did you take music lessons?

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by Smidgelton

I don't see how music lessons could hinder your creativity.?

It definitely can. The brain's need to analyse can lead to stuttering of an idea. If you don't have to think about what you're doing, what comes out can be pure subconscious creativity.

I found this when I took some jazz lessons. It put me back so far that my teacher suggested we stop the lessons. Since he was teaching me other things prior, and I played in his big band, he knew how good my natural improv skills were.

Knowledge is good, but sometimes it can get in the way.

I find it interesting to see people with varying levels of proficiency struggle with the grasp of improvisation. They know the theory, and their general playing chops are up to the level at which they can attain anything they want. But there's no creative spark. Even players who have been in jazz programs, studied under world class jazz players... their lines are as predictable as someone unable to grasp the concept of improvisation at all. Those with purely classical background struggle beyond believe at the unwritten line. Of course this isn't always the case, and some people thrive after being taught, the right way to do things.

I guess it depends how your brain works. Mine works really unbelievably slowly, so anything I can do to bypass the thought process is a bonus.


R.

[brandondrury]

Of course, there is always the opposite side of the fence.

People who are very clueless to all things musically, may be just sort of pushing buttons or randomly hitting notes without any understanding of what they are doing. This could lead to music that is amazing or horrendous. It just depends.

Personally, I'm all about songs. I find that my favorite songs were usually written by some clueless guy who just has a knack for combining extremely catchy melodies with chords.

For example, I'm producing my friend, Daniel Sexton. For his genre (country / pop / whatever) he writes extremely catchy tunes. We've been busting balls on his project for a while now. Well, the other day we were recording acoustic guitar. I asked him to try a hammer on to go from one not to another. HE WAS TOTALLY CLUELESS AS TO WHAT A HAMMER ON EVEN WAS!! I busted up laughing. It was hilarious. Here is one of my top choices for songwriters to work with and he doesn't even know what a hammer on is.

That was a lesson learned!!

Brandon

[Smidgelton]

You all still seem to have some of the fundamentals covered. In any case, I think some knowledge is beneficial.

[brandondrury]

Oh, okay, I see where you are coming from.

I was taking the "have fundamentals covered and now taking lessons to learn hardcore theory" route, which I'm sort of 50/50 about.

If the fundamentals aren't covered, you've got to get help somewhere. It's important to learn from a guy you don't always agree with. This way, you can say "fuck him" in your head. Of course, 5 years later you'll probably end up realizing he was right. Both of these are important for development as a music guy.

Brandon

[Smidgelton]

Interesting perspective.

[brandondrury]

Yeah, this perspective comes from saying "fuck him" when older, more experienced guys said to play with less gain or more mids. Realizing these people was right came just a few years later. There are a million other times this has happened to me.

Brandon

[Smidgelton]

Oh right. I've gone through quite a bit of that recently, actually. I'm still trying to prove them all wrong. I guess the "realizing they were right" part only comes with time and experience.

[brandondrury]

I guess the "realizing they were right" part only comes with time and experience.

Yes, this is usually about the time you get good.

Brandon

[sergio]

Yes.
I graduated from a conservatory.
I've been a professional musician since I was 17 years old.
I am 47 years old.