I am curious as to how some of you been self-taught! Please explain how you are sure what u are doing is correct and the process of how you learned to sing/play.

since i think singing is great, i sing along to mariah's Can't Take That Away and Celine Dion's At Last. By memorizing the lyrics and how they sing, i think i learned something but i'm not sure exactly what.

for those who play several insturments and are self-taught, how did you do it and why did you when there are lessons available??!

subyduby said:

Suby...Look, the best way to know if you sound good is to get advice from your friends, teachers etc. Do you have a music teacher at your school who would be honest with you, and listen to you sing? Playing, and singing come easily for some, and others have to work for it. If you REALLY feel what you are doing sounds good, then it probably does, but get an opinion from someone you trust. As far as lessons go, they are great for somebody wanting to learn the basics of how to sing, or play an instrument, and if you are unsure about your playing, then you should talk to a teacher and ask his/her advice to help you.

subyduby said:

Why? Lack of money. How? Persistence. Actually, you'll probably never learn to play with a correct technique but there's just so much to be gained from it. Oh those lonely nights with me and my guitar and the electric ladyland -transcripts...

O.K. here it is plain and simple. It is called an "inner-drive" and it is always on.
This is how I've learned guitar, bass and drums.

Does it include lessons? Yes, when I've got the money and I'm stuck at a certain level of understanding.

The "inner-drive" also includes; certain college classes, books, magazine articles, tab, National Guitar Summer Workshops, everything that I listen to (which is extremely diverse) and a lot of practice.

Life happens, concerts happen, babbling esoteric bullshit on the internet happens but I never stop thinking and breathing music.

Oh yeah, and another thing is. Most guitar teachers have different ways of teaching. Some focus on certain things more than others but learning the notes and where they are needs to happen first. Focus on that and then everything else will be easier.


(I wish someone would have told me that 12 years ago)

self taught drums, keyboards, bass, electric guitar, steel string acoustic guitar , simple stuff... why would i teach myself when there are lessons available ?

simple - why would i pay someone ? when i can do it myself for free ? I got better things to spend my money on - like some new boots
[This message was edited Sat Sep 21 21:42:24 PDT 2002 by FunkyStrange]

I taught myself the artistic and technical sides 2 the musical gamut just by watching other ppl play and appropriating their styles, eventually creating an authentic hybrid which I could call my own.

This is apropos 2 my Bass, Guitar, Keys, Drums or Vocal styles.

It doesn't particularly work in the production/mastering dimension as creating a rock output is one end of the spectrum from creating say a mechanically-tight Michael J*ckson-esque track or a JazzFunk number.

My point is this: I learned by myself because I got fed up of unreliable musicians, painstakingly long sessions, and engineers who used procrastanatory measures 2 complete a track all in the name of the almighty dollar (or pound over here in the UK!).

I took 2 Drum lessons in my life and the only thing it taught me was 2 play in a similar style to who taught U, but every teacher is different.

I didn't want 2 ask any1 else 2 interpret what was going on inside my head, I only got a distorted outcome.

I only got others in when I needed THEIR own influences thrown-in. That's when it worked 4 me.

I'm not saying 2 veto any advice or support that any1 gives U or that U discover from another source, otherwise I wouldn't be in2 music (especially Jazz/Funk) in the first place... It was easier 4 me 2 learn by myself is all.

Whatever way U look at it, whether U R self-taught or classically trained... maintaining your OWN personal musical identity is the key.

'dre

thank-you for your asnwer drezone. wonderful conception, indeed.

subyduby said:

Listen, listen, listen. And equally important; practice, practice, practice. Watch people who are more advanced than you, LISTEN to people who are more advanced than you.


Woodshed your heart out.


Cut me...
[This message was edited Fri Oct 11 16:18:27 PDT 2002 by Supernova]

There isn't much more I can add that hasn't already been said. I am self-taught on drums, percussion, acoustic/electric guitar, bass and piano/keys. I am also self-taught in studio practice.

My reason for not having lessons. Well, I started playing drums when I was four and tried having my first lesson aged 10 - I ad two full lessons and one which lasted 5 minutes as I could not get on with the rigid style being eschewed by my teacher. I never looked back and am now fairly proficient on all my instruments. I mainly listened to artists (Prince was obviously a massive influence) and watched concerts etc.

The only other thing I would say, Suby, is about your point of "How do you know you are doing it right?" - well, if it sounds right, then it is! Sometimes, mistakes will sound right in the particular song and may even sound better than what you intended to play!! Sure, there are rudimentaries with all instruments that can be right or wrong but, really, anything goes as far as I;m concerned.

The only instrument I was taught was the drums. I had a few lessons on Piano & saxophone but everything else is self taught.

I always think that in music, it either sound good or it sounds bad, let that sense be your guide. I also find it helpful to read music as we are limited to just one sense out of 5 (hearing) to tell us if what we are doing is correct. If you read you can see it as well as hear it.