Other than the slide whistle and kazoo I never learned a musical instrument. I hated music class at school. I don’t sing at church if anyone can hear. Yep…it’s that bad. But I wonder: would learning to play not change the way you listen to and appreciate it? If you can play…should you not be able to compose too?
I dunno if I should regret never learning to play or not…
I could play a mean stereo in my day.
ReplyDeleteThe young mommas in our family exposed their little ones to classical music in the womb. I have no doubts the mothers were on to something. Grandkid's grades are NOT genetically related to me, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI never went far in learning a musical instrument. I can strum a few chords on a guitar, but that the extent of it. I DID, however, singin the church choir for quite a few years and YES, whether singing or playing an instrument, being involved with the making of music TRULY DOES affect the way you listen to and appreciate it! Little do many people know just how much work and time it takes to "get it right." Even if you're a "natural," getting it right is HARD WORK! A singer or musician can appreciate this. He can also say things like "If it was me, I would've done it this way" or "DAMN! That girl can take her voice wherever it wants to go!!!" Performing in front of an audience, whether it be in a colosseum or small town church, certainly DOES enhance your appreciation of music!
ReplyDeleteI ran around with the National Junior College gymnastics champion.
ReplyDeleteHe had a scholarship to Odessa jr. college. Dude was a total loss at everything except gymnastics. Until one day he walked to the piano in the student union building. Everyone who knew him laughed when he sat down. Until he hit the keys. Sunnohvabitch! The place fell silent.
Wasn’t John Denver thought to be a dork or something until he sang & played guitar and EVERYONE loved him? I can play the didge & the wireless really well, but everyone still reckons I’m a dork. Le sigh.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though Glen, if you’re still breathing, you can still learn to play.
I for one, learned Trombone in grade school and took up the Guitar when I was a teen. THAT... is an addiction. I suffer from two forms of GAS. The usual and customary and Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. The former everyone is familiar with. The latter is a very costly affliction that comes with serious consequences.
ReplyDeleteI will say this, Good Sir, it is never too late to learn. I know that had I the "STUFF" available to the budding guitarists of today (the CNC precision, inexpensive QUALITY guitars of today vs. the CRAP we had in the 70s and the INTERNET) I would be a far better player than I am now... however these resources now have improved my abilities vastly.
I say go for it. Get a cheap but decent nylon stringed guitar (easy on the fingers) and learn ONE SONG. It won't cost a fortune money wise... might take a bit of time but you might be very surprised where it will take you.
I think that primarily it's a discipline that requires focus and practice to learn. In that respect it "trains" the mind in ways that will help with other disciplines. You could probably substitute any other discipline that requires memorization, focus and practice into that meme and get the same results.
ReplyDeleteI was forced to take band for a few years by my parents. Learning to read music was simple enough, as well as punching the right keys on the baritone to match the music. Blowing and hitting the right notes took too much practice. There were simply too many other fun things to do during the day for me to spend an hour or more blowing into a brass instrument.
If you had told me during that same period that learning a guitar and playing in a band would help me score chicks, I definitely would have practiced more. But those days are passed.