The lead singer in my band is an excellent chef with no culinary training. He simply likes gourmet food, and learned to cook what he likes. His skills come as a result of years of trial and error. I sometimes think that the same goes for music. Maybe learning through immersion is superior to being taught by a mentor, or a book on music theory. Maybe not in the expedient sense; taking lessons will result in achieving certain degrees of proficiency much more quickly than self-teaching, but does taking lessons hinder raw creativity in composure, the side of music without discernable parameters, the part that makes you sound like you and no one else? most certainly. If you take lessons, you are, in a sense, taking a shortcut to efficiency by sacrificing a bit of originality. You approach music on someone else's terms, rather than you're own, only because they have a greater degree of skill that can be relayed to you, and not because they can teach you to write a good song. By basing your understanding of music on a curriculum other than your own, you will not stumble as much, but you won't stumble onto as much either.

Jimi Hendrix and Keith Moon are the best examples I can think of that illustrate this point, though there are many. I guess it all relates back to the "good/bad or right/wrong" thread from before.

What do you think, do lessons stifle creativity??

spoot wrote:I know that I can enjoy a great bottle of wine, but I doubt that I can appreciate it as much as someone who has a better sense of the subtleties involved.

Or maybe you can: The Great Wine Tasting Myth

Maurice wrote: The Great Wine Tasting Myth

Right on! I have learned something today. Thanks Maurice. I'm gettin drunk tonight!

I almost agree on the whole theory thing someone brought up earlier. It's a fact.... you don't need it. Countless musicians get along great without it. And maybe having learned theory would have changed them in a bad way. But for me personally... I believe there is an upside to the actual textbook/written study of music. I studied theory in college for a few years and even tutored and graded theory papers and the like. A lot of people see it as a limiting thing... or something that is going to taint your collective unconscious or approach to music. But that's the beauty of theory... you take it how you want to. It's just something you incorporate into your musicianship at the degree/rate that you see fit. I think, hands down, that the actual experience of playing music w/ other people is the best way to learn... but I often find myself using the theory I have learned as a guideline, or as a backup plan when I'm stuck on something.

Just like with food... some of the greatest chefs learned on their own, from growing up in their own little corner of the world. No classes or formal training. Just pure genius. Then you have your technicians who train w/ masters... or just the person who went to your local culinary school to get a leg up or to get more cultured with his/her cuisines.

It's just whatever works... but the conclusion to all of this ramble would leave me at saying (it's my opinion) that a little training, book smarts, or what have you never hurt anyone.