dad for example didn't give you enough approval for your talents, no one else will ever make up for it. You have to adjust that in between your ears. Not saying that's it -- I don't know you after all -- but something to consider. Expectations come from somewhere. This is an opportunity to increase self awareness around that.

I try not to ask for compliments - I too am usually disappointed - but sometimes they just turn up from unexpected sources

Either the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning

I don't fish for compliments anymore because my insecurities can't handle the disappointment because I always seem to fish for them out of my league :< which means the disappointments are often! eeek! :<

I don't understand why you go fishing. You're an educated, beautiful and talented woman. It seems beneath you.

I should know better that when I expect a compliment of any type and don't get it, it's a set-up for disappointment. Emphasis on "I should know better" -- then again, when I get one I didn't expect, instead of taking it in and thanking the complimenter, I'm feeling like, "who, me? Really?" I just can't seem to win!

I can't remember the last time I fished for a compliment from someone offline or IRL. I just do the best I can on things and hope it works out. I don't get compliments very often offline or IRL, at least that I have noticed, so I guess I have just given up on seeking them or depending on them, as far as things I do offline.