Question:
Do I need to know music theory and how to read music to make music?
Answer:
NO !
You do not NEED to know theory or how to read. It can help but is NOT required.
I have known and met so many people who were pushed away from music and/or were made to look at it as all work and no fun because they were pushed by someone or people to learn how to read and heard people keep saying “That’s not right” so they moved away from it and never played since then and that’s sad and wrong.
Now, I am not pointing my finger and saying those that want people to know how to read and know theory are bad, no, not at all, those skills are or can be very helpful. What I am saying is for those that avoid music thinking it will take forever to learn, stop putting it off even if you tried in the past, quit putting it off and start up.
The keys may be quickest at making something that sounds musical, or at least quicker than a guitar or horn or drums, but just choose something like keys and don’t feel like you have to learn both hands at once. If you want to go far with it then you may want a more focused approach, but if you’d just like to make something musical keys can be best. Actually an autoharp is real easy, look those up.
I’ll expand a bit on this some in the future, offer ideas and suggestions but the main thing is decide to start… and start!
2 important things to keep in mind are:
1) Don’t compare yourself to others. If you want to play and want to copy songs do not be so focused on how you sound different from the recording of the original song and make sure to listen to how much it DOES sound like the song.
I have known people that sound great and they grumble how it doesn’t sound like this or that person or song and they are just putting their playing under the microscope and not sitting back and seeing it’s way closer than they think, so… don’t compare yourself to others.
and
2) Listen to what you play or record for what it is, not what you thought you’d play or record.
It may be great but you were thinking of a different type of song and are not living the moment, not listening to it as if you were a listener who doesn’t even know what you the player were thinking of.
Listen to yourself for what it is, not some imaginary plan.
Please note I am NOT saying theory and reading is useless, no, I am saying it’s not necessary to get started.
The only other thing I should add is while you want to play freely, it will serve you best if you (at least some of the time) to try to focus on efficiency and accuracy.
Don’t lift your fingers more than you need to (or whatever fits that instrument) and don’t keep accepting that you hit notes you weren’t aiming for. Habits can be formed that can be waaaay harder to fix once you’re used to it (sometimes called “muscle memory”) instead of “programming” in the proper efficient movements.
A good teacher can help on those things, but if you’re going this alone, think efficiency, accuracy, posture, etc.
Ok, now that’s it for now.
Don’t think about being a musician, BE ONE!
Starting asap.
Drop me a line if you have questions or want to talk.
Peace.
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